Coherence And Cohesion 

 

Coherence and cohesion is one of the four criteria that IELTS examiners use to assess your writing in Task 1 and Task 2. It is worth 25% of your total writing score.

  • Coherence refers to the logical flow of your writing. Your ideas should be presented in a clear and orderly way, with each sentence leading naturally to the next.
  • Cohesion refers to the use of linking devices to connect your ideas together. This can be done using a variety of words and phrases, such as “first,” “second,” “however,” “in addition,” and “as a result.”

To achieve a high score for coherence and cohesion, your writing should:

  • Have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
  • Use linking devices to connect your ideas together.
  • Avoid repetition.
  • Make sure writing is well-organised and easy to follow.

Here are some examples of linking devices that you can use to improve the coherence and cohesion of your writing:

  • To introduce a new idea: first, second, third, next, finally
  • To add information: also, in addition, furthermore, moreover
  • To contrast ideas: however, on the other hand, although, while
  • To show cause and effect: because, as a result, therefore, consequently
  • To summarize: in conclusion, to sum up, in summary

By using these linking devices effectively, you can help to ensure that your writing is coherent and cohesive, and that you achieve a high score for this important band.

Here are some additional tips for improving your coherence and cohesion:

  • Plan your essay carefully before you start writing. This will help you to organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical way.
  • Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph. This will help your reader to understand the main point of each paragraph.
  • Use supporting sentences to back up your topic sentences. This will help to make your writing more convincing and engaging.
  • Use examples to back up your points. This is also part of the task achievement band. 
  • Proofread your essay carefully before you submit it. This will help you to catch any errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling.

By following these tips, you can improve your coherence and cohesion and achieve a high score for this important criterion in the IELTS writing exam.