coherence and cohesion these two slightly weird words are fundamental to passing your IELTS exam
especially if you are looking for a band 7 or higher score today we'll go through three
essential elements that make your essay coherent and cohesive and I'll show you some practical
tips you'll be able to implement straight away it's Asiya let's get started [Music]
imagine you've just finished reading a piece of writing and you're not quite sure what the
main message was most likely that's because it was incoherent it wasn't clear enough your Issa should
be the opposite of this so our first element is Clarity making it clear in IELTS terms is
coherence the way your essay is put together should make sense to the reader that's what
the IELTS examine is looking for look at what the IELTS band descriptors tell the examiner and us as
IELTS test takers in the coherence and cohesion category a glorious band 9 states that the test
taker skillfully manages paragraphing and for band 8 sequences information and ideas logically uses
paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately a nice band 7 score means logically organizes information
and ideas clear progression throughout presents a clear Central topic within each paragraph that
sounds wonderful but be careful because the warning signals for anybody who doesn't reach
these high standards are there to see when we go down to band 6. uses paragraphing but
not always logically or there so the examiner has decided that you're not perfectly logical
what can you do to make sure your band score is a 7 or higher today let's take a general training
task 2 as a topic I've chosen one where we must Express an opinion here it is many people today
would argue that Cinemas are becoming irrelevant due to new TV streaming services to what extent
do you agree or disagree the question is asking for your point of view please remember this key
Point The Examiner is not judging you on your opinion but on your skill at presenting it in
the context of the question which will include contrasting views arguing for and against and
something we haven't mentioned yet giving relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience
if you like the idea of exam tips this is another tip find clear and relevant ideas
here are mine you might be wondering why I wrote down the advantages and disadvantages of each when
I haven't agreed disagree essay but this is one of the ways to find ideas to talk about and then I'll
use these ideas to support my opinion if you'd like to read them go ahead and pause the video now
speaking about my opinion I've chosen a balanced opinion I disagree that Cinemas are becoming
completely irrelevant but I do think they must adapt this is a short statement I'm gonna use at
the beginning of my essay in the conclusion I'll have a more developed opinion that incorporates
the ideas from my body paragraphs I think about both before I start writing if you'd like to
learn what you're expected to write in each type of essay and what's the difference for
example between writing an opinion essay when you agree or when you have a balanced opinion
check out my IELTS preparation packs which contain step-by-step IELTS writing and speaking courses
which can help you meet each requirement they are linked below and we are moving on to the
next essential element of any well-written IELTS essay logic it should be logically organized
this is also part of making your essay coherent in our task 2 IELTS essay this means organizing
the topic knowing how to start and how to finish and how to fill the very important parts in the
middle yes I mean paragraphs I mean sequence the golden rule is to have four or five paragraphs in
USA and the big question is where to give your opinion there is a lot of debate about it but
most examiners I've talked to recommend making your position very clear in the introduction just
after presenting the topic so here is my essay structure for this essay an introduction with my
opinion discussing the main aspects in two body paragraphs before a summing up the main points
in the conclusion it's simple it's classic it works and that's what the examiner is looking for
here's a very important Point each body paragraph should have one Central Point
and that's why I have one paragraph about Cinema and another about streaming all I need are some
relevant examples and I think it will be fine remember that it's best to make your examples
neither too General nor too personal or local The Examiner may not know that for example your local
Cinema closed down last year so if you mention that fact try to put it into a broader context
my own local Cinema shot its doors last year due to the ever decreasing number of Cinema goers
and that is something that is happening worldwide and here is how I could begin my body paragraph
streaming services have become very popular in recent years most people
I know for example tend to watch films at home rather than go to the cinema right let's move
on so Clarity and logic are necessary to make your essay coherent coherence is the
overall picture and the way your ideas are presented in a clear and logical way
when sentences are connected at the sentence level we call this cohesion
again we're trying to make the life of our dear reader The Examiner a bit easier how let's have
a look at the descriptors first our band 9 is a little odd because all it says with regard
to cohesion is this it attracts no attention it's so good you don't even notice it's there
well more about it in a moment going to band 8 we have manages all aspects of cohesion well
it's when we get to band 7 and 6 in fact that we have a clearer picture band 7 uses a range
of cohesive devices appropriately but maybe some over underused cohesive devices you know however
moreover because for instance linking words or words that tell the reader what you're trying
to do and band 6 uses cohesive devices effectively but cohesion within and or between sentences maybe
40 or mechanical this is more interesting you can learn a lot more from what we're not supposed to
do rather than those things that give us maximum Credit in other words when it comes to cohesive
devices no not only their meanings but also their grammar time to pause for a tip know your
cohesive devices let's work through the second paragraph of the essay on the relevance of Cinema
we are writing about streaming services and the way they've obviously changed our entertainment
choices and viewing habits we're sticking to comparing them to cinema going we don't really
need to mention television at all it would be off topic a good friend of mine who happens to
be a former IELTS examiner wrote this paragraph for us and I made several versions of it to show
you something so here is your task listen and think about the linking words and if they're
used well here is the paragraph streaming services have become very popular in recent
years and this is because not only do they offer a wide variety of entertainment including films
series and documentaries but also the services economically accessible to most another important
aspect to mention is the fact that because you're in the comfort of your own home you have choices
for instance subtitles pausing the film whenever you wish or even just stopping it if it's not to
your liking are up to you however what these Services cannot offer that is if you do not
have a very large screen and an excellent sound system is the overall Cinema Visual and audio
experience do you think the linking devices were used well they were all used correctly
but there are too many connectors they're slightly distracting from the main message of the paragraph
and if we cut all connectors out well go ahead pause the video and read this version
doesn't it feel a little jumpy all the connectors are left to the reader to figure out that's not
good for IELTS you need to give your reader just the right amount of help again pause the
video and read this paragraph I reckon there is just the right number of cohesive devices
remember the band 7 comment about over and under use one mistake test takers make is to impress The
Examiner they try to use far too many connecting words it's really unnecessary I've even seen that
some people try to use let's say one Linker in each sentence this is definitely not the right
approach now there is another aspect of cohesion we need to talk about it comes in the descriptors
for the first time in our Lookout band 6. may not use referencing clearly or appropriately
and it's time for another tip use pronouns and substitution well referencing quite simply is
the way we substitute nouns or names with pronouns use words like this or that transfer back to what
has been said without the need to repeat entire phrases as well as the way we use alternative
words to avoid repetition look at some of the examples in our streaming services paragraph
notice the pronoun references they for streaming services it for the film know the use of
alternative ways to express something sometimes by generalizing or a meeting a word for example these
services for streaming services these services for the streaming services previously mentioned
we also have words that Express a thought in a different way Visual and audio for large screen
and excellent sound system if you link your ideas well with linking words pronouns and substitution
you make your essay cohesive or in simple words you make your ideas flow one from another
our last essential element is the flow a good flow makes your essay cohesive Clarity logic flow you
can see how these elements come together in a band line essay if you watch this video where you can
have a look at a full sample answer and get one step closer to writing essays like this yourself
thank you so much for watching me today good luck with your preparation and your exam bye