Looking for Connectors for IELTS Speaking and Writing? Well, you’ve just landed at the right place. We have your back and will help you score at least 7 bands in the speaking module.

What are CONNECTORS?

Connectors, also known in IELTS as cohesive devices, are linking words that help you bridge two or more scenarios without losing coherence. Simply put, they join two or more phrases, clauses, or sentences to create a meaningful sentence.

Many IELTS students fail to use them in their Speaking and Writing, and many overdo them.

REMEMBER….

Everything should be in a LIMIT. Even the use of connectors.

Many students misuse IELTS writing connectors, making their essays or Task 1 unreadable. Some overdo them in the speaking section.

USE THEM TO CONNECT YOUR IDEAS LOGICALLY. PLEASE DON’T PUT THEM RANDOMLY. ELSE, YOU’LL LOSE MARKS.

Many connectors in the English Language can help you show contrast, similarity, outcome, result, sequence and order, relevance or importance, exemplification, emphasis, explanation, dismissal, summarising or concluding, particularising, focusing, timing, and correction.

Connectors for IELTS speaking and writing are extremely useful.

In the Speaking Section, they are a part of the Fluency and Coherence (F&C) Parameters. Click here to read the official IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors.
In the writing section, they are a part of Coherence and Cohesive (C&C) devices. Click here to read the official IELTS Writing Band Descriptors.

Below is a list of all the connectors for speaking and writing for IELTS, categorized by their use.

Similarity: These connectors show that two things are alike or have similar qualities.

Likewise (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The government increased spending on education. Likewise, they invested more in healthcare.
In the same way (Writing – Academic, Speaking): Fables teach moral lessons in the same way that historical stories provide insights into human nature.
Similarly (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): European countries have strong economies. Similarly, Asian markets are also growing rapidly.
Also (Writing – General, Speaking): Employees expect fair treatment. They also want job security.
Correspondingly (Writing – Academic): The cost of urban living is high; correspondingly, salaries in cities are higher.
Simultaneously (Writing – Academic, Speaking): Governments tackle economic growth and poverty simultaneously, as both are interconnected.
In the same breath (Speaking): Some leaders speak about peace. In the same breath, they approve military actions.

Outcome and Result: These connectors show the effect or consequence of something.

Therefore (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The roads were flooded. Therefore, schools were closed for the day.
As a consequence (Writing – Academic): The company failed to meet safety standards. As a consequence, it was fined heavily.
Thus (Writing – Academic): The university received more funding. Thus, they were able to build new research centers.
As a result (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The economy suffered a recession. As a result, unemployment rates rose.
Accordingly (Writing – Academic): The government noticed a rise in crime. Accordingly, they increased police presence.

Contrast: These connectors highlight differences between two ideas or situations.

Nonetheless (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): She was tired. Nonetheless, she continued to work late.
Nevertheless (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The weather was bad. Nevertheless, the match continued.
In contrast (Writing – Academic): Online shopping is rising. In contrast, physical stores are seeing fewer customers.
However (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): He planned a vacation. However, his workload prevented him from traveling.
Yet (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The problem was simple, yet no one could solve it.
All the same (Speaking): The critics disliked the film. All the same, it was a box office success.
In any case (Speaking, Writing – General): The meeting was canceled. In any case, I wasn’t planning to attend.
Instead (Writing – General, Speaking): He didn’t apologize. Instead, he blamed others.
On the contrary (Writing – Academic, Speaking): Some believe technology makes life harder. On the contrary, it simplifies many tasks.
By comparison (Writing – Academic): The 21st century has advanced medicine. By comparison, previous centuries lacked proper healthcare.
On the other hand (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Online courses are flexible. On the other hand, traditional classes offer face-to-face interaction.

Sequence: These connectors indicate the order of events or ideas.

Connectors to illustrate a sequence (Speaking)

For one thing (Speaking): He was asked why he seldom read the newspapers. His reply: “For one thing, the news is depressing; for another, I prefer to spend my spare time watching documentaries.”
To begin with (Speaking): He found that the work was easy to begin with, but it got progressively more difficult as he went along.
For another thing (Speaking): People with common sense should quit smoking. For one thing, it costs a fortune. For another thing, it is dangerous and can lead to a number of nasty diseases.
Also (Speaking): The charity was looking for volunteer workers to man the stalls. They also needed people who were prepared to stay overnight and look after the valuable goods that would go on sale over the weekend.

Connectors to illustrate a sequence (Writing)

In addition (Writing – Academic & General): The organisation offered to make amends for any problems that had been caused by the misinformation that had been published in their magazine. In addition, they discounted the next edition of the glossy publication.
Besides (Writing – General): Besides the medical aid costing too much, it fails to offer even the most basic of out-of-hospital services.
Moreover (Writing – Academic & General): Over the years, computers have become more and more powerful; moreover, they have also become less expensive.
Furthermore (Writing – Academic): The houses in the neighbourhood were large and spacious. Furthermore, they had easy access to public transport.
Finally (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The shipment of computers was three weeks late, but when it finally arrived, the staff agreed that the quality and high speed made the wait worthwhile.

Order of Relevance or Importance: These connectors indicate priority or significance in an argument.

Most importantly (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): We should discuss how to maintain a work-life balance, most importantly, how organisations can ensure that employees are not overworked.
Most significantly (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The president said that the year ahead would be different. Most significantly, he indicated that he would reallocate funding to obtain additional resources.
Essentially, Basically (Writing – General, Speaking): The manager said that it was basically the responsibility of every employee to ensure that the customers were delighted with the service they received.
Above all (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The leader of the opposition said that it was his responsibility to ensure that the government was transparent. Above all, he was concerned that corruption is kept at bay.
Primarily (Writing – Academic): The government is primarily responsible for the welfare of the people.

Exemplification – Giving Examples: These connectors are used to provide examples.

For example (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): If, for example, we could put the well-being of others before ourselves, the world would be a much happier place for all.
For instance (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Modern urban populations are battling lifestyle diseases brought on by obesity. Diabetes, for instance, is growing in prevalence and more and more people have to take chronic medication.
To illustrate (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Misinformation can cause many disagreements. To illustrate, a company advertising goods at an incorrect price could lead to disgruntled customers.

Emphasis: These connectors emphasize a point or argument.

In fact (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): It could be argued that trade sanctions are trouble for the economy. In fact, many would say that the imposition of sanctions could start a war.
Actually (Speaking): The doctor thought that the patient had measles when, actually, it was something far more severe.
As a matter of fact (Speaking): What most people fail to understand is that traveling isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, many people prefer to settle down in one place.
Indeed (Writing – Academic): Indeed, it may be a lot easier to just give up on passing your driver’s license test.

Explanation: These connectors clarify or explain something in more detail.

Namely (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The teacher had pointed out various countries around the world, namely, Portugal, Brazil, India, and Australia.
That is to say (that is) (Speaking): He was not found guilty in a court of law. That is to say, he walked out scot-free.
Put differently (Speaking): It gets really busy during the holiday season and the beaches tend to get crowded. Put differently, rather go to the beach before the holiday season starts.
In other words (Speaking): There is much to discuss before choosing to start a family. In other words, think before you rush into it.

Dismissal (Dismissing what has been said prior): These connectors help dismiss or move past a previous point.

Anyhow (Speaking – Informal): The bus was late, and the weather was bad. Anyhow, I still managed to reach the office on time.
At any rate (Writing – General, Speaking): The economy is struggling. At any rate, businesses must find ways to adapt.
Anyway (Speaking – Informal): I was trying to explain my point. Anyway, let’s move on to the next topic.

Summarizing or Concluding: These connectors summarize or conclude ideas.

In summary (Writing – Academic): In summary, I have come to the realization that communication plays a big role in the success of a team.
To sum up (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): To sum up my thoughts, I think choosing a single piece of art from a couple hundred is rather difficult.
In conclusion (Writing – Academic): In conclusion, winning isn’t necessarily the most important thing, it’s the way you played the game.
In brief (Speaking): In brief, today’s headlines were depressing.
All in all (Speaking): The project turned out okay. All in all, I think everyone did a fantastic job.

Particularising: These connectors emphasize a specific aspect or example.

Most specifically (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Eating vegetables is good for eyesight; most specifically, carrots are believed to improve night vision.
In particular, particularly (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Many teenagers face challenges; in particular, issues related to peer pressure and academic stress are common.

Focusing and Linking: These connectors help relate different aspects of a topic.

With respect to (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): With respect to the contract, we regret that we cannot accept the terms and conditions.
Regarding (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): Regarding the proposal, we cannot agree with some of the suggested changes.
With regard to (Writing – Academic): With regard to your job application, we regret to inform you that you were not selected.
As for (Writing – General, Speaking): The event was well-organized. As for the keynote speaker, he was exceptional.
As far as (Writing – General, Speaking): As far as I know, the meeting will be rescheduled to next week.
Talking of / Speaking of (Speaking): Talking of vacations, have you planned your next trip?
When it comes to (Writing – General, Speaking): When it comes to learning a new language, consistency is key.

Timing: These connectors indicate time relationships between events.

Then (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The workers attended a training session, then they took an exam.
Afterwards (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The team trained rigorously. Afterwards, they took a well-deserved break.
At first (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): At first, I struggled with the new software, but over time, I became proficient.
Meanwhile (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): The government discussed economic policies. Meanwhile, inflation continued to rise.
Later (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): I studied engineering first. Later, I switched to data science.
In the meantime (Writing – Academic & General, Speaking): I plan to start my business next year. In the meantime, I am gathering resources and knowledge.

Now that you have a list of Connectors for IELTS Speaking and Writing, you must practice them diligently. We have given examples in the body content and in the PDF below.

Connectors can be in the beginning, middle or end of a sentence. However, you need to learn their natural usage before using them in the right place and the right situation.

Key Considerations:

Formal vs. Informal: The placement of connectors can influence the formality of your writing. Ending sentences with certain connectors is generally considered more informal.
Clarity and Flow: The primary goal is to ensure clarity and maintain a smooth flow of ideas. Place connectors where they best serve these purposes.
Punctuation: Pay close attention to punctuation, especially when using adverbial connectors (Words like “however,” “therefore,” “moreover,” “nevertheless,” “furthermore,” and “otherwise” ) in the middle of sentences.

Note: We have uploaded all Cambridge and other Official IELTS Modules for you to practice. Click here to do IELTS Practice Tests Online.

Connectors for IELTS Speaking & Writing