How conclusion can go wrong?

The importance of the conclusion

A good conclusion provides closure to your IELTS writing task 2. It should restate the main position you described in the introduction and leave the reader with a thoughtful but more general idea. Without a conclusion you cannot score above a band score of 5 in coherence and cohesion.

The conclusion is the last thing your examiner reads so it needs to be concise, accurate and without superfluous information.

How to write a good conclusion

• restate your position
• end with a thought-provoking idea or prediction

Restatement of your position

In your conclusion, you must first start off with your position. In many IELTS essays this means that you must give your opinion again. This should not be written though with the same language used in the introduction or in the body paragraphs. Novel vocabulary and different grammar should be included.

Thought-provoking idea or prediction

Leave the reader with something to think about on the topic. This could be a more general statement about how the essay topic affects the world more broadly or what you think may happen in the future with the issue in the essay.

What conclusions should not contain

IELTS essay conclusions should never include new ideas. Any new ideas you want to write should be incorporated into the body paragraphs.

Below is the sample IELTS writing task 2 prompt seen previously.

Communication through text messaging and other forms of instant online communication are short and basic. Some people think this will be the death of grammar and spelling. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample conclusion

To conclude, while there is a risk of diluting language through continuous use of text messaging, I believe that this can be avoided. If we, as a society, continue reading regularly and consciously, language will survive and flourish.

Why it is a good conclusion

• The conclusion is brief – only two sentences long – but it incorporates the elements necessary to score well in IELTS writing task 2.
• The position is clearly stated -> while there is a risk of diluting language through continuous use of text messaging, I believe that this can be avoided.
• There is a prediction for the future related to the essay topic ->If we, as a society, continue reading regularly and consciously, language will survive and flourish.
• Advanced vocabulary is used -> diluting, continuous, consciously,flourish
• Advanced grammar is used in both sentences.

Below is a sample IELTS writing task 2 prompt seen above.

The Internet provides us with information about life and cultures of different countries, and some people say it is not necessary to visit these countries to learn about them. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and relevant examples.

Here is a sample conclusion

To conclude, travel is expensive, dangerous and time-consuming. We should avoid traveling and spend time with our friends and family instead. Recent studies have shown that when children spend time with their parents, both recorded feelings of well-being. In the future we will spend more time with our parents.

Why it’s problematic

• The writing task was not about the negatives of travel
• The writer introduces new ideas in the conclusion
• There is a prediction but it is not related to the task
• No conclusions can be drawn on the actual issue in the prompt because the response is off topic

Here is another example that is representative of a band 7

To conclude, I believe the internet provides endless sources of information about the world around us but it can never replace travel fully. No internet site or application has yet to provide the transformative experience of travel nor do I think it ever will.

Why it is a good conclusion

• The conclusion is brief – only two sentences long – but it incorporates the main points necessary to score well in IELTS writing task 2.
• The position is clearly stated -> I believe the internet provides endless sources of information about the world around us but it can never replace travel fully.
• There is a more general, thought-provoking idea related to the essay topic -> No internet site or application has yet to provide the transformative experience of travel nor do I think it ever will .
• Advanced vocabulary is used -> transformative experience
• Advanced grammar is used.