Enhancing Coherence and Cohesion: Referencing in IELTS Writing

The IELTS Writing test is made up of two tasks: Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2. These tasks are based on topics of general interest and are both assessed by an IELTS examiner using the following criteria:

• Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2)

• Coherence and Cohesion

• Lexical Resource

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

In this post, we’ll be looking at one very important aspect of Coherence and Cohesion: Referencing.

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When giving you a score for Coherence and Cohesion, examiners will focus on how your text is put together. While a coherent text is logical and easy to follow, a cohesive text shows information that has been effectively organized. This is achieved by using appropriate paragraphing, linkers, as well as referencing to avoid repetition.

Hear more about coherence and cohesion from our IELTS Experts.

Referencing is when you refer to something stated somewhere else in your text without repeating the same words.

There are different ways to reference:

By using Pronouns

• “Technology addiction is a real problem in modern society, not just for adults, but also for teenagers. There are many reasons for this.”

By using Synonyms

• “Teenagers’ lives often revolve around their phones. From the internet and social media to apps and games, adolescents simply love going online.”

By using Substitution

• “It is important that young people are given limits when it comes to screen-based activity. To do so, parents should focus on setting limits on recreational screen time.”

Now that you have a better understanding of what referencing is, it’s time to do some practice.

Take a minute to read the paragraph below and choose whether to use pronouns, synonyms or substitution in order to improve the text by reducing repetition. When you finish, you can scroll down and compare your answers with the model answer provided.

Practice paragraph:

Naturally, both mothers and fathers are anxious about the effects of excessive screen time on their teenage children. However, many mothers and fathers also struggle with regulating their own screen time, and it is important for mothers and fathers to set a good example for their teenage children. To achieve setting a good example, mothers and fathers should try to spend less time on their cellphones and avoid getting distracted by their cellphones, especially when having a conversation with their teenage children.

Model answer:

Naturally, both mothers and fathers are anxious about the effects of excessive screen time on their teenage children. However, many parents also struggle with regulating their own use of technology, and it is important for them to set a good example for their teenagers. To achieve this, parents should try to spend less time on their cellphones and avoid getting distracted by them, especially when having a conversation with their children.

Even though there might be times when you’ll inevitably need to repeat words in your writing, try using referencing and vary your vocabulary as much as possible. Doing so will show the examiner that you have the necessary skills to write a cohesive text.

Achieving a great IELTS score takes time and planning. You can’t just book and take your test in a matter of days – no matter how strong your English skills are. Successful test takers create a schedule to help them study everything they need to know before they sit an IELTS test. They make time to practise all four English skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking – as the format of each part of the test is different.

To help you prepare for your IELTS test, you can access our wide range of preparation materials, attend a FREE Masterclass with an IELTS expert, and complete IELTS practice tests.

You can also boost your writing band score with IELTS Writing Assist. Complete an official mock IELTS writing test online and receive personalised feedback from an IELTS Expert.