A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.
Conclusions: What are they worth in IELTS Essays?
There are four marking criteria for writing task 2:
- Task Response
- Coherence & Cohesion
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
Your conclusion falls under the criterion of Task Response. You are given a band score for each criterion and then a total band score for writing task 2. If you fail to have a conclusion, you will get under band score 6 in Task Response, which is 25% of your marks.
Paragraphs in Writing Task 2
You must divide your essay into paragraphs. You can have four paragraphs or five paragraphs in total. You should not have three and you can’t have six. See below:
Option 1
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Conclusion
Option 2
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Body Paragraph 3
- Conclusion
Conclusion Length & Content
Your conclusion should be one or two sentences long. Not more. It is a waste of timing having a long conclusion and it won’t help your score.
Your conclusion should summarise the main points you provided in your essay.
Conclusion Linking Words
Use the right words to start your conclusion for IELTS writing task 2. This lesson is for IELTS essays in both GT and Academic writing. Using the wrong linking words will lower your score.