How to write an introduction and a conclusion for IELTS Task 2 band 7 and higher

Some of you are contacting me and asking how to write an IELTS Task 2 band 7 or 8  introduction  and conclusion, so I’m going to give you some ideas here.

The Introduction

You need to write a minimum total of 250 words, so an easy way to minimise your panic in the IELTS exam when you read the question is to break your essay down into 4 or 5 parts.

This will be the introduction, the conclusion and 2 or 3 body paragraphs depending on how quickly your ideas come and how quickly you can write them down.

I then suggest you write approximate 50 words for the introduction and 50 for the conclusion.

Use any remaining time for the body paragraphs, which must have a total of minimum 150 words.

Answering the question

You need to ensure you’ve covered all parts of the question when you are considering the reply in your introduction. This is called task achievement. (TA)

See the IELTS public band descriptors for guidance

Paraphrasing the Question Vocabulary

In the introduction you are expected to paraphrase the vocabulary from the question for 2 reasons.

1. If you do not paraphrase the question vocabulary, this vocabulary is removed from the final word count and may leave you to have written fewer than 250 words, which could lead to a penalty and marks being deducted from your final band score.

2. If you paraphrase the question vocabulary, you are also showing the examiner that you have a wide range of lexis and idiomatic phrases, thus boosting your marks in the lexical resource (LR) column.

Expressing your opinion

In the introduction, the examiner is also expecting to see your opinion on the question and how you link your ideas from the introduction through to the body paragraphs and finally in the conclusion.

If your thoughts are easy to follow, the examiner will give you good marks in the cohesion and coherency column (CC)

For bands 7 and higher, you need to express this using adverbs to emphasise your feelings about the topic.

Using Complex Sentences and Complex Grammar

While you are creating your introduction, it’s also a good idea to think about using complex sentences to introduce your ideas and include some complex grammar, too. This all helps to get better marks in the grammar column. (GR)

What does complex mean?

Some students get a bit worried when they see my instruction – use complex sentences. All complex means is use sentences that have at least 2 ideas in them and join these ideas with linking words or phrases.

Why use complex sentences?

The more complex sentences the examiner can see, the more marks you’ll get, especially if the sentences are grammatically accurate.

What does complex grammar mean?

Examples of complex grammar are sentences using modals in the past, or future perfect, especially the passive, or future passive infinitives. These will certainly help to improve your marks if you can use them accurately and naturally.

Putting these ideas together

Example Question

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

What other measures do you think might be effective?

Example Introduction

It is thought that (1) putting up the price of petrol at the pump (2) is one approach to beating the problems caused by traffic and pollution (3). Although (4) this is undoubtedly (5) one consideration, there are various other solutions (6) which could also be taken into account (7), when considering (8) the predicament. (48 words)

An analysis of this introduction

1 Use this expression to introduce the topic of the question – you’ll get marks for using a passive.

2/3/6/7 This is an idiomatic expression and a paraphrase of the question topic.

4 Although is a good word to use to introduce your complex sentence. It is a word that requires two contrasting ideas in the sentence, which are separated by a comma and so can contrast the 2 approaches considered in the question.

5 This is an adverb which will tell the examiner what you think about the question and does not need the use of ‘I’. (a lower band)

6 This half of the sentence addresses the second part of the question concerning other measures.

7 This is complex grammar using a modal in the passive.

8 A complex use of a participle phrase for linking

The Introduction Formula

The analysis is a formula you can use in all your introductions

More examples of introductions are given in the members’ section

The Conclusion

In the conclusion you summarise the thoughts you have expressed in the rest of the essay and can then express your personal opinion, using ‘I’, or you can express a neutral opinion.

The Approach

In your conclusion to get your band 7 or higher, you need to use the same techniques that you have used in the introduction.

Example Conclusion

Having discussed (1) whether(2) increasing the price of petrol is the best option for controlling problems concerning traffic and pollution (3), or if (4)measures such as imposing congestion charges (5) on traffic entering the centre of the Capital (6) would be better, it could be concluded (7) that a mix of all these solutions (8) is the best answer (9) to the question posed (10). (57 words)

An analysis of the Conclusion

1 A complex use of a past participle phrase for linking

2 Whether is a good word to introduce a complex sentence, needing an opposite idea.

3/5/6/8/9/10 Idiomatic expressions and links back to the question

4 Complex grammar using the second conditional

7 Complex grammar using a modal passive

The Conclusion Formula

The analysis is a formula you can use in all your introductions

More examples of introductions are given in our premium members’ section

Review

Practise all these techniques independently as much as you can, then you will be able to use them successfully in the actual exam. These techniques are essential if you want to achieve IELTS Task 2 band 7 or 8.

Good Luck

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