One of the key factors for getting success in the IELTS Exam is to know about the test scoring pattern - furthermore, utilizing that knowledge to increase your band score. Understanding the scoring pattern of the test enables you to recognize what the examiners exactly want. You can focus on doing those things and fetch a good score on your IELTS Writing Test.

Get to know one of the most important criteria on which the IELTS Writing Task 2 is scored. That is Coherence & Cohesion.

Coherence & Cohesion holds 25% weightage of the total score in IELTS Writing -Academic and General Training Tests. But, aspirants overlook this criterion most of the time, and this is precisely why they score a low band.

What is Coherence?

Coherence refers to the flow of your writing. It relates to how well you have organized and structured your essay and how well you have logically sequenced your ideas.

When you write an essay, your primary motive is to express your ideas precisely so that the examiner can easily understand your ideas while reading them. Thus, coherence is essential for your Essay Writing task.

Quick Tips to Follow that shows your Coherence Skill in Your Essay

• Separate your Essay with different paragraphs
• Use Linking Phrases to connect paragraphs
• Follow a Logical Sequence with paragraphs

Let's say you are given the following topic to write your essay:

It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between completing school and beginning to go to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

The following essay structure shows your Coherence skills -

• Introduction: Here, you will paraphrase the essay question provided and then present your point of view
• Body Paragraph 1: You can start by discussing one of the advantages
• Body Paragraph 2: Provide another advantage if you want (optional)
• Body Paragraph 3: Discuss one of the disadvantages
• Body Paragraph 4: You can include another disadvantage (optional)
• Conclusion: At this point, you have to summarize all your arguments and restate your point of view

Now that you know what coherence is, you must paraphrase the essay question and maintain a connection between body paragraphs.

For that, you can make use of Linking Phrases. That is, to start with another advantage in Body Paragraph 2, you can use phrases like 'in addition to' or 'furthermore'.

To bridge a logical sequence between advantages and disadvantages, you can begin writing disadvantages using some of the phrases like 'however', 'on the other hand' or 'let's not forget the fact that'.

Keep these points into consideration while you write your essay for IELTS Writing Test - whether Academic or General Training.

What is Cohesion?

Cohesion means linking words that help you connect ideas. It also relates to how sentences are linked together to form a meaningful paragraph and how paragraphs are linked together to form an essay.

Quick Tips to Follow that shows your Cohesive Skill in your Essay

• Focus only on 1 point in each paragraph to enhance clarity
• Write Complex Sentences with appropriate use of Punctuations
• Link your ideas with Syntax instead of making excessive use of Linking phrases

For your essay to be cohesive, you must ensure that you don't mix up more than one idea in a single paragraph. Instead, you should focus on one particular point, elaborate on it, and it is always recommended to provide a suitable example in support of that point.

Though writing complex sentences is advisable for the IELTS Writing task - Essay, you must use them wisely. There is a fine line between 'Complex sentences' and 'Complicated sentences.' Do make sure you present your thoughts without making the sentences hard to read or understand, in other words, complicated. Furthermore, proper Punctuations can also help you in framing complex sentences.

Example:

Complex Sentence: All my friends enjoyed the movie, however, I hardly enjoyed it.

Complicated Sentence: My friends and I went to a movie, but, I did not find it great though they all liked it very much.

Cohesive Devices are used to signify the relationship between different clauses, sentences and paragraphs.

What are Cohesive Devices?

Connectors, linking words, phrases, and transitional words are the Cohesive Devices that you can use in your Essay.

Here are some examples of Cohesive Devices that you can use in your IELTS Writing Task - Essay

• Adding Ideas: 'furthermore', 'in addition to'
• Contrasting Ideas: 'however', 'on the other hand', 'let's not forget the fact that'
• Stating Examples: 'for instance', 'for example', 'to illustrate this'
• Explaining Results: 'consequently', 'as a result'
• Maintaining the Sequence: 'firstly', 'next', 'to begin with'
• Providing Explanations: 'because of', 'due to'
• Concluding Ideas: 'in conclusion', 'to sum up'
• Introducing your Point: 'another point that I would like to add', 'in my opinion'

Note:Never overdo with Cohesive Devices.

You must avoid the use of excessive connectors in a single paragraph. With too many linking words, your writing will not sound natural and fluent. It may also confuse the examiner while reading your essay.

An alternative to prevent unnecessary connectors is to use pronouns and dependent clauses to fulfil your purpose. Use Cohesive Devices Correctly and in Right Quantity.

Here's a Quick Summary to ensure that your Essay Writing Task has these characteristics!

• Start each paragraph with a clear and concise sentence
• Focus only on one main point in each paragraph
• Develop your main idea with proper explanation, evidence, example, or experience
• Use a variety of linking words and phrases
• Make sure that the Cohesive Devices used are appropriate
• Use pronouns and synonyms to avoid repetition
• End your paragraph with a summary sentence that either concludes it or links it to the other paragraph

Conclusion

Coherence and Cohesive play an important part in achieving greater scores in the IELTS Writing test. You can visit IELTS Tutorials to stay updated with the important aspects of IELTS Test. You can start preparing with free online IELTS practice tests and other study materials.