Hello! Welcome back to your IELTS Academic preparation course.
In our last few lessons, we've been building an IELTS Task 2 essay piece by piece. You learned how to write a strong introduction with a clear thesis statement, and then how to develop your main ideas in body paragraphs using the TEE (Topic sentence, Explanation, Example) structure. Today, we'll learn how to write the final, crucial part of your essay: the conclusion.
This lesson addresses the learning outcome: Write conclusions that summarize your main points and restate your position. A good conclusion is your last chance to make a strong impression on the examiner. It ties your whole essay together and shows that you have answered the question completely and logically.
1. The Purpose of a Conclusion
Before we learn how to write a conclusion, it's important to understand its job. It's not a place for new ideas or complex arguments. Its purpose is to provide a sense of closure and completeness.
How to Write Strong IELTS Task 2 Conclusions
This article from Learn English Weekly explains what examiners look for in a conclusion and the most common mistakes students make. Understanding this will help you focus on what's important.
Please read the following three sections: 'What Examiners Expect from a Task 2 Conclusion' 'The Core Purpose of an IELTS Task 2 Conclusion' 'Common Conclusion Mistakes That Lower Scores' Focus on the idea that a conclusion should be 'complete and controlled' and should not introduce new information.
As you've just read, a strong conclusion reassures the examiner. It confirms your main argument and leaves a clear, final impression.
2. The Structure of a Strong Conclusion
A good conclusion is simple and follows a clear structure. You don't need to be creative here—a logical, predictable structure is best.
Most high-scoring conclusions have three main components:
- A concluding phrase: This signals to the reader that the essay is ending.
- A restatement of your thesis: You paraphrase your main position from the introduction.
- A summary of your main points: You briefly mention the main ideas from your body paragraphs.
You can also add a final sentence with a prediction or recommendation, but this is optional.
A Walkthrough to Writing a Powerful Conclusion for IELTS Writing Task 2
This video from Utalk Flip provides a clear, step-by-step guide to the parts of a conclusion. It will help you visualize the structure.
Watch from 00:21 to 01:23 and then from 01:51 to 02:51. Pay attention to the four parts the presenter outlines: the transitional phrase, restating the thesis, reflecting the main points, and the final thought.
Now, let's break down how to write each part.
3. How to Write Each Part of the Conclusion
Part 1: Choosing a Concluding Phrase
Starting your conclusion is simple, but it's important to use the right language.
How to Write a Strong Conclusion for IELTS / TOEFL
Let's watch a clip from the 'Write to the Top' channel. It offers excellent advice on which phrases are good for starting a conclusion and which ones you should avoid.
Watch from 00:58 to 03:31. Listen for the simple, effective phrases like 'In conclusion' and 'To sum up'. Also, take note of why you should not use words like 'Finally' or 'Lastly' to start your conclusion.
Key takeaway: Choose one or two simple phrases like In conclusion, or To sum up, and get comfortable using them. There is no need to use complicated phrases here.
Part 2: Restating Your Thesis and Summarizing Main Points
This is the most important part of your conclusion. You need to remind the reader of your main argument and the reasons you gave for it. The key skill here is to restate, not repeat.
How to Write Strong IELTS Task 2 Conclusions
Let's return to the 'Learn English Weekly' article to understand this crucial difference.
Read the section titled 'Restating Ideas Without Repeating Them'. This will help you understand how to summarize your points using different words (paraphrasing).
- To restate your thesis: Look at the thesis statement in your introduction and write it again using different vocabulary and sentence structure.
- To summarize your main points: Look at the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. Combine these ideas into a single, concise sentence.
Let's see this in action.
4. What to Avoid in a Conclusion
Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. The number one rule is: Do not introduce any new ideas. A conclusion is for summarizing what you have already said.
How to Write a Strong Conclusion for IELTS / TOEFL
The 'Write to the Top' video has a great section on what to avoid. This will help you prevent common mistakes that can lower your score.
Watch from 06:16 to 08:20. Pay close attention to the main point: don't introduce a new idea because you cannot develop or explain it.
5. Practice Time
Now, let's put everything together. In our previous lessons, we worked on an essay for this question:
Parents should not pressure their children to choose a particular profession. Young people should have the freedom to choose a career path they like.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Let's assume your essay had the following structure:
- Thesis Statement: While parental guidance is important, I strongly agree that young people should be free to choose their own career, as this leads to greater personal fulfillment and a more motivated workforce.
- Body Paragraph 1 Main Idea: Forcing a career path on children can harm their motivation and mental well-being.
- Body Paragraph 2 Main Idea: Allowing freedom of choice results in more passionate, productive professionals who contribute more to society.
Your Task (15 minutes):
Write a 2-3 sentence conclusion for this essay. Make sure you:
- Start with a concluding phrase (e.g.,
In conclusion,). - Restate the thesis statement in your own words.
- Briefly summarize the two main ideas above.
Sample Conclusion:
Once you have written your conclusion, compare it with this model. Yours doesn't have to be identical, but it should have the same components.
In conclusion, while parents play a key role in offering advice, the ultimate decision about a career should belong to the young person. Granting this freedom is essential not only for an individual's happiness and motivation but also for cultivating a more dedicated and effective workforce for society as a whole.
Conclusion
Well done! You have now learned how to structure every part of an IELTS Task 2 essay: the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion.
Key Takeaways:
- The purpose of a conclusion is to summarize and provide closure.
- A strong conclusion includes a concluding phrase, a restated thesis, and a summary of your main points.
- The most important rule is to never introduce new ideas in your conclusion.
- Focus on restating your ideas with different words, not simply repeating them.
In our next lesson, we will put all these pieces together. You will learn how to write a complete Task 2 essay of at least 250 words, focusing on organization, timing, and ensuring all parts of your essay work together coherently.