• C2 Academic and Exam Information

LIST OF CONNECTORS, LINKS, TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

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Flo-Joe for Cambridge English Exams

Cambridge English: Proficiency

Check out students' answers to Flo-Joe's CPE Writing tasks with a teacher's feedback

  • Writing Class

Writing Class: Essay

Task type: essay.

Question Read the two texts below. Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

Write the essay. (around 240 - 280 words)

Makeover: Zamira

Read Zamira's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready, click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Content You have addressed the task appropriately and given a full and thoughtful answer to the question. The essay is within the word limit and everything is relevant. You have covered the main issues in each text and you have also offered an opinion of your own. Communicative Achievement The essay is written in an appropriate format and in an academic style. I nearly suggested deleting the final sentence as it verged on the kind of comment you would find in an article rather than an academic piece of writing. But it works well so I've left it in! The reader would be fully informed of the content of both texts and your own views. Organisation The essay is organised logically with clear paragraphing. Linking words and discourse markers are used very well to create an extremely coherent piece of writing. Language This is a very well written essay. You have used both vocabulary and grammatical structures well to express your ideas flexibly. I am particularly impressed with your use of advanced sentence structures and your ability to write in very natural English. There are very few ‘mistakes’ as such. Well done!

Get Feedback on your writing

Marking Code

/\ Word(s) missing

- Omit word

C Capitalization

O Organisation

P Punctuation

PE Poorly expressed

R Register/Formality

SS Sentence Structure

WF Wrong form

WO Word order

WT Wrong tense

WW Wrong word

CPE Info and Practice

Cpe resources to buy.

Teacher Phill

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE): How Your Writing is Marked

linking words essay c2

Introduction

When I teach my students at all the different levels of preparation for their Cambridge exams, one of the biggest mysteries is the way the writing exam is marked. Of course, the higher the level, the more detailed the criteria and the higher the expectations become in terms of language but also other aspects of good writing, such as cohesion and coherence as well as appropriate register and following certain conventions depending on the type of text you write.

That’s why I’m going to show you everything you need to know in order to not only understand your own writing better, but also to get a grasp on what Cambridge examiners look for and expect from you when marking writing in C2 Proficiency.

In a nutshell, there are four criteria your texts are assessed on:

Communicative Achievement

Organisation.

Each of these criteria is scored on a scale from 0-5 so you can score a maximum of 20 marks per text. As you have to complete two tasks in the official exam, the total possible score is 40 .

In the following chapter, we are going to look at these criteria in detail so once you’ve finished this article, you are an absolute expert in C2 Proficiency writing.

The four marking scales in C2 Proficiency

As I mentioned in the previous section, there are four marking criteria which are scored on a scale from 0-5. To score zero marks in any of them is basically impossible as you pretty much get one mark for simply handing in something that, at least, talks about the topic of the task.

linking words essay c2

Above you can see the official marking criteria showing what is expected of you in each criterion and at each band from 0 to 5.

In the following sections, let’s have a look at each criterion, what the different descriptors actually mean and what you can do to score the highest possible marks.

The first marking scale looks at two things: how relevant the content of your text is in the context of the task and if the target reader is informed .

In other words, you need to make sure that everything you write addresses the different topic points in the task (relevant) and that you develop your ideas appropriately (informed reader) depending on the requirements of the task. For example, if the task asks you to state XYZ, you don’t have to expand on this point as much as you would if it wants you to describe or explain something.

linking words essay c2

Above, you can see a report writing task. In order to ace the content criterion you should always ask yourself what the topic of the task is and what exactly you need to include in your text.

In this example, the topic is a jobs fair and you need to address the following points:

  • Briefly describe the event
  • Identify two or three promotions of particular interest and relevance
  • Evaluate the extent to which such events can open young people’s minds to new challenges and career opportunities

I’ve highlighted the most important words for you so you get an idea of how detailed you need to be about each individual one. While the first topic point can be kept rather short the other two require a bit more development.

So, if you want to score five marks, you need to address all the topic points in the task in as much detail as the operators dictate (briefly describe, identify…of particular interest and relevance, evaluate).

The next scale, called Communicative Achievement, examines three different things: how well you follow the conventions of the task, if you hold the reader’s attention and how well you communicate your straightforward and more complex ideas .

Conventions include things like genre and typical layout (e.g. letter vs. report), function and register (formal vs. informal). For example, in an essay (genre) you start with an introduction and finish with a conclusion (layout), you try to look at different sides of an argument and give your own opinion (function) and use a formal tone (register). This varies from one text type to the other and you need to familiarise yourself with the specifics of each of them.

Holding the reader’s attention looks at your ability to convey meaning in a way that enables the reader to still follow your thoughts easily without getting distracted because, for example, they have to read very carefully just to understand what you are trying to say.

When it comes to your ideas, you should be able to communicate straightforward ones which don’t demand higher rhetorical skills as well as complex ones. Complex ideas are not as concrete in nature and you have to use higher-level language and organisational skills to express them. For example, describing something is rather straightforward compared to evaluating something, which is a more complex idea.

linking words essay c2

Looking at this article task, we have to think about the typical conventions of an article (layout, engaging language, describing and explaining something, neutral to informal tone, etc.), as well as which topic points are rather straightforward (briefly describing a journey) and which ones more complex to address (explain advantages; Is travelling more slowly more satisfying?). Feel free to have a look at what I did to express all these ideas .

The third marking scale examines how well you organise your text and connect your ideas by taking into account the paragraph structure you choose, linking words and other organisational patterns .

All the different types of text in C2 Proficiency need to be organised in paragraphs. How you do that depends on your preference as well as the conventions of the task. The most important thing to remember is to use a structure that makes sense and organises the text in a logical manner.

Within and across paragraphs, there is a wide variety of language and patterns we can employ to make our text more coherent and cohesive. The most common (and most basic) device is linking words which connect ideas in a very direct way, for example and, but, because, so, first of all, to sum up, etc. You should always include them instead of just using commas or full stops as these separate ideas rather than connect them.

Taking it up to the next level, we have other more advanced cohesive devices. These include less common linking expressions (e.g. moreover, furthermore, as a result, it may appear, etc.) but also other devices. In this category fall grammatical structures like pronouns to refer back to a previously mentioned idea, substitution (There are three people in the picture. The one on the left…), ellipsis (My first car is yellow while the second one is green). or repetition.

Last but not least, you should also include other organisational patterns to organise your writing, such as arranging your paragraphs and sentences in a logical order, parallelism (Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.) or rhetorical questions.

This criterion is probably the most obvious, but we are going to look at it in as much detail as the other ones. Language examines the range and control of the vocabulary and grammar you use, how appropriate your words are for a specific task and the mistakes you make in your writing .

In terms of vocabulary, you need to be aware of the topic of the task and make sure you include words and expressions connected to it (appropriate). You also need to show that you know less common vocabulary instead of just high-frequency items and that you can use it with proper control and in the right context.

As for grammar, only basic structures, like simple verb forms or clauses are not enough at C2 Proficiency level. The examiners expect more and you should definitely be able to incorporate more complex structures with high accuracy in your writing.

If you make a mistake and it is clear that it is just a slip (one-time error), don’t worry too much, but if the examiner can see that you repeatedly get certain structures wrong or use them inappropriately, you might get penalised so challenge yourself, but don’t overdo it.

Marking writing tasks in Cambridge C2 Proficiency is a science in itself and examiners are well trained and continuously monitored in order to give you a fair chance at success and provide everyone with a level playing field.

Even though it isn’t easy to understand every minute detail, I hope this article helps you a little bit going forward so you can assess your own writing in a more informed way and make the right changes and choices.

If you want, I can give you some writing feedback or even be your teacher in a private class . It would be my pleasure to work with you on your journey to C2 Proficiency glory.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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  • Academic writing
  • Commonly confused words
  • Critical thinking
  • PEEL Paragraphs
  • Linking/transition words
  • Paraphrasing
  • Proofreading
  • Terms and definitions
  • Action Words: What is description, application, analysis and evaluation

Linking/transition words: Things you need to know...

All assignments are written in formal language.   You need to ensure that you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding alongside your ability to answer the question/solve the problem. 

Below are some ideas to help you to develop your structure and flow.

  • Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences).   

These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen the quality and structure of your work.

  • Redundant Words - less is more.  P articularly when trying to reduce the word count, it is important to look for phrases which can be replaced with a single word.

Linking/Transition Words

Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop.  When the transition word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma:

Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table below).

Linking words: conjunctions

Linking words within a sentence  are referred to as coordinating conjunctions.  Do not worry about the term: think about the function.

Conciseness / redundant words

Microsoft Word now has an additional feature within the Edito r - it is called conciseness or wordiness.  

  • If you cannot see the Editor menu a quick tip is to hold down the function (fn key at the bottom left of the keyboard) + F7 (top line of keys).
  • From the Refinements section - select Conciseness - if there are any suggestions a number will appear in the box alongside this option
  • A dotted line will appear under any groups of groups
  • Either select the identified text by clicking with your right mouse button OR click on the down down next to the Conciseness menu.
  • MS Word will display any alternative words which you can either select and they will be replaced in your text or reject if you want to keep the original phrases.

Examples:  try to replace phrases with a single words which mean the same.

Need to know more...

  • Related pages
  • External links
  • Academic writing Illustrates the main features of academic writing so that you are aware of what it is and what it involves
  • Critical Thinking Academic work involves thinking, not just accepting what you read or are told.
  • Terms and Definitions Important words appear in your assignments and examinations. The aim of this factsheet is to help you to fully understand what they mean.

Additional resources to help you to improve your confidence and grades:-

  • Writing Effectively  demonstrates the importance of: clarity, structure, relevance, argument and precision.
  • Writing Mechanics  gives further examples and resources on areas including: sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Linking/Transition words - Scribbr  https://www.scribbr.co.uk/syntax/transition-words-examples/ [Accessed 10 February 2023]

There are many books concerning academic writing, look around Dewey number  808

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Linking Words – Full List, Examples & Worksheet

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| Candace Osmond

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Worried that your essay lacks structure and coherence? Perhaps you should use linking words, transition words, or connectors to give it a boost.

Linking words join separate sentences to improve writing flow. You can also find them mid-sentence to connect clauses.

Read on as I show you the definition and types of linking words in English. I also list examples of linking words under every category, and I whipped up a helpful worksheet to test your skills.

What Are Linking Words?

Grammarist Article Graphic V4 77

Linking words, transition words, or connecting words in the English language help connect ideas and sentences when speaking or writing.

Linking words and phrases are connectors or transitional phrases. They are also part of formal language, so you’ll find them in academic writing, opinion writing, critical essays, dialectic essays , journalism, and business documents.

Some linking verbs link clauses within a sentence, such as although, in case, and whatever. That means you can find them in the middle of sentences from time to time. Others link two complete sentences, such as besides, as a result, and however.

List of Transition Words

Now that you know the meaning of transition words, let’s look at the usage of transition words in sentences and clauses. Don’t worry, I’ll break it all down for you!

Below, I’ve got a list of linking words and phrases to serve as alternative choices for connecting ideas in writing. Note that there are several types of transition words which we will discuss later.

Agreement/Addition/Similarity

Linking words may help the reader understand additional comments or ideas in a statement. They may also express agreement or similarities. These words are also called additive transition words, commonly found in expository essays and narrative essays.

  • In the first place
  • As a matter of fact
  • In like manner
  • In addition
  • Not only, but also
  • Coupled with
  • In the same way
  • In the same manner
  • First, second, third
  • Not to mention
  • In the light of
  • By the same token
  • Additionally
  • Correspondingly
  • Furthermore
  • Comparatively
  • At the same time
  • Together with
  • Identically

Here are some examples of additive linking words in a sentence.

  • The group found that a constructivist approach leads to higher test scores. Moreover, essay examinations show higher levels of learning.
  • The resort has tennis courts. Furthermore, it has an Olympic pool.

Negative Ideas

Some linking words come in pairs to join negative ideas.

  • Not, neither
  • Neither, nor

Here are sentence examples of linking words showing negative ideas.

  • I haven’t seen Lory, neither have I talked to her friend.
  • I neither drink nor smoke.

Opposition/Limitation/Contradiction

Whereas some linking words show an extra idea, these transition phrases and words express contrasting ideas in writing.

  • Although this may be true
  • In contrast
  • (and) still
  • Notwithstanding
  • Different from
  • Of course…, but
  • On the other hand
  • On the contrary
  • Be that as it may
  • Nonetheless
  • Even so/though
  • Nevertheless
  • In spite of

Here are some sentences with linking words of opposition.

  • The short story can be analyzed using a functionalist lens. However, its historical theme is better understood with a critical perspective.
  • As much as I want to go, I must take care of my sister.

Some linking words show relationships between ideas by accepting an idea with reservation instead of showing complete opposition. Here are some examples.

  • All the same
  • Regardless of this
  • Up to a point

Here are some sentence examples.

  • Many citizens opposed this unfair policy, which the president nevertheless enacted.
  • I like him even if we have different views in life.

Cause/Condition/Purpose

You may also use linking words in your writing piece to show conditions and purpose for a logical flow of ideas. Words like reason get the reader ready to understand why. These words are commonly found in hypothesis essays.

  • In the event that
  • Granted (that)
  • Provided that
  • On (the) condition (that)
  • For the purpose of
  • With this intention
  • With this in mind
  • In the hope that
  • Inasmuch as
  • To the end that
  • For fear that
  • In order to
  • Seeing/being that
  • The researchers used this method so that the results would be valid, reliable, and aligned with the objectives.
  • I will not be attending the seminar due to a high fever.

Examples/Support/Emphasis

You can also use transition words in your piece of writing that show examples or support of an idea.

  • In other words
  • To put it differently
  • For one thing
  • In particular
  • As an illustration
  • In this case
  • For example
  • For instance
  • For this reason
  • To put it another way
  • To demonstrate
  • That is to say
  • With attention to
  • By all means
  • To emphasize
  • To enumerate
  • Particularly
  • Significantly
  • Specifically
  • Surprisingly
  • Important to realize
  • Another key point
  • On the negative side
  • First thing to remember
  • Must be remembered
  • To point out
  • Point often overlooked
  • She visited several cities, namely Portland, Jacksonville, Charleston, and Hartford.
  • Transition words improve writing flow. For instance, we use further to add extra ideas related to the previous statement.

Effect/Consequence/Result

Grammarist Article Graphic V4 78

You might also spot transitional devices for essays that show consequences, results, and effects.

  • As a result
  • In that case
  • Under those circumstances
  • Accordingly
  • Consequently

Consider the examples below.

  • We watered the plant for seven days. In effect, it grew three inches taller.
  • Because she didn’t study for the test, Anna failed and had to retake it.

Conclusion/Summary/Restatement

These words and phrases show transitions between sentences to show conclusions. You’ll find these words in essay conclusions of different essay types.

  • In simple language
  • In explanation
  • In lay terms
  • In a nutshell
  • As can be seen
  • In simple terms
  • Generally speaking
  • All things considered
  • As shown above
  • In the final analysis
  • In the long run
  • In either case
  • Given these points
  • As has been noted
  • In any event
  • On the whole
  • By and large
  • For the most part
  • In conclusion
  • To summarize

Note that in lay terms and in explanation are formal alternative choices to “ in a nutshell.”

Here are some examples.

  • Matter is a material that occupies space and has mass. In simple language, it is any physical substance.
  • I don’t want to climb the corporate ladder. After all, money isn’t everything.

Time/Chronology/Sequence

Linking words’ other role in writing is to show sequence or chronology. Under the time category, these phrases add a meaning of time. You can find these words in an essay introduction when the writer explains how the paper is structured.

  • In due time
  • From time to time
  • At the present time
  • Sooner or later
  • Up to the present time
  • To begin with
  • Straightaway
  • In the meantime
  • In a moment
  • Without delay
  • All of a sudden
  • At this instant
  • First, second
  • By the time
  • Immediately
  • Occasionally
  • I watched the movie on television. Eventually, I fell asleep.
  • First, fill the pan with water. Then, bring it to a boil.

Space/Location/Place

The following transition words are famous adverbial expressions that limit or modify space. Some of these words and phrases are also transition words of time.

  • In the middle of
  • To the left/right
  • In front of
  • On this side
  • In the distance
  • In the foreground
  • In the background
  • In the center of
  • Adjacent to
  • Opposite to

Below are sentence examples using transition words of space.

  • My house is located behind the building.
  • To the left of the supermarket is a flower shop.

Common Mistakes With Transition Words

Transition words help you create a flow of arguments for readers to understand what you’re saying. But misused transition words and phrases will make your writing unclear. Avoid these mistakes to give your readers a better experience.

Starting a Sentence With So, And, and Also

Both so and and are coordinating conjunctions, which means they can start independent clauses that stand on their own. But it’s not recommended to use these words and also as sentence starters in formal writing. For example:

  • Incorrect: Also, there are unauthorized charges on my credit card account.
  • Correct: Furthermore, there are unauthorized charges on my credit card account.

Combination of Transition Words And/Or

When writing an essay, avoid English transition words and/or because it makes your paper look messy. Instead, consider whether you need both connectors or only one of them. If you need them both, try this alternative.

  • Incorrect: boat and/or plane.
  • Correct: boat, plane, or both.

Using As Well As as Alternative to And

As well as has a different meaning from the transition word and. And means you’re listing something of equal importance. Meanwhile, as well as is for additional, less essential information. Here’s an example.

  • Incorrect: In this paper, I discuss my movie analysis as well as provide recommendations for improvement.
  • Correct: In this paper, I discuss my movie analysis and provide recommendations for improvement.

Archaic Words

Your writing may not make any sense to readers if you overuse archaic transition words like therewith .

For example, hereby means as a result. We can replace it with more modern and explicit phrasing expressing how the current statement is connected to the previous statement.

Linking Words Summary

A linking word is a term that connects different ideas in your text, whether they are contrasting, supporting, or adding. They can improve your writing and help it flow better, I promise!

Regardless of the style of writing, every piece of writing contains linking words to show perfect transitions. I hope my guide on the definition and list of transitions helps you use these words and phrases correctly. Memorize each category, and don’t overuse them in essays.

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linking words essay c2

Student Languages

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Home » Cambridge English Test Preparation » CPE Essay

Table of Contents

CPE Essay Sample 1

Cpe essay question.

Here is a CPE essay question that my student sent me:

" What policies can we follow to reduce traffic in the town centre?

-cycle paths -fines -public transport

Some opinions expressed during the meeting:

"Cycling everywhere isn't realistic - what about large families?" "Fines mean the rich will continue driving." "Nobody uses the existing buses and trams!"

Write 240-280 words."

Write a plan for this question below:

Online Template : https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingplantemplate/

or, if you prefer using pen and paper, print out the hardcopy template below:

Hardcopy Template :

https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingplantemplate2/

Essay Sample 1 - Answer

"It is generally acknowledged that the traffic jams in our town centre are becoming considerably severe nowadays. Governments could take actions accordingly in order to achieve this goal. In this essay, I intend to examine two opinions presented with regards to this topic. First and foremost, modernising public transport would make people’s commute significantly easier. To demonstrate this point, I would like to take Melbourne as an example in which we can witness an up-to-date infrastructure which is served by a variety of forms of public transport, such as trains, trams and buses. As a result, not only do the commuters save time, but they also have a more accessible and convenient transport system, not to mention the environmental benefits of having fewer cars in the city centre.   

On the other hand, insofar as setting regulations and restrictions on the traffic in urban areas is concerned, one option could be the introduction of government toll charges. To clarify this point, by charging drivers, there should be a resultant drop in driver numbers and cars on the roads. Not only this, but the government could also utilize the revenue from the toll charge back into the introduction of technologies that will reduce pollution and thus, protect our mother earth.  In this way, not only could the traffic be reduced, but it also will be helpful for our environment and sustainability. After all the aforementioned matters are considered, it is fair to say that establishing restrictions by tolls is the most effective method to decreasing traffic congestion in the town centre due to the fact that it is powerful enforcement."

Write down the mistakes and corrections for this answer:

Online Template : https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingcorrections/

Hardcopy Template: https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingcorrections2/

Essay Sample 1 - Mistakes

cpe essay answer with corrections

Complete the examiner assessment scale template for this answer: 

Online Scale: https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingscaletemplate/ 

Hardcopy Scale :

https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingscaletemplate2/

Essay Sample 1 - Assessment Scale Critique

Add any useful language, vocabulary, grammar and other tips you’ve learnt from this writing to this online worksheet : https://studentlanguages.com/caewritingtips/ or to this hardcopy worksheet : https://studentlanguages.com/cae-writing-vocabulary-tips-advice/

CPE Essay Sample 1 - Final Analysis

Content - 3

Communicative Achievement: 2

Organisation: 2

Language: 2

Total: 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 9/20.

If you can't remember what these scores mean, you can check out this video at the bottom of the page where I go into more detail (for a different essay).

If this student got 9/20 for their part 2 writing in the exam, they would have 18/40 for the C2 Proficiency writing paper.

The student would therefore not pass this exam paper.

To understand how these marks are calculated, check out page 6 of this document : https://studentlanguages.com/passmarks/  

I suggest using that page to mark your scores when you are practising for all the different exam papers.

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Britannia English School

Mastering Profound Vocabulary: A C2 English Guide

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  • 16th January 2024

1. Unleash the Power of Your Vocabulary with This C2 English Guide

If you’re ready to take your English language skills to the next level, our C2 English Guide is here to help you unleash the power of your vocabulary. At Britannia School of English in Manchester, we understand the importance of having a strong and extensive vocabulary when it comes to communicating effectively in English.

Our C2 English Guide is specifically designed for advanced learners who want to refine their language skills and expand their vocabulary to a level equivalent to that of a native speaker. Whether you’re preparing for an English proficiency test, aiming to enhance your career prospects, or simply want to speak English with confidence and fluency, this guide will provide you with the tools and resources you need.

Building an Impressive Vocabulary

With our C2 English Guide, you’ll dive into a comprehensive range of advanced vocabulary topics, ranging from idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs to collocations and word families. You’ll learn how to effectively use these lexical resources in both spoken and written English, allowing you to express yourself with clarity and precision.

Additionally, our C2 English Guide provides you with practical exercises, example sentences, and real-life scenarios to help you develop a deep understanding of the vocabulary in context. You’ll have the opportunity to practice and reinforce your learning, ensuring that you can confidently use your newly acquired vocabulary in any situation.

If you’re eager to unlock the full potential of your English vocabulary, our C2 English Guide is your ultimate resource. Join us at Britannia School of English and embark on a transformative English learning journey that will empower you to communicate effectively and fluently at an advanced level.

2. Mastering Profound Vocabulary: A Step-by-Step C2 English Guide

Mastering profound vocabulary is an essential step for anyone looking to achieve C2 proficiency in the English language. At Britannia School, we understand the importance of a rich and extensive vocabulary in effective communication and language mastery. In this comprehensive guide, we take you through a step-by-step approach to help you enhance your knowledge and usage of profound vocabulary.

To begin with, we emphasize the significance of exposure to diverse reading materials. Through extensive reading of a wide range of genres, including literature, newspapers, magazine articles, and academic texts, learners can encounter new words and phrases in their context. This approach enables a deeper understanding of the language and allows learners to absorb vocabulary organically.

Furthermore, our C2 English guide encourages active learning techniques, such as word association and word families. By linking new vocabulary to familiar words or concepts, learners can make connections and retain information more effectively. Additionally, recognizing word families and understanding their relationships can expand vocabulary quickly and help learners become more confident in their language use.

In addition to these approaches, our guide also focuses on the importance of context and usage. Understanding how words are used in different contexts and the appropriate register is crucial for effective communication. Through exposure to authentic materials, learners can observe how vocabulary is utilized in real-life situations, develop a sense of nuance, and express themselves with greater precision.

By following our step-by-step C2 English guide, learners can gradually enhance their vocabulary knowledge and usage, paving the way for more confident and eloquent communication. Investing time and effort into mastering profound vocabulary is a valuable investment in one’s language skills, opening doors to a broader range of opportunities in personal, academic, and professional settings.

3. Elevate Your English Skills: A Comprehensive Guide to C2 Vocabulary Mastery

Why is c2 vocabulary mastery important.

Having a strong command of C2 vocabulary is crucial for individuals aiming to achieve fluency and become proficient users of the English language. C2, also known as “proficient” or “mastery” level, represents the highest level of language proficiency in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

C2 vocabulary encompasses a wide range of sophisticated words and expressions, allowing learners to express themselves with precision, clarity, and nuance. It enables individuals to understand complex texts, engage in sophisticated discussions, and communicate effectively in both formal and informal contexts.

Strategies for C2 Vocabulary Mastery

Building a high-level vocabulary may seem daunting, but with the right strategies, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding journey. Here are some effective methods to help you master C2 vocabulary:

  • Extensive Reading: Read extensively in English, exploring various genres such as literature, news articles, and academic papers. Pay attention to unfamiliar words and make a habit of looking them up to expand your vocabulary.
  • Contextual Learning: Learn new words within the context of sentences or paragraphs. This helps you understand their meaning and usage more effectively, making the words more memorable and easier to recall.
  • Utilize Vocabulary Building Resources: Make use of online tools, flashcards, and vocabulary apps to practice and reinforce your knowledge of C2 vocabulary. These resources often provide exercises, quizzes, and word lists tailored to specific proficiency levels.
  • Engage in Conversations: Actively participate in conversations, discussions, and debates in English. This not only provides opportunities to use new vocabulary in a practical manner but also helps you become comfortable with expressing yourself naturally.

By incorporating these strategies into your language learning routine, you will gradually enhance your C2 vocabulary and achieve a higher level of fluency and proficiency in English. Remember, practice and consistency are key in building and maintaining a strong vocabulary!

4. Unlocking C2 Excellence: Master the Art of Building Profound Vocabulary

As language learners, we often strive to reach the pinnacle of fluency in our target language. One key aspect that sets language learners apart is their mastery of vocabulary. Building a profound vocabulary not only enhances communication skills but also allows for a deeper understanding of the language and culture. In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies to unlock C2 excellence and provide valuable insights into mastering the art of building a profound vocabulary.

The Importance of Building a Profound Vocabulary

A profound vocabulary is a hallmark of advanced language proficiency. It goes beyond basic communication and enables learners to express themselves accurately and precisely. When learners possess a wide range of words at their disposal, they can articulate complex ideas, describe nuanced emotions, and engage in discussions on a variety of topics. Moreover, a profound vocabulary also contributes to improved reading comprehension skills, as learners can decipher unfamiliar words and derive meaning from context.

Strategies for Building a Profound Vocabulary

Building a profound vocabulary requires consistent effort and deliberate practice. Here are some effective strategies to help you on your journey:

  • Read extensively: Engage in extensive reading to expose yourself to a diverse range of vocabulary in different contexts. Read books, magazines, news articles, and online blogs to encounter new words and phrases regularly. Take note of unfamiliar words and look up their meanings.
  • Use vocabulary-building applications: Utilize vocabulary-building applications and online resources to expand your word bank. These tools often include flashcards, quizzes, word games, and interactive exercises that make learning new words engaging and fun.
  • Contextual learning: Instead of memorizing words in isolation, learn them within the context of a sentence or phrase. This approach helps you understand how words are used in real-life situations and improves retention.
  • Utilize word lists: Create word lists based on specific themes or topics of interest. This not only helps you remember words more effectively but also allows you to organize and review them regularly.

By incorporating these strategies into your language learning routine, you can unlock C2 excellence and elevate your vocabulary to new heights. Remember, building a profound vocabulary is a lifelong process that requires dedication and consistent practice. Embrace the challenge, explore the richness of the English language, and watch your communication skills flourish.

5. Taking Your English to the Next Level: A Definitive Guide to C2 Vocabulary Mastery

Are you ready to push your English language skills to their limits? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of C2 vocabulary mastery and provide you with the tools and strategies you need to reach the highest level of English proficiency.

At Britannia School, we understand the importance of a strong vocabulary in achieving fluency and confidence in English. Our expert language instructors have carefully curated this guide to help students like you elevate their language skills to the next level.

Why is C2 vocabulary mastery important?

As you progress in your English language journey, you will notice that vocabulary plays a crucial role in effective communication. C2 vocabulary refers to the highest level of language proficiency, where learners can confidently express themselves using a broad range of words and phrases.

Mastering C2 vocabulary not only enables you to understand and respond to complex ideas, arguments, and literature but also allows you to communicate effectively across various professional and academic settings. Whether you aspire to study abroad, land your dream job, or simply become a more articulate speaker, C2 vocabulary will set you apart from the rest.

In the following sections, we will explore effective strategies, techniques, and resources that will empower you to elevate your English to the C2 level. Stay tuned for valuable insights and practical tips that will help you become a master of the English language!

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Learning english, linking words, how difficult was this activity.

Practise your writing by choosing the correct linking words to complete the different sentences.

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Tim's Free English Lesson Plans

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C1/C2: Killer Expressions Grouped by Topic

PsBattle: An Impressed Footballer's face : photoshopbattles

Thanks to my colleague Natascha Wallace for this idea. Basically it’s a list of advanced expressions, grouped by topic, for C1/C2 students and sets of conversation questions on those same topics. The idea being that they can drop them into their writings or use them in the speaking exam in order to score more points. Alternatively, beyond the world of exams, they will undoubtedly be useful IRL! Download the handouts below:

Have students read the expressions in the first category and try to guess the meaning in pairs. Clear up any doubts in open class.

Tell students they have 1 minute to try to memorise as many of the expressions in the category as they can. After 1 minute tell them to turn their papers over. Students then play “ping-pong” in pairs one person says one expression and the other must say another back and forth until one can’t remember any more expressions. After they’ve played a couple of rounds tell them to look at the expressions again and refresh their memories of the ones they struggled to remember.

Then hand out the conversation questions and have students discuss them in groups of 3. One member of the group should act as the examiner, asking the questions and also counting the number of killer expressions each person uses. Encourage students to have fun with it and use as many as they can.

Then move onto the next category, rinse and repeat.

There are a lot of categories so you may want to split it over several classes.

You can then use this quizziz quiz for space repetition.

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Author: Tim Warre

Barcelona based English Teacher, blogger and sometime actor and director. View All Posts

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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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  • Test Information FAQ
  • Band Scores
  • IELTS Candidate Success Tips
  • Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
  • How to Prepare
  • Useful Links & Resources
  • Recommended Books
  • Writing Task 1
  • Writing Task 2
  • Speaking Part 1 Topics
  • Speaking Part 2 Topics
  • Speaking Part 3 Topics
  • 100 Essay Questions
  • On The Day Tips
  • Top Results
  • Advanced IELTS

Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

The linking words list below is essential for IELTS writing task 2 for high score. The examiner needs to see a range of linking words in your essay to award you a high score for the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks. You will be checked on your range, accuracy and your flexibility of linking words in IELTS writing task 2. These connecting words are suitable for all types of essay writing as well as GT IELTS writing task 2

IELTS Writing Linking Words

Download PDF:  Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

This is often used to either put your paragraphs in order or used inside the paragraph to list your supporting points.

  • lastly /last but not least / finally

Adding Information

You will need to support your main points in your IELTS essay. These linkers inform the reader that extra information is about to be presented.

  • in addition
  • additionally
  • furthermore
  • not only … but also

Giving Examples

It is often useful to give examples to support your ideas in IELTS writing task 2. Make sure you use this range of linking words to do so.

  • for example
  • one clear example is
  • for instance
  • to illustrate
  • in other words

To learn how to put examples in sentences for essay writing, please follow this link: How to Add Examples to Essays .

Results and Consequences

These linking devices can be used for solution essays or any essay when you need to explain the consequences of something.

  • as a result
  • consequently
  • for this reason

Highlighting and Stressing

It is important to be clear about what you mean in your essay. These linking words help you stress particular points.

  • particularly
  • in particular
  • specifically

Concessions and Contrasts

You often need to give opposite ideas, particularly for discussion essays so the linking words below will help you show the reader when you want to introduce an opposite point. Also you might want to give exceptions to a rule for a concession.

  • nevertheless
  • even though
  • in spite of
  • on the other hand
  • by contrast
  • in comparison
  • alternatively
  • another option could be

Reasons and Causes

These connecting words will help you explain reasons and causes for something which is very common in IELTS writing task 2, especially for cause / solution essays.

Giving your Opinion

  • in my opinion
  • I concur / agree
  • I disagree / I cannot accept

Don’t make a mistake with the way you express your opinion. Watch this video for useful tips on giving your opinion and how to avoid mistakes: IELTS: Presenting your Opinion

Concluding Linkers

  • in conclusion
  • to conclude

To get more tips and advice on linking words to start your IELTS conclusion, please watch this video lesson: IELTS Conclusion Linkers

Practice with Linking Words

Improve your use of linking words by fill in the gaps below with linking words from the above list.

  • There are a number of drawbacks to people using Facebook as a way of communicating (1)………………… it is (2)…………….. one of the most common social networking platforms for both individuals and businesses.
  • (3)……………………….. the lack of exercise taken by average people, obesity and other weight related problems are on the rise.
  • Unemployment and poverty, (4) ………….. in urban areas, is often deemed to be the cause of rising crime rate.
  • (5) ……….. the rise in urban crime, more and more people continue to move to cities looking for a better life.
  • More children are becoming obese and (6)…………….. schools should be encouraged to provide more sports lessons and outdoor activities.

Click below to reveal the answers:

  • Due to / Owing to ( you can’t have “because of” because it is at the beginning of a sentence)
  • particularly / especially / specifically
  • therefore / so / for this reason

IELTS Speaking Linking Words

Linking words for IELTS speaking . Both word list and tips.

Recommended

  • All Linking Word Practice Exercises
  • All Writing task 2 Model Answers, Tips and Videos
Main IELTS Pages Develop your IELTS skills with tips, model answers, lessons, free videos and more. IELTS Listening IELTS Reading IELTS Writing Task 1 IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Speaking Vocabulary for IELTS IELTS Test Information (FAQ) Home Page: IELTS Liz

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Hi Liz thanks mam for your extraordinary IELTS free writing task 2. It is very helpful for me. Thank you very much mam and take my love

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You’re welcome 🙂

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Hi liz, Could you please provide the marking scheme writing and reading module of IELTS or in other words I am asking for the factors on which student’s band score is decided.

You can find those linked in the main sections for Writing Task 1, Writing Task 2 and Reading, which are all linked by the RED Menu Bar at the top of the website. Marking for reading is based on correct or incorrect answers, but for the writing and speaking test, it’s based on marking criteria. You can also find a link by clicking on the TEST INFO option on the RED Menu Bar which shows band score information.

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I just saw on the IDP IELTS website it says, “Don’t overuse basic linking words like firstly (instead, try using ‘The first reason for/ The primary reason for this”). Is that really better? Can I continue using ‘firstly’ like you do?

Sincerely, Draven

It is fine to use it. But don’t then use Secondly, Thirdly. When you write like a machine, you get a lower score in Coherence and Cohesion, which counts for 25% of your marks. You could try: Firstly / Another point to consider The first point to consider is / A further consideration it You shouldn’t just learn one option. The linking words you use will depend on the points you want to present. You must learn how to use them flexibily.

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liz thank you lot for making all videos. take care of you

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Hello Liz, Thank you for this very educative blog. when giving examples in task 2 writing for the academic test, are correct statistics important or can one just use made-up stats?

Your are marked on ideas, supporting ideas, developing ideas, but not numbers. The examiner is not going to check statistical data in task 2. The examiner is marked Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Vocabulary and Grammar. This means writing numbers does even help your score that much. Which is better: 1) 75% of people in urban areas feel public transport could be improved. 2) The majority of people living in urban areas feel the public transport could be improved. The second option boosts your vocab score. It is a simple essay based on relevance, not stats and research.

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Hi Ms. Liz. Thank you for your lessons 🙂

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Thank you very much for your lessons..you deserve to ” The most effective IELTS teacher award ” Thanks once again

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It is a misfortune that IELTS mandates the use of linking words for high scores. Especially at the beginning of sentences, linking words quickly tire the reader being pushed around.

If linking words tire the reader, they are not being used properly. You are being tested on using them flexibly in a way that supports the reader.

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mam I would like to share a small problem which I facing almost last 10 days in IELTS classes. I’m not good in writing even I don’t know what to write or what to add .and what to think . could you tell me how can I improve .I will looking for your generous response

You can find model essays and tips on the main writing task 2 page of this website for free: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . But for some people, they need more training. My advanced lessons take you step by step through each paragraph and explain the content of each type of essay. You can find these lessons in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You can also find an Ideas for Essay Topics E-book, which contains ideas and vocabulary for topics. You memorise the ideas and adapt them to your essay topic. There’s also a Grammar E-book with many examples of sentence structures to help you. Hopefully all these will help you be clearer about how to tackle an IELTS essay and what to write.

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Hi Liz, Can you allocate me some of the pre-ready templates which can be used as a topic statement in starting of the paragraph.

I do not provide them because they are the worst thing to do for your IELTS essay. IELTS does not accept memorised language and the higher band scores are all about flexibility, not templates. Writing task 1 is more formulaic than task 2 because task 1 is a report and most reports are pretty standard. But writing task 2 is all about creating unique sentences connected directly to the topic. This website is about learning and preparing for IELTS the right way.

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very clear explanation Liz, Thanks !

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Could i use the word “To recapitulate” in position of “To Conclude”? However l really impressed a lot to see your tremendous efforts for students. THANK YOU SOO MUCH MAM. may God bless you. Love from india 🇮🇳

Yes, you can use it but it won’t increase your score.

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Teacher Liz, this is just a general question. Will points be deducted if literary words/phrases are used in IELTS Writing (or Speaking). Is literary factor considered informal? Thank you very much! Looking forward to hearing from your

I’m not exactly sure what you mean as you’ve provided no examples. However, to help understand: The writing test is formal. So, this means all informal language will cause you to lose marks. The only exception is the informal letter in GT writing task 1. The speaking test is informal and you can use all types of language and be as casual as you want in chatting to the examiner. But language should be used naturally, not poetically or in an overemphasized manner. You should talk as though you were talking to a friend.

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I love you mam your are such a great teacher i appreciate your work 👍

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Hey liz, I wanted to ask that for conclusion using “all in all” and “to wrap it up” are correct to use or not ?

They are informal and Writing Task 2 is formal.

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Hi, Liz! You said in one of your videos that “to sum up” is rather informal for IELTS writing task 2. Why is it in the concluding linkers list then? Can I use it or not?

It is an option but some examiners think it is too informal. There are no rules in IELTS which have word lists that lower your score. It is examiner interpretation. I do not teach this linking word for a conclusion, but other teachers do. This is why it is in the list. My recommendations are recommendations, not rules.

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Hi Liz, all your videos are very helpful to have a quick look on the respective modules. Thank you so much for sharing them.

You’re welcome.

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Thanks for response

Hello Liz 👋, is it true that reading books or newspapers will improve our writing skills. If yes, what books or newspapers can you suggest to read.

They will certainly help you develop your writing, but they won’t help you develop your writing for IELTS.

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I wonder if I am allowed to use specialized words in writing task 2 (as long as they are related to the task rubrics and the usage and the collocation is contextually appropriate). For instance, if the topic of the essay is “imprisonment”, am I allowed to use words like “criminals set free might resort to recidivism”? what happens if the examiner doesn’t know that term? I already know that IELTS guidelines demand that the underlying assumption in the writing exam be the candidate is writing for an academic “non-specialist” reader. Is this fact in contradiction with using technical terms?

With regards, Reza

It is not a case of being allowed or not allowed. It is about how you use language. If you are pushing high level words into your essay for effect, the language in the essay will become unnatural and will be marked down. So, never aim to impress. However, your example is completely fine. The word “recidivism” is an appropriate word to use for that sentence. Certainly not many candidates will know this word, but it is 100% accurate and appropriate. So, my advice is to use language naturally with the right intent and appropriacy based on your level of English. The examiner will not be specialised in law or other fields – bear that in mind. Your aim here is to hit band score 8 or 9, not to showcase specialised vocabulary. This is a basic English language test, not a test of legal language for example. Pay attention to the context of the essay – it isn’t an essay for a university degree in law. You don’t need to use specialised language to achieve your aim in IELTS. I would not recommend using such specialised language that a layperson would not understand. That isn’t an IELTS rule, it is just logical – use such language as is appropriate for the audience and the context.

Many thanks for the exhaustive response. You’re simply the best in the field, bar none!

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I wonder if it is appropriate to use some linking words like ‘Moreover, Furthermore, Further’ to start a new paragraph? or they should be used to link ideas in between the sentence?

Thank you, Micaela

There are no rules about this. Linking is about being logical. I personally use these linking words for within the paragraph to add more information. When starting a new body paragraph I tend to use something more flexible, such as “Another point to consider is ..” – basically indicating the start of a brand new point rather than additional information to an existing point.

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Can we use listing linkers (firstly, secondly etc) for inside the paragraphs? Or is it better to use linkers for organising paragraphs?

I believe we should use the additonal information linkers to support our main idea or present extended ideas.

Any thoughts?

Best using them within paragraphs. To each paragraph, try: Firstly, Another point, Finally. But to be honest, you can’t learn formulas like this for task 2. It all depends what your ideas are as to what linking words to use. You need to learn flexibility if you want a high score. Yes, you should use a good range of linking words in your essay.

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Hlo madam , tomorrow will be my ILETS exam

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Hi Liz, Do we need to use comm a after these linking word . If yes then in what circumstances. For instance if we use these linking words at the start of sentence what will the case. Also what will be case if we use these linking words in middle of sentence ?

This is an aspect of grammar that you need to study in depth. In a few weeks, I’ll be releasing a Grammar E-book. It will explain all of that and much much more.

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Can I use ‘For one’ instead of ‘Firstly’? Can I continue using ‘Secondly’ and ‘Finally’ with ‘For one’ or it’s not correct usage?

“For one”, is informal and not suitable for IELTS essays. Be flexible with your use of linking devices but stick with formal ones.

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Hi Liz, Thanks for the article. Is it safe to use comma (,) after every linking word?

Thanks Sirdhar

It depends which linking word and how the sentence is constructed.

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”Poor sanitary conditions lead to wide range of bacterial and viral diseases as well as become a dangerous spot for the growth of dengue leading to dengue fever which is fatal.In order to avoid such consequences, my endeavour would be to construct underground pipes which prove to be effective giving a sensation of cleanliness.” Ma’am this is my answer to a direct question,” If you could change your hometown to make it a better place what changes would you make? ” Plz tell me the mistakes in structure or anything.

That question usually comes from speaking part 1. In part 1, they are relatively short answers – not deep discussions. The examiner would interrupt this answer. Just be direct and then add a bit more for part 1: “I’d change the sanitary conditions because … ” – then add one of two more sentences. Be chatty, not formal. You really need to start paying attention to what each part of the speaking test is like. There’s no point developing answers that aren’t appropriate to the section of the test. Your answer would be possible in part 3.

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being a teacher, I feel that you the best.

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Hello Liz. I just wanted to confirm that can I start the arguments in general by saying, “On the other hand, it is argued by some that …”. Can I use this to introduce people’s opinion? Please reply ASAP, I have my IELTS test in 2 days.

“On the other hand” is used to introduce an opposing view. “it is argued by some that” is used to express other people’s views.

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Hi, Liz! I love your website! I have a question, though. Would it be helpful if I used paragraph links instead of standard transitional devices? Say, instead of starting a paragraph with a word such as “Secondly” or “On the other hand”, I could use either a word-link or idea-link. I don’t want my writing to look so mechanical. Will it affect my score if I try making my transitions “smoother”?

It is not necessary to start a paragraph with a linking word. You are right. It needs to be less mechanical. You can actually start your body paragraph with any word you want. Just make sure it is coherent and cohesive.

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Hello Liz, are the following phrases ok? 1- tethered to this idea is its conjugate (in discussion essays where i am mentioning opposing views) ex: on the other hand, tethered to the previous idea is its conjugate. where some people believe that …… 2- a few bad apples spoil the batch (is it informal?) 3- X issue is not black and white.

Do not use descriptive language in a formal IELTS essay.

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Hey! Lizz what about your ebook is it going to be published soon or not?

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I just want to say how much I appreciate your hard work and love for putting these lessons together!

I am also so happy that you have offered us 50 discount! I am so happy! <3 Thank you very much!

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Hello liz…. I have a confusion some of the Ielts trainers say that ‘Firstly’ isn’t exist in English language means it’s not a word…. We can’t use it…. I want to ask to you is this true???

I need to get a good dictionary (English – English). You shouldn’t be preparing for an English language test without one: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/firstly

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Hi.. I just want to ask that is it necessary to use linkers in writing as firsty, secondly, etc. while writing reasons or advantages. And on the other hand etc for starting new paragraph in opinion essay

The choice of linking words is not fixed. You use them flexibly, not in an automated way. There are many linking words you can use and also different methods of linking.

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Hye Liz…your way of teaching is so clear..When I attend your lessons through videos, I feel your devotion to your work and really seems that you want to do your best for our best…may Allah bless you more and more.

I’m really pleased that my lessons are useful 🙂

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Hello Liz pls can you discover an e book for the students which contains ideas, linking words and ….

I will be releasing an Ideas for IELTS Essay Topics E-book this month or early next month. I am also writing a Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 2 E-book which will be ready at the end of the year.

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Your lessons are wonderful. Thanks.

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Hello Liz, Have you released ideas book for IELTS writing Task-2 or not yet? Regards

Yes, you can find it here: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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I am really worried for Reading section it’s too much difficult to handle within short time. kindly let me know appropriate techniques as I have very short time, please.

Regards Khan

Click on “Reading” on the RED BAR at the top of the website – you will find the main page with tips, lessons etc to help you.

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I need to say Liz, I have so much fun reading your answers, you are the best sincere person I have ever known. Continue like this please! Pietra

Thanks 🙂 Funny 🙂

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Thank Liz for your help my question is that I want to know if I there is any number of times for the linking words to appear in my easy Wishing you successfull ending love your lecture

Linking words should not be repeated. You are being marked on your ability to use a range. However, words such as “and” or “but” are naturally going to be used a few times. Words such as “for example” can be paraphrased as “such as” or “namely” or “for instance”.

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What it is meant by ‘the linking words shouldn’t be mechanical’?

This means to use them like a machine. For example, always putting them at the start of a sentence or starting every sentence with a linking word. Be flexible.

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To use some less common linking words, Could you advise whether its appropriate to write ‘on the whole’ rather than ‘in conclusion’?

Also, in some model answers written by examiners in official ielts books, they start their last paragraph with “in my opinion”, and they dont say anything like “to conclude”. Is this risky to do?

Linking words are linking words – they do not need to be less common. Do not confuse vocabulary with linking words – they are part of different marking criterion.

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Hello Liz. I am learning a lot from your tips. Thank you! Can you please elaborate more the linking phrases ‘moreover’ and ‘furthermore’. Thank you!

I’m not sure what else I can say. They are used when you want to add information to an existing point.

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In one of articles relating to capital letters (link below) you mentioned that you should never start with – “But/ Because/ And”. In essays which require us to share multiple contrasting views, sometimes we may start a sentence with “But”. What are your views on that ?

No writing task 2 essay should have a sentence that starts with “But/And/Because”. You can use “However” instead of But.

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Hi Liz. Which is the best book to practice for IELTS. Please suggest. I have been struggling to find a suitable book.

The reason I wrote over 300 pages of free lessons and tips is because didn’t like the IELTS books on offer. Have you completed the 300 pages of free lessons?

I didn’t find 300 pages of free lessons.

Because you didn’t read the HOME PAGE properly. The HOME page explains that you access the main pages through the RED BAR at the top of the site. The main pages contain over 300 pages of tips, lessons etc. Did you use the RED BAR?

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I am convinced that you are best tutor ,I have best wishes for you ,thank you so much from your excellent site

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Thank you so much for the useful information!

I have a question about the linking phrase “on the other hand”. Is it possible to use it independently, without mentioning ”on the one hand’? Or would it be a mistake?

Thank you in advance!

Yes. You can use “On the other hand” without “on the one hand”.

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Hi Liz In one comment you’ve mentioned that you’ll publish a book discussing required grammars for writing task-2. Has it been published? Thanks. Mostafa

No, it is being written at this moment. I don’t know how long it will take to finish, but it will be this year.

Thank You for the reply. Mostafa

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Why is apparently not there in the above list? Is it frequently used word, hence ommited deliberately Liz?

It’s fine to use that word.

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This lecture is helpful.your god gifted voice is sweat ,crystal and clear. I respect it.may your voice always reply to untold question of liseners who are similar to me.

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HI LIZ, thank you for your helpful information i need to ask whether words like ( IT , AS , IF, SO , THE )are counted as words to reach 150 words in letter writing ?

All words are counted – small, big – all words.

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Thanks a lot Kiz for doing this great job

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btw, does linking-word need to be followed by a comma? (,)

Depends on the linking words and how it’s used.

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You are really doing a wonderful job, what baffles me your ability to reply these long comments , you are really awesome. However, I want to ask you about linking words such as , firstly, secondly, thirdly. I read it somewhere that they are old fashioned, is that true???

It isn’t about being old fashioned at all. It’s about flexibility which is what the examiner is looking for. It’s fine to use them inside one paragraph to show support points. It isn’t flexible to use them at the start of each body paragraph – that is called being “mechanical”, which means using them like a machine – that is a characteristic of band 6 in Coherence and Cohesion.

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Hi Liz , Somewhere in your topics you have mentioned that one should not use ” last but not the least” as a linking word

But here it is written under heading of linking words.. Kindly guide on this

The linking word is : last but not least – no “the”. Also it depends HOW it is used. It’s about using them effectively. It shouldn’t be used a conclusion linking words. See this page for all tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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hi liz HOW TO ADD EXAMPLE IN AN ESSAYon this page is not opening. can you please share the link?

The link opened for me – it might be a problem with your internet Try it again: https://ieltsliz.com/how-to-put-examples-in-your-essay/

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Honestly, you are the best tutor ever in this IELTS course, how I wish I knew you before, I could use only materials to help me pass well. My Test is after tomorrow and I have just landed your very impressing training work. Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful knowledge with us. Am sure I will pass with a band 9.0 God bless you Liz

You can learn a lot in one day – focus on the areas you most wish to understand and improve. Good luck tomorrow! Keep your eye on the clock for reading and writing!

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dear Liz I have met your page by yesterday,many thanks for such a great page,

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Hi Liz, I hope, you are doing good. Actually, I appeared for ielts exam today but due to poor time management, I was not able to complete task 2 of writing. I wasted a lot of time on Task 1. I know, because of this, I would not be able to score 6 or more than that, as the task 2 holds more weightage. So, I have applied for the exam again. I have some concerns regarding writing section, I don’t know about the proper use of punctuation, especially commas. Also, sometime I write out of the context in essay writing. Please could you provide me some help with this. I would be really thankful.

The use of commas is simple. Just them to divide appropriate clauses. Punctuation is marked, but not at a high level. The main point is that commas are used in clauses, correctly and that full stops are used at the end of a sentence. Also that sentences are not too long. A very long sentence shows lack of punctuation because the person isn’t controlling the length of sentences. For ideas, it’s all about planning properly. See my advanced lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You also need to prepare ideas for topics – you do this by googling ideas on line.

Thank you so much for the response 🙂 So, is it okay, if we use short sentences instead of long? Using them won’t be a reason to deduct marks? And, what about the complex sentences? Would it be advisable to attempt task 2 first and then task 1, as it carries more weightage, because I always face the issue of time management but I am working on it.

A complex sentence does not need to be very long. It just needs to be a sentence which is not simple – this is a way the sentences are categorised for IELTS examiners, not for grammar books. Having short, simple sentences is not a good idea if you are aiming for a higher band score. You need to show control and a good range of sentence structures. I am currently writing an e-book which is a Grammar List for IELTS Writing Task 2 – I’ll post a notice when it’s finished and ready to buy.

I’ll keep these points in my mind. Yes, please let me know, whenever you have completed E-book. Thankyou Liz 🙂

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Hello teacher! I have a query about other words that can be used, besides the word “overall”, for the overview part. Can I use ” as a whole” or “in general” instead of that? Are those words considered as formal writing in IELTS?

Please enlighten me! Also, thank you so much for giving out this linking words. 🙂

It is possible to use those words, but the word “Overall”is the most logical to use and the most appropriate.

Thank you so much for the reply! 🙂

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Under the Adding Information section, I have a doubt on below sentence

These linkers inform the reader or read?

Thanks, Kishore

Thanks – a typo 🙂

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You are the best teacher ever and I hope you are doing fine.

I wanted to ask you whether it is okay use “i.e.” in my IELTS writing exam ?

You are being assessed on your use of linking words, “ie” is not a word. Don’t use it. Use “for instance” or “for example” – the list is given on the page above.

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I like your teaching.and I appreciate it.

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Thank you soo much mam..That was really really helpful..

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to conclude to sum up these are very short pharse i want write a long pharse for example Before putting my pen down i would like to deduce tha ….

This page is about linking words and signposting. It is fine to learn linking words which are part of coherence and cohesion. It is NOT good to memorise phrases for IELTS. See all tips on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Hello Liz, How to use the linking phrase ” last but not least” ? Should it comes at the last body paragraph or the conclusion paragraph?

It indicates the final main point – it does not indicate a conclusion.

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hello liz , I am not form any English specking country, i’m thinking that i’m good at specking.But my main problem is at spellings, how can i decline my spelling mistakes

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/useful-websites-and-resources-for-ielts/

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Hi,Liz How are you? Thank you for your suggestion,it’s so useful

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Hi Liz, love your blog, would like to know if there is a direct link to all your pdf’s. It would be very helpful.

I don’t have my pdf files ready yet.

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Hi Liz, Can we use “Because of that” in blank 6???

The word “because” can’t be put at the beginning of a sentence in formal essay writing for IELTS.

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Thank you liz i wasn’t aware

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Thank you, again and again…

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Hi Liz, Can I conclude the essay by writing, ‘Hammering the last nail, I reckon that..’ or ‘I pen down by saying that..’?

No, you can’t. I am very confused. This whole page offers all the best linking words for a high score – even up to band 9. Use them, learn them. Stop trying to improve them. Do you want band 10? Just relax and start using appropriate language and linking words.

Thanks a lot mam!

Thanks a lot mam for your guidance. I have scored overall score of 8.50 with L-9.0, R-8.5, W-7.5 and S-8.5 as individual scores. I followed you religiously and I just can’t thank you enough! 🙂

Brilliant !! Very well done 🙂 Thanks for letting me know 🙂

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I really appreciate the way you have described the small errors we all students keep on doing in daily essay writing. I have few questions in my mind, but without wasting your time I will put only one basic question that I am facing daily with the essay writing. If the topic of the essay mention ” to what extend do you agree”. So, in such essay do we have to write only paragraph in the notion of the topic. As my aim is to score band 7.5 and this confusion. IELTS have a feeling of schadenfreude when they see my low score in writing only.

I don’t understand your question. When you give your opinion, the whole essay will explain it. You will give an opinion based on the issue or issues given to you in the question.

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hi mam I’m very bad in speaking part I have no Idea how to improve and how imagine more idea

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/

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Hello Liz, My handwriting is poor and somewhat clumsy …. To improve legibility may I write in alternate lines on ielts answer sheet… Do you recommend it?… In case, if i need extra sheet, do they provide?…

I don’t recommend doing as you are planning. It makes it difficult to identify paragraphs and can be confusing for the reader. Just try to keep your handwriting as clear as possible so that the examiner can read it. Practice, practice and do more practice. Yes, you can ask for extra paper. Usually you just put your hand up and then explain you need more paper. But I have heard from one student that they wasted precious minutes waiting for the extra paper.

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Hi Liz, thank you for precious advices, in your opinion is the use of Latin expression, such as “e.g.” or “i.e” useful in writing tasks for the academic module?

Avoiding using them. Instead such linking words: for example, such as …

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I was told overuse of linking words could lead scoring less.is that true?

Yes. There is a criterion for marking which states that if you overuse linking words or if you use them mechanically (this means without flexibility), your score will not go higher in that marking criterion. This related to Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks for writing task 2. See my advanced lessons if you need training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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What about an expression “all in all”?Can it be used in a conclusion paragraph?

I have known students use this. But I would stay with linking words most suitable for a conclusion = In conclusion

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Thank you Liz for this useful lesson The answer is for instance , still , because , especially , consequently , therefore

Check the answers on the page above.

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Thank you for your great lessons. It really helps a lot. I have a question about a linking word ‘and’. Would it be okay to start a sentence with ‘and’?

For example, this is mainly because of lack of physical activity and the poor quality of food. People are too busy. And in spite of economic growth, the quality of food has diminished.

Not in IELTS writing task 2. Never use “and, but, because” at the start of a sentence in writing task 2.

Thank you for your answer. I highly appreciate your great lessons and help.!

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I am not clear why a sentence can not be started using “because”. Since we have mentioned both: subordinating clause and main clause, there should not be any issue to the examiner.

The words “because, and, but” should not be placed at the start of a sentence in formal writing. They come between clauses in formal writing.

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Please guide me, how i can get good score in writing, Is it good to use idioms, Phrasal verbs in writing task 2

On this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ you will find advice about idioms

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Hi Liz Can I expree my opinion by using this sentence (in my own point of view) or it’s informal Thanks

No, it’s not right to use that. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-expressing-your-opinion/

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Hello Liz I have question . If I use idioms or slangs to essay , could they help me to get higher score

They might help you get a lower score. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/using-quotes-or-idioms-in-your-ielts-essay/

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Hi Liz I have a problem with writing task, I can’t have enough time for task 2, I’m constantly thinking about what to write next. can you give me some suggestion? Thanks Abdullah

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-essay-planning-tips/

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hi madam if we are confused or not sure about answer can we can we write both the answer by using // in the middle

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Hi Liz Can we use the phrase “my personal sentiments” to give opinion in task 2 instead of I believe or I think

thanks alot

No. It is informal and not suitable for writing task 2. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-expressing-your-opinion/ and then check all writing task 2 tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Hi mam, Thanks for your kind initiatives for the IELTS students like us. It is really fortune for me to have an online teacher like you. Please keep continuing.

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Hi mam.. What is the procedure? to send u ielts writing for checking …..

Plz plz tell me…

There is a teacher who can help you on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

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HI! I’m one of your avid fan. I just want to say thank you. I recently got the score I needed for Writing after 2 takes. I used all your guidelines in making it coherent and scoring higher using your tips on having a balance essay for every kind of questions. I also did task2 first to make me more calm and relax in writing the ardous part. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

That’s really great news!! Well done!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂

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thanks Liz ,was very efficiently significant

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I had written my IELTS test twice before coming across your website. Both the times I scored 6.5 in Writing which scoring above 7 in all the other 3 sections. I needed 7 in writing and hence I enrolled for the third time. I came across your website 3 weeks before my test and went through all the study material in your web pages. I got my scores last week and was ecstatic to see that I managed 7 in my writing section.

I am thankful to you and your website for helping me achieve my goal. You are doing such a commendable work. Keep it up.

That’s really good news! I’m so pleased for you. It can be hard to hit that elusive band 7 in writing. Well done 🙂

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Hi Liz, are you available to correct my essay? If not, could you suggest another teacher? Thanks.

You can find a teacher called Tony to help you on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

My God! You are doing a beautiful job. More I’m studying from your website more I’m impressed! I can’t explain how much I feel grateful. Thanks a lot.

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Hi liz, Is the writing matters for writing task 1 and 2? If so then whether we need to write in cursive or just clear.. I mean is any writing method acceptable?

You just need clear writing. As long as the examiner can read it, you are fine. It doesn’t matter what style of handwriting you choose.

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hi mam, Task 2 which you provided is for BC or IDP.Because i am taking idp exam,pls give me reply

The tests are the same in IDP and BC – they are both owners of IELTS.

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Hi Liz thank you a lot for giving us all this informative lectures and publishes. But why different teachers give different IELTS writing rules. Example you teach us hooking in your introduction is not important, but other teachers demonstrate that it is very important. And if we add hook to our writing could it reduce our marks?

Some teachers have completed the IELTS examiner training and others have not.

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Hi Liz, beautifully you have explained variety of expression, i am preparing for ielts and having many issues while putting pencil on paper to write answer for Writing task 2, would you please suggest how to get it done within stipulated time frame such as in month so that i can fulfill my dream to study abroad…..

Firstly try to develop as many ideas for writing task 2 topics as you can. You can do this by taking ideas from model essays and other sites online. See this page for common topics: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ . For techniques, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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First, I would like to say to you thank you for very nice lessons. I was wondering to ask if you correct essay task 2 ?

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

thank you very much.

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hlo mam, i just wanted to say that you are the best teacher.

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Hi mam i need your help how to write task 2 to get 8 band can you give 9band samples writing answer pls

You can find model answers on the main writing task 2 page of this blog.

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hi liz, i will give my ielts test after three month please help me in all. modules plss

There are 300 free pages of help on this blog. If you need more help with writing task 2, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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Hope you are fine.

My name is Gagandeep. I have IELTS test on 16th July and I feel I am not able to structure my ideas in writing task 1 and task 2 both. Please let me know how can I bulid my ideas perfectly to get band 8.

Regards Gagandeep

At present, I can only suggest you get my advanced writing task 2 lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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Thank you so much for being replying to people i have recently got the IELTS date which is on 16th of jun its my second time i am giving ielts the first time i got 5 bands and i need at lest 6.5 so how can i improve my grammar and vocabulary i have just 20 days remaining..

please do reply me soon.

It is normally best to take the test when you repeatedly get the score you want in practice tests. To improve English in just 20 days is a challenge. I can only suggest you decide what your main grammar problems are and deal with them one at a time. For vocabulary, review common topics for speaking ad writing – you can find word lists on google.

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this is my first query from you. please clarify.

how to use furthermore,morever,in addition in an essay please clarify.

Excessive use of computers has many detrimental effects on childrens health.Firstly, frequent joint pain and fatigue are most likely to be experienced by young individuals and these issue seems to be prevaile till the death.Morever(do we use morever here to introduce new idea such effect of exceissive computer usage and academic grades or do we have to discuss another health related issue)(moreover will be used to introduce new idea such as school performance or anyother health related issue?

thank you very much

Sorry I don’t comment on writing.

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thanksssssssssssss

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Thank you for all the tips on how to write a meaningful essay. However could you please help out on how to paraphrase the question as that part is posing a lot more difficulty for me at the moment.

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-liz-news/

Thank you so much for the tips on how to write a meaningful essay. However could you please help out with how to paraphrase the question, which is posing as the most difficult part for me right now.

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Hi liz i am going to take my test in 3days , i am not perfect at task2 i can”t able to know how many word are of mandetatory can i write more than 250 words , can you please give me any suggestion how to get good score in task2 any key words etc

You can find information and tips for writing task 2 on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ and you can find advanced training on this page: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

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thank you very much. I’m going to take IELTS on 16th April)

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hey liz i am learn many things related to ielts but my writing skill is not development and is it important strength of the sentence suggest me about this

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

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A.A mam my problem is vocabulary. Plz help me by giving tips and vocab words. I need 7 in ielts.

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Hi Liz. My general english is good. I can cope up with more complex sentence structures too. But when it comes to writing task 2 , my brain just stops working. My main problem is I cant brainstorm on the topic. How can I improve my brainstorming for different topics. Thanks.

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Hello Mam,can you assess my writing task if i mail it to you please? Further I do not have good command on spelling. how can i improve it within one month effectivly.

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I can found some problems in writing task2 and i can not used rich vocabulary and some time i can’t get good points.so how can i improve???

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Hi Liz, I know that native english speakers rarely use ” moreover”. Is it safe to use it in IELTS Essay?

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Thank you for your useful lessons. I have a question that worries me lately. Would the assessor count repetitive words? For example if I used the word “students” 9 times in the whole essay? Or another example, if in writing task 1, I used countries’ names all the time (besides making it nationality: Britain = British).

Each word is counted. It is the same as using word count on a word document. Liz

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Hi Liz Are the following answers appropriate for the respective questions? 1. because 2. obviously Thank you for the help Lahari

No, both answers can’t be used. Liz

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Hi Liz, I appreciate your help on this question: can we use FIRST AND FOREMOST and LAST BUT NOT LEAST in Academic Writing? Thank you. Trang

Yes, but they are over used. Liz

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Dear Liz, This question is not about the linking words, its about grammar. In the 2nd question, why you have not use ” ……. problems ARE on the rise.” instead of ” …… problems IS on the rise”?

Well spotted!

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Hello liz thanks for your good websites. how can i submit my writing for checking? thanks in advance baazoft

Unfortunately, I don’t offer essay marking and I don’t have any teachers to recommend. All the best Liz

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i wanna ask that sometimes like ….to…. like question are there in listening task what is the right way to answer this. it is 4to5 or it is4,5

Just “4 5”. You don’t need punctuation. Just make sure the numbers are easily read and separate. If you write “4 to 5” is would be marked wrong. Liz

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Mam I weak in writing I Write only simple sentence then I lose band score…… What I use to get high score

You need to improve your English. This is a language test – make sure your English is good. Get a teacher and start learning from English language websites. Do this before you do IELTS.

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can i say, “as a result” in place of “for this reason / therefore “

Yes, you can use that. Liz

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We shouldn’t use these terms in the speaking part, should we? – The first thing i should mention is… – And i shouldn’t forget to mention – There’s a mixed variety of things but i guess the most popular one is… I think that i had better answer directly and spend time on expressing my ideas rather than using these phrases, but my teacher told me that i should use these to help organize my answer

You can use those phrases if they help you explain your ideas but they won’t necessarily give you a higher score. In part 1, you must answer quickly and directly so don’t use them. In part 3, you might use them to explain your ideas. The most important thing is to speak naturally. All the best Liz

Thank you for your help. 🙂

I just want to ask about the appropriate answers for a listening practice test 🙂 The questions are about ticket prices: $30 (1)…, or (2)… return According to what i heard, (1) is “one(-)way”. So is this written with or without a hyphen? For the second blank i heard “$45 in return” . so should i write down “$45 in” into the blank or just “$45” ? Thank you for your help.

One-way has a hyphen. For your second question, always look at the example they gave you. If the first one is “$30 one-way” then the second one must be “$45 return”. Always check the grammar. For note, form or table completion, grammar is rarely involved. All the best Liz

Thanks a lot. May all the best things come to you, teacher.

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Can I answer questions 1 and 2 in a different way ? 1- .However, 2- still

It can’t be “However” because there is no full stop. Always check grammar. For the second question, “still” is possible. All the best Liz

Thank you so much.I really appreciate your reply.

Would my answer be correct if I used a full stop (.However, ) ?

I am asking because I could not see any grammatical difference in this sentence between using (even though ) or ( . However, ) .

That’s right. You need the full stop. Liz

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Is not it possible to write the word this way: “…a way of communicating; however, it is…”?

You would need to write the full sentence for me to check. Liz

I meant the first sentence you gave to practice. You answered Ahmad that is not right to use “However” there, and decided to ask if it can be “1st sentence ;however, 2nd sentence”. Julia

Avoid using “;” in IELTS writing. Just use full stops or commas. Liz

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You are great …God bless you.

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Hi mam.i want to study with you online, if you have time please teach me.

At present the only lessons I offer are on my video course which I have only just started making. At present there is one lesson available for writing task 2 and tomorrow I hope to put my second lesson up: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

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Hello mam, Today while searching some helpful tips for ielts exam i went through your videos and i found it vry easy and helpful ways to improve our writing skills. Hope it will work during my exam too. Thank you mam for such a wonderful tips and guidance.

How i can improve my vocabulary please give me suggestion.my vocabulary is so poor.

Start reading. That is the surest way to develop vocabulary and understanding. Liz

Thank you so much

Thank you so much for your wonderful tips

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Hello mam. I am Sandeep. Please help me. How i will get 6.5 band in writing task.

Take a look at the band scores to learn: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ Liz

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Dear Ms.Liz,

I have just received my Ielts result. Thanks to your help, I have got an overall band score of 7.5, 8.0 for the listening and reading test, 6.5 for the writing section and 7.0 for the speaking part. I am really delighted with this result because this is my first time ever studying on my own by using the materials on the Internet. Thank you so much for all of your lessons, I really appreciate what you have been doing and your dedication to teaching. May all the best thing come to you and your family.

Your Vietnamese student, Hanh Tran 😀

Hi Hanh Tran,

I’m really pleased to hear your result. 7.5 is a really good score, particular for your first try. In Vietnam the average is around band 6. So, band 7.5 puts you much higher than most students in your country. I hope you celebrated your result !

Good luck with your future plans 🙂 Liz

Thank you, teacher 😀

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Hi liz I have my ielts exam on Thursday. I just wanna ask you that in writing task 2 general ielts training test ” in my opinion….” Should write in introduction or conclusion? I am little confused with that. And suggestions like “they should do that ……” That will come in conclusion or in body paragraphs? Where are they appropriate ? Looking forward for your reply thanks

You put your opinion in the introduction, if the instructions ask for your opinion or for you to answer a direct question. If the instructions don’t ask for your opinion, don’t give it. Please see my model essays to see how and where I put my opinion. There is also a separate lesson about giving your opinion on the writing task 2 page. Liz

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Hi Liz, Is it advisable to use the listing words such as firstly, secondly, thirdly and finally at the last paragraph before the conclusion or I could use it also at my initial paragraph after the introduction? Thank you!

You use them as you want. They can order your paragraphs (although that is slightly mechanical) or you can use them to order supporting points in any paragraph you wish. Liz

Thank you for your response liz 🙂

Hello mam, i need your help how to complete reading task in one hour. There is some technic to do task as soon as possible because read full paragarh then find out ans. Is take so much time. Also how i improve my listening skills mam please help me.

Please read my tips about comprehension and strategy on the reading page. Thanks Liz

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Hi Liz; I want to ask you about linking that are related to giving opinion. May I use them “I take the view that…” and “I subscribe to the theory that…” in writing Task 2 or just in Speaking.

Regards, Sherzod

Just be direct and don’t try to learn phrases – the examiner isn’t impressed by students who purposely learn phrases to boost their score and will not award points for it. You can use “In my opinion” or “I think” or “I agree” for task 2. You can also find a lesson on my task 2 page about how to give your opinion. For speaking, it is informal so you can use a range “I suppose”, ” I guess” or “I reckon” or “I think” etc. All the best Liz

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Hi Liz, My ILETS exam was on the 4th of July and today I got my results’ message (listening 6, reading 6, writing 5.5, speaking 6.5). I am really shocked by my speaking and listening results. Do you you think I will get any new result if I reject and apply for remarking?

Listening rarely changes with a remark because it is marked by right or wrong answers and mistakes almost never happen. For speaking, band score 6.5 means you make more than a few mistakes in your grammar and vocabulary or possibly that your fluency is strong enough to be able to talk at length without effort. It is possible to get a remark for speaking but looking at your writing, it is even lower. So, it doesn’t give confidence that your score will go up with a remark. However, you must judge for yourself. All the best Liz

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Dear Liz I have recently found out about your videos and website and I deeply appreciate your effort. I am preparing for an Academic module in a limited time so I found your lessons and instructions very useful to manage my studies. Although I am still struggling with Reading skill.

The key to reading is to spend time understanding the language in the questions and thinking about paraphrasing before you try and find the answers. The more time you spend with the questions, the quicker it is to find answers. You should also be writing down a list of paraphrases from all reading exercises you do. Lastly, spend time planning a strategy for each question type and learning which questions have answers that come in order. You can find a page about question types in the reading section of this blog. All the best Liz

Really this is a stategy

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Dear Liz, Thank you for such a useful note, but it seems you missed contrast/opposite connection words.

Regards, Amir

You will find contrasting linking words in the concessions and contrast section. All the best Liz

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Hello teacher,

I’m confused using between these two words. Is the same ” as a result ” and ” therefore”.?

Could you explain it to me, please? Thank you very much

They have the same meaning and you can alternate using them. All the best Liz

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This is such a big help Ms. Liz. Thank you for always updating your site! Love you! 🙂

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Please give me a common sentences of task 2 i can write in all type of essay

Sorry but that is not the right way to approach IELTS. The examiner is trained to spot learned sentences and you will lose marks. The sentences you should aim for are based on grammar structures or tenses: clauses, conditionals, prefect tenses, gerunds etc. Just review your grammar structures. All the best Liz

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Hi Liz; Thanks to publish this useful words for writing task. I need 7 in that task while I was got 5.5 in my first attempt after that I had knew about your site and I register myself in it and from that day onwards I regularly follow your tips hope i will improve in my writing. Thanks again

Make sure you check your level of English to get band 7. In the message above, your first 9 words contain 2 mistakes and the second sentence contains 5 mistakes. You will need to reduce your errors to get band 7. Good luck Liz

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Linking words – How to improve your writing

Linking words, also known as linkers, cohesive devices, connectors and transition words, are a vital part of writing. Often when we teach English, we feed vocabulary and phrases to students which, if we’re not careful, can start sounding forced. For me, linking words are the exception to that. I find that a solid lesson with these special words can almost certainly help improve a students writing regardless of the level. It’s not just because it appears in writing marking scales for every official exam there is, it’s because they actually work. Without linking words, texts can feel dull and disconnected. That’s definitely not the image we want to give when trying to prove our level of English.

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What are linking words?

There are linking words and phrases for different purposes. You can find exhaustive lists of linking words examples all over the web, but the important thing is using them to good effect.

If your writing was like the human body, the content words would be the flesh and the paragraph structure would be the skeleton. Linkers are like the joints of your writing. They help to connect the different parts together and interact with each other. An essay with good cohesive devices will flow and be easy to read. In fact, it’s practically impossible to write without them. You can do a fun writing activity with a consequences game in another post .

Linking words at different levels

Let’s use Cambridge writing scales as a guide for what we should be using at different levels. At B1 Preliminary (PET) candidates are expected to use basic linking words. Basic linking words are essentially and , so , but and because . At B2 First (FCE) level, a variety of linking words should be used. While by C1 Advanced (CAE), candidates are using cohesive devices to generally good effect.

Although the terminology shifts between levels, the concept is the same. An exam candidate’s writing should be connected together in a way that makes it flow from one section to another using words that help to achieve said outcome. Notice that it’s not until C2 Proficiency (CPE) level that candidates should be able to use cohesive devices with flexibility.

For more information about how Cambridge writing is marked, check out the different scales here .

If you’re looking to improve your writing for the Cambridge Advanced exam, consider our book Cambridge Advanced Writing Plus .

Linking words examples

There are so many transition words you can use in your writing, but having a ridiculously long list isn’t the best option in this case (and I’m normally a big fan of lists). When I teach writing, I tend to focus on a selection of common and useful linking words. These can be associated with their purpose. Words similar to and are used to add additional information. Words similar to but are used to contrast ideas. Words similar to so provide result and those similar to because develop reason.

This list is not exhaustive, but it’s enough for 90% of learners who are using linking words in English. These are good cohesive devices for an essay, a formal letter or a report. They can be used in a wide range of styles and contexts. Keep in mind that linking words and phrases are also a strong indication of formality in a text, but they aren’t the only factor.

The other essential factor to consider with linkers is how to use them in a sentence. Different ones need different grammatical structures surrounding them. This is what the activity below focusses on in detail.

The materials

There is little doubt that any exam preparation course will include a lesson on producing cohesive writing. These materials associate complex linkers with simple comparison words before putting them to use. We’ll consider both the meaning and the use of linking words and phrases. The topic focuses on money and wealth, which can pop up anywhere from B1 level onwards. Use them to improve writing skills, especially in formal writings like essays, reports and proposals.

EXAM PART : Writing

EXAM SKILLS : Using cohesive devices to improve organisation

TOPIC: Money

TIME: 60 minutes

PREPARATION: One copy of the worksheet per student

linking words examples linking words activities

linking words essay c2

How to write a formal Letter / Email? | C2 Proficient (CPE)

linking words essay c2

Let’s explain how to write a letter/email and what actually is a  formal style.

Formal style

It is used when writing for professional or academic purposes like university assignments. Formal language does not use colloquialisms, contractions or first-person pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘We ’. If you aim to write an official letter, you should:

  • avoid everyday colloquial language or slang
  • avoid contractions ( I’m, it’s )
  • avoid emotional, subjective language (terrible, rubbish, etc.)
  • avoid general words such as nice, good, get, etc.

  The CPE test does not require you to include dates or addresses in any of your letters, whether formal or informal.

C2 Proficient (CPE) Formal Letter: Structure

Fce, cae, cpe, practice, write & improve, c2 proficient (cpe) formal letter: writing guide, 1. salutation.

Dear Sir or Madam

If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, use this. It is always advisable to try to find out a name.

Dear Mr Jenkins

If you know the name, use the title (Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, Dr, etc.) and the surname only. If you are writing to a woman and do not know if she uses Mrs or Miss , you can use Ms , which is for married and single women.

2. The Introductory Paragraph

The first paragraph will generally outline the purpose for the letter and the reason that the letter is being sent. In this first paragraph, the summary of the letter can be found and the intentions which will be displayed through the rest of the letter should be outlined.

  • We are writing to inform you that …/ to confirm ../ to request …/ to enquire about …
  • I recently read/heard about ….. and would like to know….
  • I am writing to offer suggestions
  • I am writing to receive further information about

3. The next paragraphs (the body)

The body of the letter will expand upon the introductory paragraph and you can extend your thoughts and feelings further when it comes to the letter. Most letters in English are not very long, so keep the information to the essentials and concentrate on organising it in a clear and logical manner rather than expanding too much.

  • You should always be polite and respectful, even if you complain. A useful way to achieve it especially in formal letters is to use ‘modal verbs’, i.e., would, could or should.
  • It’s important to write simply and clearly . It’s worth noting that you have to avoid using informal language, for instance, avoid contractions (i.e. I’m, it’s, etc.).

4. Closing paragraph

Ending examples:

  • I look forward to receiving your reply. / I look forward to your reply.
  • I look to hearing from you.
  • If you require further information, please do not hesitate to ask

Yours faithfully, use it if you don’t know the name of the recipient. Yours sincerely , use it if you know the name of the recipient.

Practice Tests Online

C2 proficient (cpe) formal letter: example answers, cpe formal letter / email answer 1, formal letter subject:.

An environmental organisation is inviting suggestions for new ways of raising people’s awareness of the importance of protecting the countryside. You decide to write a letter in which you briefly describe your idea for a publicity campaign. You should also analyse the reasons why, in general, it is important to protect the countryside.

Student’s CPE Formal Letter Answer:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to your organisation’s invitation regarding proposals for a campaign to promote countryside conservation. I strongly believe that we need to think globally while we act locally, so it would be a great idea if we engaged the young – the future global citizens- in the quest for a clean environment and unspoiled countryside.

To be more specific ‘A green concert with school bands’ would be an excellent idea to sensitize people on the importance of preserving our local traditions that are inextricably linked with the Mediterranean landscape of Attica. In fact all six high schools of our municipality could participate with one school band each in a concert that may take place in the local stadium that can accommodate six thousand people. The bands can play both folklore and more modern songs while local delicacies and examples of craftwork could be exhibited at the entrance of the concert hall.

Massive participation in any campaign is the key for its success; especially when such a noble cause -like that of ‘conservation’- is served. Helping the new generation appreciate their natural surroundings and traditions is the most precious legacy we can offer to our descendants. The biosphere is literary our home so it is unquestionably important to keep it clean so that we can have fresh air to breathe and pure water to drink.

Therefore, I urge your forward-looking organization, to seriously consider my recommendation for ‘A green concert with school bands’ because it is a simple yet effective idea to develop more respect for our countryside among all the people in our community.

Yours faithfully

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Get Your (CPE) Letter Checked!

Cpe formal letter / email answer 2.

You have recently read an article in a popular magazine describing the experiences of young people who have participated in voluntary projects to help disadvantagedn communities. You decide to write a letter to the magazine in which you briefly describe one or two ideas of your own for voluntary projects. You should also assess the ways in which such experiences can change attitudes and inspire young people in their future lives.

Write your letter .

Dear Editor,

I was interested to read your recent feature on young people’s participation in voluntary projects. I was impressed by the way in which the volunteers had not only provided valuable help for those less fortunate than themselves but had also gained a great deal themselves from the experience. They had blossomed as people and had often clarified their own career aspirations as a result of the work they had been involved in.

I should like to suggest a couple of other projects that I think it would be beneficial for youngsters to volunteer on. The first is a programme for schoolchildren with learning difficulties. Cuts in funding mean that this will have to close down unless volunteers can help to run it. It has been an enormously successful programme, helping many youngsters to develop skills that will stand in good stead throughout their lives, and it would be a great pity were it forced to fold.

The second is an environmental project keeping the forests around our town in good order. Work there involves clearing away dead wood, planting new trees when necessary and tidying paths and picnic areas. The forest is a valuable resource for city dwellers and maintaining it in good order is of great benefit to the public as well as to the flora and fauna of the forest.

Taking part in these projects would teach teenagers new skills – helping children with disabilities to learn, for example, or caring for the environment. However, more importantly perhaps, doing so would expand those young people’s horizons making them aware of aspects of life which were previously almost certainly little known to them. Contributing to society through such voluntary work will help youngsters to develop a sense of responsibility towards the world they live in. All of this should prove of considerable value in future years both to them as individuals and to society as a whole.

Yours faithfully,

C2 Proficient (CPE) Formal Letter: Writing Topics

Cpe formal letter / email topic 1.

You are staying in another country where you have read an article in a magazine about a custom there that the writer considers strange. Write a letter to the magazine, describing a custom or customs in your own country that  may be considered strange by outsiders and giving your own views and those of others in your country about it.

CPE Formal Letter / Email Topic 2

You have recently become aware of the existence of a situation which you believe to be wrong or unjust and which you think should be dealt with by the authorities. Write a letter to a newspaper clearly describing that situation, explaining the problems it causes and saying what you believe should be done about it.

Write your letter

C2 Proficient (CPE) Formal Letter: Writing Checklist

linking words essay c2

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

  • Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
  • Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
  • Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?
  • Have I included references or examples where necessary to support any ideas or information?

Communicative Achievement

  • Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
  • Have I used a suitable mix of fact and opinion according to the requirements of the task and my communicative purpose(s)?
  • Have I used a suitable style and register for the task and genre?
  • Have I followed writing conventions which are particularly relevant to the task and genre?

Organisation

  • Have I organised my ideas clearly and coherently, using the most appropriate and effective structure for the task?
  • Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
  • Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words and other cohesive devices?)
  • Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
  • Have I used a wide range of vocabulary, appropriate to the topic and genre?
  • Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
  • Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures appropriately?
  • Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
  • Is my use of grammar accurate?
  • Is my spelling accurate?

More than Practice Tests

C2 proficient (cpe) formal letter: tips.

  • Always proofread your letter after writing it, check for sentence structure, grammar, spelling mistakes…
  • Proofread your letter again (and again) after you have revised it.
  • Keep the recipient in mind, and write in a way that he/she can easily understand the letter.
  • Be respectful when you write, even if you are writing a letter of complaint.

C2 Proficient (CPE) Formal Letter: Useful Phrases & Expressions

We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is  taking a shortcut,  if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.

We are writing to inform you that …/ to confirm ../ to request …/ to enquire about … I recently read/heard about ….. and would like to know…. I am writing to offer suggestions I am writing to receive further information about I am writing to enquire about

Referring to the previous contact

Thank you for your letter of March 15. I am writing in response to…./ In reply to your request….. Thank you for your letter regarding … With reference to our conversation yesterday…

Making a request

We would appreciate it if you would … I would be grateful if you could … Could you please send me … In addition, I would like to receive ../ It would be helpful if you could send us … I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. Please let me know what action you propose to take. Could you …? Could you tell me something about …? I would particularly like to know … I would be interested in having more details about …

Offering help

Would you like me to …? I would be happy to …/ I am quite willing to … I would be pleased to …

Giving good news

I am pleased to announce that … I am delighted to inform you that .. You will be pleased to learn that …

Giving bad news 

I regret to inform you that …/ I’m afraid it would not be possible to … Unfortunately, iIam unable to/ After careful consideration I have decided (not) to

Complaining

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with … I am writing to complain about …

Demanding action

I therefore suggest that I be given a full refund I would be grateful if my money was refunded I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund

Making Suggestions

My first suggestion is First of all I suggest/ I would like to suggest  Another possibility is/ A further possibility is I further suggest/ I would further suggest/ Secondly

I look forward to receiving your reply. / I look forward to your reply. I look to hearing from you. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to ask If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask I will willingly provide further information on request I am at your disposal should you require further information/ need assistance Please do not hesitate to ask should you require further information

Would you pass C2 Proficient (CPE)?

IMAGES

  1. Linking Words for Essay Writing

    linking words essay c2

  2. Useful Linking Words for Writing Essay in English

    linking words essay c2

  3. EOI CARTAGENA C1 y C2 INGLÉS: Linking Words

    linking words essay c2

  4. Expressions to use in a speaking test (presentation/interaction)- B2-C2

    linking words essay c2

  5. Linking Words for Essay Writing: Useful Paragraph Phrases

    linking words essay c2

  6. Linking Words and Phrases in English

    linking words essay c2

VIDEO

  1. IELTS Writing

  2. Linking words for writing essay . Use them in daily writing practice and get 7+band score

  3. MOST IMPORTANT LINKING WORDS FOR WRITING ESSAY#trending #youtubeshorts

  4. COMMON LINKING WORDS AND PHRASES FOR IELTS WRITING

  5. Linking Words Expressing Cause and Effect #writing

  6. VERY USEFUL ADVANCED ADJECTIVE FOR FORMAL WRITING

COMMENTS

  1. LIST OF CONNECTORS, LINKS, TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

    Sequence: firstly, at first, first of all, to begin / start with, in the first place, in the second place, secondly, at the same time next, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on meanwhile, next, then, soon, later, while, earlier, finally, lastly, and eventually simultaneously, afterwards, in conclusion, to ...

  2. How to write an essay?

    Identify and underline the key points in both input texts. Make sure to include that when you write your essay. Summarise the key points in your own words. Use an academic writing style (formal or neutral register). You must organise your ideas well, using an introduction, paragraphing and appropriate linking devices.

  3. PDF C2 Proficiency teacher writing guide

    About C2 Proficiency. Tests reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, plus use of English. Our highest level qualification that comes after C1 Advanced. Shows that learners can: Tests learners at CEFR Level C2. Can be taken on paper or on a computer. study demanding subjects at the highest level, including postgraduate and PhD programmes.

  4. Essay

    Example exam task: Write an essay summarising and evaluating the four key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers. Tackling Traffic Congestion. Policy-makers employ a wide range of measures to tackle the problem of traffic congestion.

  5. 50 linking words to use in academic writing

    50 linking words to use in academic writing. academic writing. linkers. essay writing. thesis. ESL. English. It's very common for students to use long words they don't understand very well in their essays and theses because they have a certain idea of what academic writing should be.

  6. Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE): How to Write an Essay

    What a typical essay task looks like. First of all, let's check out at a typical task and you will see very quickly what you need to look out for when analysing it. Source: Cambridge English Assessment C2 Proficiency Handbook for teachers. In every essay task, you have to read two short texts (about 100 words each) just like the ones above.

  7. C2

    Writing an essay in part 1 of the Proficiency C2 exam can sometimes a bit confusing. In paper 2 you will be assessed on your skill to draft coherent and cohesive texts. QUICK INFO ABOUT PAPER 2 PART 1: Time: 1 hour 30 mins. Number of exercises: 2. Part 1 (Essay) is mandatory.

  8. See this sample Essay from the Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE

    The essay is organised logically with clear paragraphing. Linking words and discourse markers are used very well to create an extremely coherent piece of writing. Language This is a very well written essay. You have used both vocabulary and grammatical structures well to express your ideas flexibly.

  9. PDF C2 Proficiency improve your writing checklist

    Checklist to improve your writing: C2 Proficiency. You have completed the task well, meeting all the task criteria and including all necessary information. You did not include everything the task required. Perhaps you have written something irrelevant or misinterpreted the task. The writing is appropriate for the task.

  10. Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE): How Your Writing is Marked

    In a nutshell, there are four criteria your texts are assessed on: Content. Communicative Achievement. Organisation. Language. Each of these criteria is scored on a scale from 0-5 so you can score a maximum of 20 marks per text. As you have to complete two tasks in the official exam, the total possible score is 40.

  11. PDF Composition Notes Essay C1 and C2

    ESSAYS. There are two Writing Sections, Writing Section 1, which is based on the extract you hear in Listening Section 3, and Writing Section 2. Task 1 in Writing Section 1 is obligatory. To write the task, you must use the notes you have taken while you are listening to Listening Section 3 the third time and any other points you wish in order ...

  12. Linking/transition words

    Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences). These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen the quality and structure of your work.

  13. Linking Words

    Like. Too. As. As well as. Moreover. Here are some examples of additive linking words in a sentence. The group found that a constructivist approach leads to higher test scores. Moreover, essay examinations show higher levels of learning. The resort has tennis courts.

  14. PDF C2 Proficency Assessing writing for Cambridge English Qualifications: A

    To prepare for the C2 Proficiency exam, learners should: • Read widely to familiarise themselves with the conventions and styles of different . types of writing (articles, reports, essays, reviews, etc.). • Read plenty of authentic texts (that is, not designed specifically for learners but . written for readers of English worldwide).

  15. CPE Essay

    The writing generally follows the conventions of an essay and the language is appropriately formal and generally engaging: 'thus protect our mother earth' Some more complex ideas are put forward effectively. Organisation: 2: The essay generally has a clear structure which is helped by the use of separate paragraphs and good linking words ...

  16. C1 C2 Proficiency Advanced Linking and Transition Words for IELTS

    In this video, you are going to learn c1 c2 proficiency advanced linking and transition words.There are different types of liking words in English in differe...

  17. Mastering Profound Vocabulary: A C2 English Guide

    C2, also known as "proficient" or "mastery" level, represents the highest level of language proficiency in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). C2 vocabulary encompasses a wide range of sophisticated words and expressions, allowing learners to express themselves with precision, clarity, and nuance.

  18. Linking words

    This writing activity practises the difference between formal and informal registers by looking at some common verbs. You need to match the informal verb with the more formal verb. B1-B2. 0-5 minutes. Independent.

  19. List of 500 Idioms and Phrases (pdf/xls)

    a bear with a sore head. irritated/bad mood. a bit of a dark horse. person with hidden abilities. a bitter pill to swallow. a difficult fact to accept. a different kettle of fish. a totally different sitation from the one just mentioned. a dog's life.

  20. C1/C2: Killer Expressions Grouped by Topic

    c1_c2-killer-expressions_-questions Download. Procedure: Have students read the expressions in the first category and try to guess the meaning in pairs. Clear up any doubts in open class. Ping-pong. Tell students they have 1 minute to try to memorise as many of the expressions in the category as they can. After 1 minute tell them to turn their ...

  21. Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 2

    The linking words list below is essential for IELTS writing task 2 for high score. The examiner needs to see a range of linking words in your essay to award you a high score for the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion which is 25% of your marks. You will be checked on your range, accuracy and your flexibility of linking words in IELTS writing ...

  22. Linking words

    Linking words at different levels. Let's use Cambridge writing scales as a guide for what we should be using at different levels. At B1 Preliminary (PET) candidates are expected to use basic linking words. Basic linking words are essentially and, so, but and because. At B2 First (FCE) level, a variety of linking words should be used.

  23. How to write a formal Letter / Email?

    C2 Proficient (CPE) Formal Letter: Writing Guide. 1. Salutation. Dear Sir or Madam. If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, use this. It is always advisable to try to find out a name. Dear Mr Jenkins. If you know the name, use the title (Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, Dr, etc.) and the surname only.