Hello! Welcome to our final lesson for Day 2.
In the last lesson, you successfully wrote a complete Task 2 essay, integrating all the structural elements we've discussed. That was like writing the first complete draft of a program. Today, we move to the crucial next phase: the review.
This lesson focuses on the learning outcome: Review a practice Task 2 essay for logical flow and clear paragraphing.
Just as a software engineer reviews code for logic, structure, and readability, a good writer reviews their essay to ensure the argument is sound and easy to follow. This process is essential for scoring high on the Coherence and Cohesion criterion, which makes up 25% of your Writing score. We'll break down what examiners look for and give you a systematic way to review your own work.
1. Understanding Coherence and Cohesion
Before we start reviewing, let's define our terms. "Coherence" refers to the logical flow of your ideas. "Cohesion" refers to how you connect those ideas using linking words and clear paragraphing. In short, does your essay make sense and is it easy to read?
To get a clear picture of what this means, let's start with a foundational article.
IELTS Writing Task 2- Coherence and Cohesion
The article 'IELTS Writing Task 2- Coherence and Cohesion' from IELTS Advantage breaks this concept down into simple, practical questions. It will help you get into the mindset of an examiner.
Please read the first three paragraphs, starting from 'All the information in the world...' and ending just before 'What does that mean in a real essay?'. As you read, focus on the three key questions you should ask yourself about your essay.
Those three questions are your guiding principles for this lesson:
- Is it easy for the examiner to understand my essay?
- Are my main points easy to follow?
- Are my main points connected in a way that makes them easy to understand and follow?
To see what achieving this looks like at a high level, let's look at the official band descriptors for a Band 8 score.
IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 steps towards a band 8
This table from the official IELTS partner, IDP, shows the criteria for a Band 8 in 'Coherence and cohesion'. This is our target.
In the article, find the table with the heading 'IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors'. Focus only on the row for 'Coherence and cohesion'. Notice the key phrases: 'sequences information and ideas logically' and 'uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately'.
2. The Review Process: A Paragraph-by-Paragraph Analysis
The best way to review for logical flow and clear paragraphing is to examine each part of the essay, from the introduction to the conclusion, ensuring each does its job correctly.
Reviewing the Introduction and Conclusion
The introduction sets the direction for the entire essay, and the conclusion provides a logical endpoint. A breakdown in either of these paragraphs can disrupt the entire flow.
Let's watch a video that shows "before and after" versions of an introduction and conclusion, highlighting common mistakes and how to fix them.
The ONLY IELTS Writing Task 2 Strategy You Need in 2025
The video 'The ONLY IELTS Writing Task 2 Strategy You Need in 2025' by IELTS Advantage provides an excellent breakdown of how to review each paragraph. We'll focus on the introduction and conclusion first.
Please watch the following two segments: Introduction Review (12:31 - 16:55): Notice how the poor introduction uses memorized phrases and has no clear purpose. The revised version directly paraphrases the question and outlines the essay's direction. Conclusion Review (26:51 - 28:45): Pay attention to the key mistake the student makes: introducing a new idea. The corrected version simply summarizes the main points discussed in the essay.
Key Checkpoints for Intro/Conclusion:
- Introduction: Does it directly address the question and clearly state your main ideas/position?
- Conclusion: Does it summarize the points from your body paragraphs without adding new information or predictions?
Reviewing the Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs are the building blocks of your argument. For your essay to be logical, each paragraph must have a single, clear focus and develop that idea sufficiently. This is the "one paragraph, one idea" principle.
A common mistake is to put too many underdeveloped ideas into one paragraph, making it confusing and illogical. Let's see how to avoid this.
From Band 6.5 to 9.0: IELTS Writing Makeover
In this segment from 'From Band 6.5 to 9.0: IELTS Writing Makeover', the expert coaches a student to simplify her ideas. This is crucial for maintaining a clear focus in each paragraph.
Watch the section from 04:56 to 10:35. Focus on why the expert advises against trying to cover too many points. The goal is to pick simple, direct ideas and develop them fully.
Once you have a single, clear idea for a paragraph, you need to structure it logically. As we learned, the Point-Example-Explain (PEE) structure is perfect for this. When reviewing, you check if your paragraph follows this structure.
Let's return to our "before and after" video to see this in action.
The ONLY IELTS Writing Task 2 Strategy You Need in 2025
This video provides a powerful demonstration of how to transform a confusing body paragraph into a clear and logical one.
Please watch the two segments on reviewing body paragraphs: Main Body Paragraph 1 Review (17:04 - 23:00): Identify why the first version fails. It has multiple ideas, unclear linking words, and a weak example. The revised version has a clear topic sentence, a logical explanation, and a relevant example. Main Body Paragraph 2 Review (23:00 - 26:51): Notice how the student initially talks about causes instead of effects, breaking the logical flow. The corrected version focuses squarely on the question and develops the idea clearly.
Key Checkpoints for Body Paragraphs:
- One Idea: Does the paragraph focus on a single main point?
- Topic Sentence: Does the first sentence clearly state this main point?
- Development (PEE): Is the point explained clearly? Is there a specific example to support it?
- Relevance: Does the entire paragraph directly relate to the overall question?
3. Your Turn: Apply the Review Checklist
Now, it's time to become your own examiner. Take the essay you wrote in the previous lesson and review it using the checklist below. Be critical and honest. The goal is to find areas for improvement.
Essay Review Checklist
Overall Flow (Coherence):
- Can a reader understand my main argument by reading only the introduction and conclusion?
- Does the essay progress logically from one paragraph to the next?
- Is my position/opinion clear throughout the essay?
Paragraphing (Cohesion):
- Introduction:
- Does it paraphrase the question?
- Does it clearly state my opinion and the main ideas I will discuss?
- Body Paragraph 1:
- Does it start with a clear topic sentence that states the paragraph's single main idea?
- Does the explanation logically develop the topic sentence?
- Is there a relevant example that supports the point?
- Body Paragraph 2:
- Does it start with a clear topic sentence for its main idea?
- Does the explanation logically develop this topic sentence?
- Is there a relevant example?
- Conclusion:
- Does it summarize the main points from the body paragraphs?
- Does it restate my opinion?
- Does it avoid introducing any new ideas?
Take about 10-15 minutes to go through your essay with this checklist. You can make notes on a copy of your essay or simply reflect on each point. This is one of the most valuable skills you can develop for the exam.
Conclusion
Excellent work today. Reviewing your own writing is a challenging but essential skill. By learning to spot weaknesses in logical flow and paragraphing, you can significantly improve the clarity and impact of your essays.
Key Takeaways:
- Think Like the Reader: The goal of coherence and cohesion is to make your essay easy to understand and follow.
- One Paragraph, One Idea: This is the golden rule for clear paragraphing.
- Structure is Key: A clear introduction, well-developed PEE body paragraphs, and a summarizing conclusion create a logical and coherent essay.
- Review is an Active Process: Don't just read for spelling mistakes. Use a checklist to actively analyze your essay's structure and logic.
This concludes Day 2, where we have built a complete framework for structuring a Task 2 essay. You now have the architectural blueprint for a high-scoring response.
Tomorrow, on Day 3, we begin our Grammar & Vocabulary Bootcamp. We will start by focusing on a very common but critical area: reviewing your own writing to identify and correct subject-verb agreement errors. The review skills you practiced today will be invaluable as we zoom in on the sentence level.