Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing: The Complete Scoring Guide
Coherence and Cohesion is one of the four IELTS writing criteria, yet it is the one most misunderstood by test-takers. This complete guide explains what examiners actually look for at each band level.
What Coherence and Cohesion Actually Means
Coherence and Cohesion (CC) accounts for 25% of your IELTS Writing score, yet it is arguably the criterion most poorly understood by test-takers. Many candidates assume it simply means "using linking words like Furthermore and However." This misunderstanding leads to essays that are overloaded with connectors but still score Band 5 for CC.
Coherence refers to the logical flow and clarity of your writing — how easy it is for the reader to follow your argument from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph. Cohesion refers to the specific linguistic tools that connect your ideas: linking words, pronouns, synonyms, and reference chains.
Both must work together. An essay can have grammatically correct cohesive devices and still be incoherent if the ideas themselves do not follow a logical sequence.
What Each Band Level Looks Like
Band 5: Mechanical Use of Cohesive Devices
At Band 5, cohesive devices are used, but mechanically or inappropriately. A typical Band 5 essay begins almost every sentence with "Furthermore," "Moreover," or "In addition" regardless of whether these connectors actually make logical sense. Paragraphing may exist but is not always logical, and ideas within paragraphs can be difficult to follow.
Band 6: Cohesion Used but with Some Errors
At Band 6, the candidate uses a range of cohesive devices but with some inaccuracies or over-reliance on particular phrases. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, and the overall argument can be followed, but there may be some unclear pronoun reference or awkward transitions between ideas.
Band 7: Logical Sequence with Effective Cohesion
A Band 7 response presents information and ideas logically and clearly. Cohesive devices are used flexibly — not just connectors, but also pronoun reference, synonyms, and subordinate clauses. Paragraphing is clear and consistent, with each paragraph built around a single central idea.
Band 8: Seamless, Natural Cohesion
At Band 8, the use of cohesion is so natural that the reader barely notices it. A Band 8 writer rarely needs to insert obvious connectors because the logical progression of ideas is built into the structure of the sentences themselves. Paragraphs are coherent units with smooth internal development and clear logical links to what comes before and after.
The Three Layers of Cohesion
1. Essay-Level Coherence
Does your essay have a clear overall argument that progresses logically from introduction to conclusion? Each body paragraph should build on the previous one. Your conclusion should feel like the natural result of the argument you have built — not a sudden change of direction.
2. Paragraph-Level Cohesion
Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that signals what the paragraph is about. The supporting sentences should expand on the topic sentence logically. The paragraph should end by linking back to the central argument or signalling a transition to the next idea.
3. Sentence-Level Cohesion
Within sentences, cohesion is achieved through:
- Pronoun reference: Using "this," "they," "it," or "these" to refer back to previously mentioned nouns
- Synonyms and lexical chains: Referring to a concept with different words to maintain a clear thread
- Subordinating conjunctions: Because, although, whereas, since, while
- Additive/adversative/causal connectors: Used selectively and accurately
The Overuse Problem: Why More Connectors Is Not Better
This is the most important lesson in this guide. Excessive use of linking words is penalised, not rewarded. The official IELTS band descriptors explicitly note that a Band 5 response shows "over-use of certain cohesive devices." When an examiner reads "Furthermore... Moreover... In addition... Additionally..." at the start of consecutive sentences, it signals formulaic writing rather than logical thinking.
The goal is not to use more cohesive devices — it is to make your writing so logically structured that the reader never loses the thread of your argument.
Cohesive Devices: A Practical Reference
- Addition: furthermore, in addition, moreover, equally, likewise
- Contrast: however, nevertheless, in contrast, conversely, that said
- Cause and effect: consequently, as a result, therefore, thus, hence
- Exemplification: for instance, to illustrate, a case in point, specifically
- Concession: admittedly, while it is true that, granted, even though
- Summary: in conclusion, to summarise, on balance, overall
Practical Techniques for Higher CC Scores
- Write a topic sentence for every body paragraph before you write the paragraph
- Replace every "Furthermore" and "Moreover" with a pronoun or synonymous reference at least half the time
- Read your essay aloud — if a transition sounds unnatural, it probably is
- Check that every paragraph contains exactly one central idea
- Make sure your conclusion does not introduce any new arguments
- Use pronouns (this, these, such) to refer back to previous ideas rather than repeating nouns
Measuring Your Coherence and Cohesion Score
The challenge with CC is that it can be difficult to assess your own writing objectively — you know what you meant to say, so the logic feels clear even when a reader would struggle to follow it. This is why external assessment is so valuable. Use our AI evaluator to check your score and receive targeted feedback specifically on your Coherence and Cohesion performance, so you know precisely what to improve before your exam.
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