Mastering Coherence and Cohesion for IELTS Writing Task 2

🌐 Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence and cohesion account for 25% of your marks, along with task response, grammatical range and accuracy, and lexical resource.
Many IELTS aspirants ignore this quite easy-to-master section, focusing largely on vocabulary and grammar.

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Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:

Band Descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. 🌿 What is Coherence?
   Learn how to create logical flow and structure in your essay.

2. 🔗 What is Cohesion?
   Discover the tools to connect sentences and paragraphs smoothly.

3. 🛠️ How to Improve Coherence
   Use a clear structure
   Use one idea per paragraph
   Use a thesis statement
   Use a topic sentence

4. ✨ How to Improve Cohesion
   Explore linking words, referencing, and the use of synonyms and pronouns.

5. 🧩 Real Essay Example
   See how coherence and cohesion work together in an actual paragraph.

Band Descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

🧠 What is Coherence?

Coherence is all about flow.
If your writing has logical flow, it has great coherence.

What do we mean by logical flow?
Basically, your organization should be logical.
One paragraph should focus on one idea, while the other on another.
Flow is how one sentence leads to another; your sentences should not feel disjointed.

🔗 What is Cohesion?

Cohesion is all about linking.
It is simply the glue that holds everything together.

1. Your sentences should be linked whenever appropriate.

2. Your paragraphs should be linked together.

For that, you can use a variety of:

• Linking words

• Referencing

• Synonyms and Pronouns

🛠️ How to Improve Coherence

✅ Use a Clear Structure

We suggest you follow the following structure for each essay:

• Introduction

• Body Paragraph 1

• Body Paragraph 2 (and maybe a 3rd)

• Conclusion

You can choose the third paragraph if you have three supporting arguments for your claim, but usually, it is suggested to write two paragraphs, because doing justice to three can get a bit complicated.

For instance:

• In opinion essays, you can go for three paragraphs if you have three reasons to support your argument.

• In problem-solution essays, it makes sense to write two paragraphs: one focusing on problems and the other on solutions.

• In advantages-disadvantages essays, the first paragraph focuses on advantages and the other on disadvantages.

• In discuss both views essays, one paragraph focuses on one view, while the other on the opposing view.

• Finally, in two-question essays, each question can easily be answered in a separate paragraph.

🔑 To sum up, most often, two paragraphs do the trick for clear coherence.

✅ One Idea per Paragraph

When writing a paragraph, make sure it has a clear underlying system.
If it is an opinion essay, each argument will be a distinct paragraph.

What do we mean by underlying system?
If you're writing an advantages-disadvantages essay, one paragraph will focus on all benefits, even if multiple. You can group benefits as one idea, rather than thinking each advantage should be in a distinct paragraph.

The same applies to problems and solutions:

• Group many problems in one paragraph.

• Group multiple solutions in another.

Just keep in mind: one underlying system per paragraph

✅ Use a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is crucial to show the examiner:

• Your opinion

• The structure your essay will follow

🔍 Example 1:

In my opinion, social media hampers real-life interaction due to decreased social skills and increased passive distractions. (Read full essay on the thesis statement here)

In this thesis statement, it is clear to the examiner that social media affects communication negatively due to two reasons:

• Decreased social skills

• Increased passive distractions

This sets our opinion and also sets a clear structure:
The essay will have two paragraphs:

1. One focusing on decreased social skills

2. The other focusing on passive distractions

🔍 Example 2:

The major problems linked to air pollution are climate change and an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These issues can be tackled by states investing in clean renewable energy sources and incentivizing citizens to use electric vehicles. (Read full essay on the thesis statement here)

This thesis statement again makes our opinion very clear regarding the problems and viable solutions associated with air pollution.

Note that, even though there are two problems listed, they will be discussed in one paragraph, rather than focusing on each problem in a different paragraph.

👉 This leads to the same idea we discussed earlier: one idea per paragraph.

✅ Use Topic Sentences

Topic sentences are key to showing the examiner your essay's structure.
They also help create flow in your writing.

The topic sentence of each paragraph serves as a guide for what the paragraph is going to be about.

🕹️ Example (Two-Question Essay on Children Playing Video Games):

Computer games can have various detrimental effects on those who play them.
Nevertheless, the situation is not completely dire, as these issues can be combated with parental supervision.

• The first topic sentence clearly focuses on the negative effects of video games.

• The second topic sentence clearly pertains to the solution of parental supervision.

👉 The examiner now expects what is to come.

Throughout your essay, one thing to keep in mind is: do not surprise the examiner.
From the introduction to the conclusion, nothing should seem startling or confusing.
Keep it simple for yourself and the examiner.

✨ How to Improve Cohesion
✅Use Linking words

✅ Use Referencing

Expert writers use referencing more than linking words for cohesion.

Referencing replaces repetition and reduces the need for overusing linking words.

Instead of repeating the same noun or phrase, use referencing words like:

• this, that, these, those

• it, they, them, such, one, ones

• the former, the latter

• which, who, whose, where (relative pronouns)

🔁 Example Without Referencing:

❌ Online learning has many benefits. Online learning is flexible and cost-effective. Online learning also allows students to learn at their own pace.

This sounds repetitive and awkward.

✅ Example With Referencing:

✔ Online learning has many benefits. It is flexible and cost-effective. This mode of education also allows students to learn at their own pace.

✅ Use Synonyms and Pronouns

The key to cohesion is to ensure linking.
You can repeat the same word, but that may lower your lexical resource score, which carries the same weight as coherence and cohesion.

So, what’s the solution?
Use synonyms and pronouns.

🔍 Example Paragraph:

❌ Punishing children physically leads to internalization of violence in children. The research has shown that the children grow up to be emotionally inadequate due to physical violence in childhood. Therefore, children should not be given corporal punishment so that children can have a bright future ahead.

This paragraph is great for coherence and cohesion—we're sticking to one topic and using linking words like "therefore."

👏 Awesome! 10/10 for coherence and cohesion.

But what about lexical resource?

Overusing children shows the examiner that you may not know any synonyms for the word.

That’s why we use synonyms and pronouns.

✅ Improved Version:

Punishing children physically leads to internalization of violence. The research has shown that those who are exposed to violence at a young age grow up to be emotionally inadequate. Therefore, kids should not be given corporal punishment so that they can have a bright future ahead.

📘 Example from a Discussion Essay

However, in my opinion, no matter how beneficial online education seems, it cannot replace traditional teaching. Individuals learn not only from their teachers but also from their peers. Many great inventions result from teamwork rather than the isolated efforts of a single person. Online education renders these collaborations and discussions among classmates obsolete, as artificial intelligence-powered software can provide instant answers to questions. Furthermore, online schooling is not as accessible as physical education. Many people around the world, particularly those in remote areas, lack internet access, making online education an unreliable option. For them, attending classes in person remains the only viable choice.

You can read the full essay here.

What can we see in this paragraph?

1. ✅ It focuses on one idea — that traditional teaching is better.

2. ✅ It uses synonyms and rephrasing:

   • "Traditional teaching"

   • "Physical education"

   • "Attending classes in person"

   ➡️ These show cohesion and lexical range.

3. ✅ It uses pronouns to avoid repetition.

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