Cohesion & coherence
Cohesion is the glue between sentences. Coherence is whether the whole piece makes sense. You need both.
Linking words by function
Pick the linker that matches the logical relationship — don't decorate.
| Adding | in addition · furthermore · moreover · what is more |
|---|---|
| Contrasting | however · on the other hand · whereas · although · despite |
| Cause | because · since · owing to · as |
| Effect | therefore · as a result · consequently · for this reason |
| Example | for instance · for example · such as · to illustrate |
| Sequencing | first of all · next · finally · in the end |
| Concluding | in conclusion · to sum up · overall · on balance |
Referencing
Use pronouns, synonyms and 'this/these' to refer back without repeating.
| Pronouns | it · they · this · these · such |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | children → young people · cars → vehicles · company → firm / organisation |
| Demonstratives | this problem · these benefits · such a policy |
Paragraph sequencing & logical flow
- 1.Open with the more important idea — examiners read top-down.
- 2.Within a paragraph, move from general → specific → back to the point.
- 3.Use the last sentence of each paragraph to set up the next.
- 4.Keep one tense per paragraph unless you have a reason to switch.
Avoiding repetition
Repeating the same noun or linker is the fastest way to lose marks on Lexical Resource and Cohesion.
Pollution is a big problem. Pollution affects health. Pollution also affects the environment. To solve pollution, we should reduce pollution from cars.
- 'Pollution' repeated five times
- No referencing
- No synonyms
Air pollution has become a major concern in many cities. It damages public health and harms the wider environment, particularly through emissions from private vehicles. Reducing this source would therefore deliver immediate benefits.
- 'It' and 'this source' replace repetition
- Synonyms: pollution → emissions, concern
- Each sentence adds new information
Teacher notesShow
When marking, circle every repeated noun. Ask the student to replace each one with a pronoun, synonym, or demonstrative. This single exercise lifts most Band 6 scripts to Band 6.5+.