IELTS: Using Connectors Properly (and Why Most Students Don’t)

Connectors are one of the easiest things to get wrong in IELTS and one of the most satisfying things to get right. Most students use them, but far fewer use them correctly. Slapping furthermore at the start of every second sentence is not sophistication. It is noise. Let’s fix that.

What Are Connectors and Why Do They Matter?

Connectors (also called linking words or cohesive devices) are words and phrases that join ideas together. They show your reader, or your examiner, how your ideas relate to each other. Are you adding information? Contrasting two points? Explaining a cause? A good connector tells the reader exactly what to expect next.

In IELTS Writing, connectors directly affect your Coherence and Cohesion score, which is worth 25% of your total Writing mark. In Speaking, natural use of connectors contributes to your Fluency and Coherence score. So yes, this matters.

The problem is not that students avoid connectors. The problem is overuse, misuse, and repetition. Using however five times in one essay does not demonstrate range. It demonstrates a habit.

The Main Categories of Connectors

Think of connectors in groups based on what job they do:

• Addition: furthermore, in addition, moreover, also, what is more
• Contrast: however, nevertheless, on the other hand, despite this, although
• Cause and effect: therefore, as a result, consequently, this leads to, owing to
• Illustration: for example, for instance, such as, to illustrate
• Concession: admittedly, granted, while it is true that
• Conclusion: overall, to summarise, on balance

Each group has its own logic. You cannot swap members of one group for another and expect the meaning to hold. Therefore signals a result. However signals a contrast. Mix those up and your argument falls apart.

The Rules That Actually Matter

1. Match the connector to the relationship between ideas. Before you write a connector, ask yourself: what is the logical connection here? If the answer is contrast, use a contrast connector. If there is no strong logical link, do not force one in.

2. Vary your connectors. Examiners notice repetition. If you have used however once, reach for nevertheless or on the other hand next time. Same job, different word.

3. Watch your punctuation. This is where a lot of marks quietly disappear. However, therefore, and moreover are adverbs, not conjunctions. You cannot use them to join two independent clauses with just a comma. That is a comma splice, and it will cost you.

Incorrect: The city has good transport links, however the housing is expensive.
Correct: The city has good transport links. However, the housing is expensive.
Also correct: The city has good transport links; however, the housing is expensive.

4. Do not open every sentence with a connector. Over-signposting reads as mechanical. Let some sentences flow naturally from the previous one without a connector at all.

Worked Examples

Here is a weak paragraph from an IELTS Task 2 essay on remote working:

Remote working has many benefits. Furthermore, employees save time on commuting. Furthermore, they have more flexibility. However, there are disadvantages. Furthermore, communication can suffer.

The ideas are there. The connectors are not doing the right work. Here is the same paragraph, revised:

Remote working offers genuine advantages. Employees save time on commuting and gain greater flexibility in managing their day. That said, it is not without drawbacks. Communication between team members can suffer when face-to-face interaction is removed.

Notice that the revised version uses fewer connectors, not more. That said does a clean job of introducing the contrast. The rest of the logic is carried by sentence structure, not signposting.

Now a business writing example. Compare these two sentences from a professional report:

Weak: Sales figures declined in Q3, moreover the team missed its targets.
Stronger: Sales figures declined in Q3. As a result, the team missed its quarterly targets.

Moreover signals addition. But missing targets because of declining sales is a cause-and-effect relationship. As a result is the honest connector here.

Getting connectors right is exactly the kind of detail we work through in daily coaching sessions. If you want structured practice on your own writing, have a look at the daily coaching programme here.

Practice Exercise

Choose the correct connector for each sentence. Pick from the options given.

1. The new policy reduces costs. ________, it has led to lower staff morale. (Furthermore / However / As a result)
2. Many young people move to cities for work. ________, urban populations have grown significantly. (Nevertheless / Consequently / Although)
3. The proposal has clear financial benefits. ________, it raises several ethical questions. (Moreover / Admittedly / Therefore)
4. ________ the training was expensive, it produced measurable improvements in performance. (Despite / Although / Furthermore)
5. Rewrite this sentence to fix the comma splice: The report was incomplete, therefore the meeting was postponed.

Work through those carefully. Think about the logical relationship first, then pick the connector. The answers, along with extended writing practice, are the kind of thing we go through directly in coaching sessions. Find out more about daily coaching here.

Vocabulary to Know

• cohesive device /kəʊˈhiː.sɪv dɪˈvaɪs/ – Level: B2 – a word or phrase used to link sentences and ideas so that a text reads smoothly – Example: The examiner praised her use of cohesive devices throughout the essay.
• comma splice /ˈkɒm.ə splaɪs/ – Level: C1 – a punctuation error where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma – Example: He revised the paragraph after his teacher pointed out a comma splice in the second sentence.
• concession /kənˈseʃ.ən/ – Level: C1 – an acknowledgement that the opposing side has a valid point, before continuing your own argument – Example: He made a concession early in the essay before arguing strongly for his position.
• signposting /ˈsaɪn.pəʊ.stɪŋ/ – Level: B2 – the use of words or phrases to guide the reader through the structure of a text – Example: Clear signposting helped the reader follow the argument from one paragraph to the next.
• independent clause /ˌɪn.dɪˈpen.dənt klɔːz/ – Level: B2 – a group of words that contains a subject and verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence – Example: “The results were positive” is an independent clause and can stand on its own.
• on balance /ɒn ˈbæl.əns/ – Level: B1 – considering all the factors together; overall – Example: On balance, the advantages of the scheme outweigh the disadvantages.
• that said /ðæt sɛd/ – Level: B2 – a phrase used to introduce a contrasting point; similar to “however” but more conversational – Example: The location is inconvenient. That said, the rent is very affordable.
• logical connective /ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl kəˈnek.tɪv/ – Level: C1 – a word or phrase that expresses the logical relationship between two ideas or clauses – Example: “Therefore” is a logical connective that indicates cause and effect.
• admittedly /ədˈmɪt.ɪd.li/ – Level: C1 – used to acknowledge a fact that slightly weakens your argument before reinforcing it – Example: Admittedly, the research sample was small, but the findings were still significant.
• what is more /wɒt ɪz mɔː/ – Level: B2 – an addition connector, slightly more emphatic than “also” or “furthermore” – Example: The candidate was highly qualified. What is more, she had direct experience in the sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use connectors in IELTS Speaking, or are they just for Writing?
Both. In Speaking, connectors like on the other hand, having said that, and as a result show the examiner you can organise your ideas in real time. Just keep them natural. Rehearsed-sounding connectors in Speaking can actually work against you if they feel robotic.

How many connectors should I use in a Task 2 essay?
There is no magic number. Aim for variety over quantity. One or two connectors per paragraph is usually enough. If every sentence starts with a linking word, that is almost certainly too many.

Is it wrong to start a sentence with “And” or “But”?
In formal IELTS writing, avoid starting sentences with And or But. Use Furthermore or In addition instead of And, and However or Nevertheless instead of But. In speaking and in less formal writing, starting with But is perfectly acceptable.

Keep Practising

Connectors are a small part of English that carry a disproportionate amount of weight in IELTS. The good news is they are very teachable, and the improvements show up quickly in your writing once you start applying the logic properly.

If you want a coach reading your actual sentences and giving you real feedback rather than working through this alone, that is what daily coaching is built around. Take a look at how it works here.