Coherence and cohesion

This criterion is about organisation: whether your ideas come in a logical order, and whether the language shows how they connect.

Two words, two ideas

The official criteria document separates them. Coherence is the linking of ideas through logical sequencing: does each point follow from the one before? Cohesion is the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices, such as connectors, conjunctions and pronouns, to make the relationships between and within sentences clear.

An essay can have one without the other. A list of sound points in random order has no coherence. A logical argument written in short disconnected sentences has no cohesion.

What examiners look at

According to the official document, read on 12 November 2026:

• logical organisation of information and ideas, or logical progression of the argument,
• appropriate paragraphing,
• logical sequencing within and across paragraphs,
• flexible use of reference and substitution, such as articles and pronouns,
• appropriate use of discourse markers to mark stages and show relationships.

Paragraphs

One main idea to a paragraph, stated near the start and then developed. A common Task 2 plan has four paragraphs: introduction with your position, two body paragraphs, conclusion. Leave a blank line between paragraphs so the structure is visible at a glance.

Linking words: fewer and better

Overdone: "Firstly, cities are crowded. Moreover, they are noisy. Furthermore, they are expensive. In addition, they are polluted." Every sentence starts with a connector, and the ideas are only a list.

Better: "Cities are crowded and noisy, and the cost of living is high. As a result, many families who work in the city choose to live outside it." One connector, chosen because it shows a real relationship: cause and effect.

The word "appropriate" in the criteria matters. A connector must match the logic. "However" promises a contrast; "therefore" promises a result. Using them as decoration confuses the reader.

Reference words

Pronouns and words like "this", "these", "such" and "the former" tie sentences together without repetition.

Repetitive: "Online learning is flexible. Online learning is cheaper. Online learning suits adults."

Better: "Online learning is flexible and cheaper. For these reasons it suits working adults." Make sure the reader can tell what "it" or "this" points to.

In Task 1

Organisation counts here too. For a chart: an introduction that says what the chart shows, an overview of the main features, then details grouped logically, for example the items that rose in one paragraph and those that fell in another.

Check your own writing

1. Cover everything except the first sentence of each paragraph. Do those sentences alone give the outline of your answer?
2. Circle your linking words. Are there more than one or two in a paragraph? Does each match the logic?
3. Find every "it", "this" and "they". Is it clear what each refers to?

Next

Lexical resource: vocabulary All writing pages

Independent practice site. IELTS Practice is not connected with, approved by or endorsed by the British Council, IDP IELTS or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own IELTS. The practice tasks and sample answers here are our own; they are not official test questions, and we do not award bands. Facts about the test were read on ielts.org on 12 November 2026. For registration, fees, dates and official sample tests, go to ielts.org.