Priyanka from Noida began eleven of her fourteen sentences with a linking word. Her Coherence and Cohesion band stayed at 6.0.

Cohesion is not a count of linking words. The Band 7 descriptor describes a range of cohesive devices, including reference and substitution, used flexibly, so use referencing, substitution and clear topic sentences, and keep linking words for real logical links.

What Do the Band Descriptors Say About Cohesion?

At Band 6, the public Writing descriptor says cohesion within or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical because of misuse, overuse or omission of cohesive devices. It adds that reference and substitution may lack flexibility or clarity.

At Band 7, a range of cohesive devices, including reference and substitution, is used flexibly, with some inaccuracies or some over- or under-use. Information and ideas are logically organised, with a clear progression.

Linking words are not the problem. The key assessment criteria list discourse markers such as “first of all” and “as a result” alongside reference and substitution. Our plain-English guide to the IELTS Writing band descriptors explains what Band 7 needs.

Five Cohesive Devices Beyond Linking Words

The British Council’s LearnEnglish grammar page lists “it”, “this” and “these”, “such”, “do so” and synonyms among the ways to avoid repetition in a text.

Device What it does Example
Reference words Point back with this or these plus a noun The council banned parking. This policy reduced congestion.
Pronouns Replace a noun already named The new tram line opened in March. It has cut travel times.
Substitution Replace repeated words: one, ones, do so Some staff resigned; others chose to do so later.
Synonyms and word families Repeat an idea without repeating the word The council will regulate traffic. Regulation should cut accidents.
Topic sentences State the main idea of a paragraph Remote work brings clear environmental benefits.

A topic sentence usually opens a paragraph; our guide to Task 2 body paragraphs shows how to build one.

Referencing Done Well

A dependable habit is to pair “this” or “these” with a noun that sums up the previous idea, such as “this policy” or “these findings”. Our lesson on cohesive devices gives more patterns.

A “this” or “it” on its own can leave the reader guessing, which is the lack of clarity the Band 6 descriptor mentions.

Incorrect: “The city cut bus fares and added night buses. This increased passenger numbers.”

Correct: The city cut bus fares and added night buses. This combination increased passenger numbers.

Here “this” alone could point to the fares, the night buses or both, so a noun removes the doubt.

Before and After: Mechanical Linkers

Compare two versions of one Task 2 body paragraph.

Before

Firstly, municipal governments should invest in dedicated cycle lanes across major urban centres. Moreover, encouraging bicycle travel reduces air pollution because pedal cycles emit no toxic exhaust fumes. Furthermore, daily exercise improves cardiovascular health among urban residents. Additionally, safe cycling networks persuade commuters to leave private cars at home. Consequently, traffic congestion declines steadily throughout crowded commercial districts.

After (illustrative Band 7)

Municipal governments should invest in dedicated cycle lanes across major cities. This investment would reduce air pollution, because bicycles produce no toxic exhaust fumes. Cycling is also daily exercise that improves residents’ cardiovascular health. Once cyclists feel safe on these lanes, many commuters would choose to leave their cars at home, and congestion in crowded commercial districts would fall.

What changed:

  • The five sentence-opening linkers (Firstly, Moreover, Furthermore, Additionally, Consequently) are gone; “also” and “once” now mark the added point and the condition, and “because” marks the reason.
  • “This investment” and “these lanes” point back with a noun, so the links no longer depend on a linker.
  • Related words repeat the idea without repeating the term: cycle lanes, cycling, cyclists and bicycles.

Incorrect: “Firstly, … Secondly, … Moreover, … Furthermore, …”

Correct: Choose one linker where the logic changes, such as a contrast or a result, and let reference words carry the rest.

A short sequence of markers can be fine; a chain of them in one paragraph is what reads as mechanical.

Tip

Read your paragraph aloud with the linkers covered, to check that the ideas still connect.

For natural use of linking words in general, see our guide to using linking words without overdoing them.

Key Takeaways

  • At Band 7, cohesive devices are used flexibly, with some over- or under-use.
  • The Band 6 descriptor mentions mechanical cohesion caused by misuse, overuse or omission.
  • A noun after “this”, as in “this policy”, links ideas clearly.
  • The key criteria include discourse markers, so linking words are part of cohesion.

The bottom line: A linking word is one tool for connecting ideas, not the whole job.