Writing Skills
Paragraph structure
Foundation

Paragraph structure

One idea, fully developed. Every paragraph in an IELTS response follows the same five moves.

1
Topic sentence

State the single main idea of the paragraph in clear, general terms.

"One major benefit of remote work is improved work-life balance."
Avoid examples or statistics here — keep it general.
2
Supporting idea

Explain or extend the topic sentence. Why is it true? What does it mean?

"When employees control their own schedules, they can fit work around family and personal needs."
3
Example or evidence

Give a concrete case, situation or piece of evidence.

"For instance, parents can attend school events without using annual leave."
One developed example beats three vague ones.
4
Explanation

Link the example back to the topic sentence. Show why it matters.

"This flexibility reduces stress and helps employees stay engaged with their jobs."
5
Concluding / linking sentence

Close the idea or signal the next paragraph.

"As a result, many companies now treat flexibility as a core part of their offer."
TSEEC paragraph template

Use this template for every body paragraph in Task 2.

  1. T — Topic sentence
    State your main idea in one sentence.
  2. S — Support
    Explain what you mean.
  3. E — Example
    Give one developed example.
  4. E — Explain
    Link it back to your point.
  5. C — Close
    Finish or link to the next paragraph.
Unity: one paragraph = one idea. If a sentence belongs to a different idea, move it.
Cohesion: connect sentences with pronouns, synonyms and linkers — not by repeating the same noun.
Length: aim for 4–6 sentences (60–90 words). Shorter looks underdeveloped; longer loses focus.
Teacher notesShow

Drill paragraphs in isolation before full essays. Mark each sentence T/S/E/E/C so students see which move is missing. Most Band 6 paragraphs skip steps 3 and 4.