Writing a conclusion if you don’t know what you’re doing can be the stuff of nightmares and can have a huge impact on your final writing score. Here we look at some guidance on writing effective conclusions for IELTS Task 2 essays which you can apply whether you are doing the IELTS General Training or Academic exams.
Out of the various sections of an essay the conclusion is probably the simplest paragraph to compose since in many ways you are actually reusing ideas you have already mentioned in your introduction and main body. However, do not underestimate its importance because this is the last thing the examiner will read, and so it is essential that you end in the strongest way possible.
Most students will be under a lot of pressure in the exam and therefore won’t have a lot of time to write a good conclusion and so many conclusions are written in a hurry, that’s why it’s important to be able to write them quickly.
Key things to remember while writing a conclusion
- ANSWER THE QUESTION – make sure that you are answering the actual question, state your thoughts and make your opinion clear. Avoid writing something that is too general in relation to the question.
- DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS – New ideas should be written as part of the main body.
- RESTATE POINTS MADE IN THE MAIN BODY OF THE ESSAY.
- USE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE – do not use the same vocabulary when restarting points you made in the body, paraphrase them. That way you show the examiner you have a wide range of vocabulary, even though you are using the same ideas.
- Rather than going into detail, SUMMARIZE YOUR MAIN POINTS. The detail of course, should form part of the development of the paragraphs in the body.
- MAKE SURE YOU WRITE A CONCLUSION – It’s very difficult to get a good score if you don’t finish your essay with a conclusion even if the rest of your writing is strong, so even if you’re running out of time, make sure you write a conclusion.
Using linking words in conclusions for IELTS essays:
Here are some linking words that students often use in their conclusions, but in fact shouldn’t be used. Are you guilty of using them?!
– ‘Finally’
‘Finally’ isn’t appropriate since it signals to the reader that you are making your final point, and therefore introducing a new idea. ‘Finally’ belongs in the body of your essay, perhaps in the last paragraph, but not in the conclusion.
– ‘In a nutshell‘
Don’t use ‘In a nutshell’ in an IELTS conclusion because it is too informal, in Writing Task 2 we are looking for a formal tone.
– ‘In general’
‘In general’ tells the reader you are going to say something general and may mean that you might answer the question in a general way as opposed to specifically responding to the question itself.
– ‘Overall’
Although ‘overall’ It’s probably the least of an issue, it is still not full enough to usein this type of essay
There are only a few linking phrases you should use to begin your conclusion. You will only write one conclusion, so choose one and stick to it – they are all formal and explain what you are going to do in the paragraph.
– In conclusion,
– To conclude,
– In summary,
A good conclusion for your IELTS consists of two elements:
– Summarize the essay’s main points.
– Paraphrase them so you can vary your vocabulary.
Now have a look at the main points in your essay. You can rephrase these, you may use the introduction as a start or some of the points on the body. For help with writing IELTS essays see our article here: Everything you need to know about IELTS Task 2 Writing.
Let’s have a look at an example question:
Many IELTS students do very little planning, if any at all, and if they do then it is normally not effective. For us, planning is a very important tool for success in the IELTS writing whether in writing Task 1 or writing Task 2, without it many people find themselves lost mid-way through their letter or essay which is often known as ‘writer’s block’. In other cases, students try to make sure their letter reads well and is properly organized while they are actually writing, where in fact what they need to do is simply plan properly from the start.
Introduction
In today’s world, the question of whether it is better to live in a small town or a big city has been a topic of much debate. While some people believe that a small town offers a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle, others argue that a big city provides more opportunities and excitement. In this essay, I will explore both views, comparing and contrasting the advantages and disadvantages of each, and ultimately provide my own opinion on the matter.
We can use this introduction to help us write our conclusion – for more on writing introductions for IELTS essays read this article, Click on the link. The introduction mentions some ideas that I have used to show what I am going to write about and I have used them in my conclusion:
Conclusion
In conclusion, small towns are the better choice for those seeking a more relaxed and community-oriented lifestyle. The tranquil and community-oriented lifestyle, combined with the slower pace of life and lower cost of living, make it an ideal choice for those looking for a more restful, simple way of life.
As you can see the language from the introduction has not been repeated even though the essential same point is being made. You should know that you do not have to replace every single word, of course there are some words where maybe you are not able to find a synonym or replacement word. Repeating the odd word here and there is not the end of the world by any means and it’s a lot better than making mistakes trying to find a synonym.
For more ways to write a good conclusion including the Accelerate method, click here to join us and accelerate your IELTS learning journey now.