Cohesive devices and referencing

Why over-using linking words lowers Coherence and Cohesion, and how referencing, substitution and topic sentences do the work instead.

All grammar rules

Marking criterion: Coherence and Cohesion
Where it pays off: Writing Task 1 · Writing Task 2 · Speaking Part 2 and 3

Coherence and Cohesion is widely misunderstood as a linking-word score. The descriptors say the opposite: mechanical, overused or inaccurate cohesive devices are penalised, and the higher bands describe cohesion that is used so well it attracts no attention. Real cohesion comes from paragraph structure, referencing and logical order.

Reference back instead of linking forward

Referencing words tie a paragraph together invisibly and are the fastest upgrade available.

Demonstratives plus a summary noun: 'this trend', 'these figures', 'such measures', 'this shift'.
Pronouns with an unambiguous antecedent: it, they, their, its.
Substitution: 'The first group rose steadily; the second did not.'
Ellipsis in speaking: 'Some people enjoy it, others don't.'

Let topic sentences carry the structure

If each paragraph opens with a sentence naming its controlling idea, the reader never needs a signpost.

One idea per paragraph, announced in the first sentence.
Order the paragraphs by importance or by the order set out in your introduction.
In Task 1, group by pattern and say so: 'The three European countries followed a similar path.'
Paragraph breaks are themselves a cohesion device. Unbroken text is marked down.

Use connectors sparingly and accurately

Connectors are still useful; the problem is quantity and misuse.

Contrast: however, whereas, by contrast, on the other hand. 'On the other hand' requires a preceding 'on the one hand' idea.
Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore. One per paragraph is plenty.
Result: consequently, as a result, therefore.
Example: for instance, such as, namely.
Avoid the memorised chain 'Firstly, Secondly, Last but not least'. It is the clearest signal of a template.

Speaking cohesion is different

In Speaking, Fluency and Coherence rewards natural discourse markers, not written connectors.

Natural markers: 'the thing is', 'actually', 'to be honest', 'having said that', 'that said'.
Avoid reciting written connectors aloud. 'Furthermore' in a Part 1 answer sounds rehearsed.
Signal your structure lightly in Part 2: 'I'll start with where it was, and then why it mattered.'

Corrected examples

Incorrect: Firstly, pollution is a problem. Secondly, traffic is a problem. Moreover, noise is a problem. Last but not least, housing is a problem.

Correct: Rapid urban growth has created several linked pressures. The most visible is air pollution, which in turn stems largely from traffic congestion.

A controlling idea plus referencing replaces a mechanical list and reads as genuine cohesion.

Incorrect: The figure rose sharply. However, the figure rose sharply again after 2010.

Correct: The figure rose sharply, and this upward movement resumed after 2010.

'However' signals contrast that does not exist. Inaccurate connectors are penalised.

Incorrect: Governments should invest in rail. Governments should also tax fuel.

Correct: Governments should invest in rail. Such investment works best alongside higher fuel taxes.

'Such investment' refers back and connects the ideas without a connector.

Quick checklist

One controlling idea per paragraph, named in the first sentence.
Prefer 'this trend' and 'such measures' to another connector.
At most one addition connector per paragraph.
Never open consecutive sentences with Firstly, Secondly, Moreover.

Apply it to a real response and check the length and structure.

Open the writing checklist