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IELTS Writing Task 2 Useful Language

IELTS Writing Task 2: Useful Language

Yesterday we looked at why it’s effective to memorise phrases, not sentences, for use in the writing section of IELTS. Here is a second list of useful phrases, this time for use in Task 2.

Again, the phrases are grouped by function. They include some phrases that are great for building an introduction and others that can help you write a really persuasive argument.

Remember that in IELTS Writing Task 2 the quality of your ideas is not what really matters. The examiner wants to see what language you use to make your argument and organise your thoughts. Time is also very limited, so memorising a set of useful phrases is often said to be critical in order to get a high score.

Introducing the topic

  • Some people argue that…
  • Have you ever considered… ?
  • The question raises the issue of…

Stating an opinion (thesis statement)

  • I believe that…
  • It is my belief that…
  • This essay will argue that…

Indicating the scope of the essay

  • In this essay, I will state…
  • This essay will examine…
  • … will be covered in this essay.

Giving reasons

  • One reason for this is that…
  • This can be explained by…
  • This can be attributed to the fact that…

Giving further reasons

  • Not only that, but…
  • A further reason is…
  • It should also be stated that…

Citing general opinions

  • It has been claimed that…
  • It is widely believed that…
  • There is a widespread belief that…

Refuting opinions

  • I would dispute this, however.
  • However, this is not necessarily the case.
  • There are some faults with this reasoning, however.

Hedging strategies

  • It could be argued that…
  • One explanation might be that…
  • This suggests that…

Strengthening an argument

  • There can be no doubt that…
  • Therefore, we can say beyond any doubt that…
  • These are just some of the reasons why…

Concluding and summarising

  • To sum up, … / In summary, … / In short, …
  • Overall, … / On the whole, …
  • To return to my original idea,…

Teacher’s Notes

IELTS TeacherThe IELTS Writing assessment criteria rewards you for attempting to use a range of academic expressions and linking phrases, even if you make some mistakes. The useful phrases above are exactly the sort of language the IELTS examiner is expecting to find in a high-scoring answer, so please start using them in your own IELTS essays. A native English speaker can tell you if the phrases are being used grammatically and appropriately.

 

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