IELTS Coherence & Cohesion: What Examiners Look For

Most IELTS candidates think Coherence & Cohesion is about linking words. They memorise lists of connectors — "Furthermore," "Moreover," "In addition," "Notwithstanding" — and scatter them across their essays, expecting a higher score. Then they get their results back and wonder why they scored a 6.0.

Here is the truth: overusing linking words can actually lower your Coherence & Cohesion score. The band descriptors at Band 7 specifically penalise "overuse" and "mechanical" use of cohesive devices. If your essay reads like a checklist of connectors, the examiner sees it as a weakness, not a strength.

So what does this criterion actually measure? And what should you do instead? This guide breaks down the four elements examiners assess and shows you how to earn Band 7+ without stuffing your essay with "Furthermore."

The 4 Elements of Coherence & Cohesion

Examiners assess four distinct elements. Most candidates focus on only one of them (cohesive devices) and ignore the other three — which is why their scores stagnate.

1. Logical Organisation of Ideas

This is the big one. Your essay must have a clear, logical progression from beginning to end. The examiner should be able to follow your argument without re-reading any sentence.

What this means in practice:

• Your introduction sets up the topic and states your position
• Each body paragraph addresses one main idea
• Your ideas flow in a logical order (most important first, or chronological, or cause→effect)
• Your conclusion summarises without introducing new ideas

Band 6 problem: Ideas are present but arranged randomly. The reader has to work to understand the connection between paragraphs.

Band 7 standard: Ideas progress clearly and logically. Each paragraph builds on the previous one.

2. Paragraphing

Every body paragraph must have one central idea, and that idea must be stated in a topic sentence at or near the beginning of the paragraph.

Paragraph structure that examiners reward:

• Topic sentence (states the paragraph's main point)
• Supporting sentences (explain, illustrate, or provide evidence)
• Optional concluding sentence (links back to the main argument)

Common mistakes:

• Writing one or two giant paragraphs instead of 4-5 shorter ones
• Starting a new paragraph mid-idea because the previous one "felt too long"
• Having two or three different ideas crammed into one paragraph

For a detailed guide on building individual paragraphs, see how to structure an IELTS Task 2 body paragraph.

3. Cohesive Devices (Used Appropriately)

Yes, cohesive devices matter — but the key word in the band descriptors is "appropriately." At Band 7, the descriptor says cohesive devices are used "flexibly." At Band 6, it says they are used "not always appropriately."

Cohesive devices include:

• Conjunctions: and, but, so, because, although
• Adverbial connectors: however, therefore, consequently, in contrast
• Reference words: this, that, these, such, the former, the latter
• Substitution and ellipsis: "The government introduced a new policy. It [= the policy] was immediately controversial."

The most underused cohesive devices are reference words and substitution. Most candidates only think of connectors like "However" and "Moreover."

Overuse example (Band 6):

"Furthermore, many people believe that education should be free. Moreover, free education can help reduce inequality. In addition, it allows more people to access higher education. Additionally, the economy benefits from a more educated workforce."

This paragraph uses four additive connectors in four consecutive sentences. It reads like a bullet list, not flowing prose. The examiner sees mechanical use.

Natural use example (Band 7+):

"Free education can help reduce inequality by removing the financial barriers that prevent low-income students from attending university. This expanded access does not only benefit individuals — it also strengthens the broader economy. Countries that have invested in universal higher education, such as Germany and Norway, consistently rank among the most competitive economies globally."

Notice: no "Furthermore" or "Moreover." The cohesion comes from logical connections between ideas — the second sentence references the first ("This expanded access"), and the third provides evidence for the second. That is real cohesion.

4. Clear Referencing Throughout

Referencing means using words like this, that, these, such, it, and they to connect sentences without repeating the same nouns.

Weak referencing: "Governments should invest in renewable energy. Renewable energy is important for the environment. The environment needs to be protected for future generations."

The repetition of "renewable energy" and "the environment" makes the writing feel mechanical.

Strong referencing: "Governments should invest in renewable energy. Such investment is essential for environmental protection, which in turn safeguards the planet for future generations."

"Such investment" refers back to "invest in renewable energy." "Which" refers to "environmental protection." The writing flows because each sentence connects to the previous one through reference, not repetition.

Why "Big" Linking Words Hurt Your Score

Let us address this directly, because it is one of the most persistent myths in IELTS preparation.

Words like "Notwithstanding," "Henceforth," "Irrespective of the fact that," and "It is worth mentioning that" do NOT impress examiners. They are often:

1. Used incorrectly — "Notwithstanding" is formal legal language that most candidates misuse
2. Unnecessary — Simpler connectors like "however," "although," and "because" do the same job
3. A red flag — They signal that the candidate is trying to impress rather than communicate

The band descriptors do not reward "impressive" vocabulary in cohesive devices. They reward flexibility and appropriateness. Using "however" correctly three times is better than using "notwithstanding" incorrectly once.

Coherence vs Cohesion: The Difference

These two concepts are assessed together, but they are different:

Coherence = Does the essay make sense as a whole? Can the reader follow the argument from start to finish?

Cohesion = Are the sentences and paragraphs connected to each other through language?

You can have cohesion without coherence: an essay full of linking words that still makes no logical sense. You can also have coherence without much explicit cohesion: an essay where the ideas flow logically even without many connectors.

The ideal is both — an essay where the ideas are logically organised AND the language connects them smoothly.

For a complete explanation of all four IELTS writing criteria, see our guide to IELTS band descriptors explained.

How to Improve Your Coherence & Cohesion Score

Step 1: Plan Before You Write

Spend 3-5 minutes planning your essay before you start writing. Decide:

• What is your position?
• What are your 2-3 main arguments?
• What order should they go in?
• What evidence will you use for each?

A planned essay is almost always more coherent than an unplanned one.

Step 2: Start Every Paragraph with a Topic Sentence

The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. If you remove everything except the topic sentences, the examiner should be able to follow your argument.

Step 3: Use Reference Words Instead of Repeating Nouns

Replace repeated nouns with this, such, these, it, they, or a synonym. This single change will make your writing feel more natural immediately.

Step 4: Remove Unnecessary Connectors

Read your essay and delete any connector that does not change the meaning of the sentence. If the sentence reads just as well without "Furthermore," remove it.

Step 5: Check That Each Paragraph Has Only One Main Idea

If a paragraph addresses two different ideas, split it. If a paragraph has no clear main idea, it probably should not exist.

Quick Reference: Coherence & Cohesion Checklist

• Does each paragraph have one clear main idea?
• Does each paragraph start with a topic sentence?
• Do ideas progress logically from paragraph to paragraph?
• Are linking words used naturally (not mechanically)?
• Are reference words (this, such, these) used to connect sentences?
• Have you removed any unnecessary connectors?
• Could the examiner follow your argument by reading only the topic sentences?

See Your Coherence Score

Submit your essay and get a detailed Coherence & Cohesion score with specific feedback on your paragraphing, idea progression, and use of cohesive devices.

Get expert evaluation →See Pricing