How can I improve coherence, vocabulary, and grammar to reach Band 7.5+ in IELTS Writing?

Question

Hi there, Speed Stars

I’m currently preparing for the IELTS Academic exam and aiming to reach at least Band 7.5 in the Writing section. I’ve taken the test before and received a Band 6.5 in Writing, while scoring higher in the other sections. I believe my main issues are in developing ideas clearly, improving coherence, and using a wider range of vocabulary and grammar structures.

Here are some specific concerns I have:

1. My Task 2 essays sometimes lack strong cohesion between paragraphs. I’m not sure how to structure body paragraphs in a way that feels logical and fluent.
2. I tend to repeat words, especially when describing trends or giving examples, and I want to improve my lexical resource.
3. My sentence structures are quite basic. I want to include more complex or compound sentences without making grammatical errors.
4. I struggle a bit with time management — I often spend too long on Task 2 and rush through Task 1.

I’d really appreciate any tips, strategies, or examples that could help me improve. If you have suggestions for how to practice or structure my writing over time, that would be great as well!

Thank you in advance for your guidance!

Answer 1

Hi Grace, thank you for your amazing question. As an IELTS expert for 20 years, achieving a 7.5+ in IELTS Writing isn’t just about knowing grammar or fancy words—it’s about strategy.

Here’s the 3-part formula I teach my students:

A. Coherence & Cohesion

1. Plan before you write. Use a simple 4-paragraph structure (intro, 2 body paragraphs, conclusion).
2. Make each paragraph flow with linking words (However, In addition, As a result) so your ideas connect naturally.

B. Vocabulary (Lexical Resource)

1. Replace basic words with precise, academic alternatives (e.g., “big” → “significant,” “think” → “believe”).
2. Use collocations (natural word pairings like “take into consideration”) to sound more native.

C. Grammar Range & Accuracy

1. Mix sentence types: simple + complex + compound.
2. Focus on accuracy first—Band 7.5 examiners value error-free sentences more than risky structures.

My secret? Practice with real feedback. After just a few sessions, my students learn how to write essays that sound clear, natural, and meet examiner expectations. Band 7.5+ becomes very realistic once you understand the formula.

Answer 2

Hello Grace,

Thank you for your post. As you continue preparing for the IELTS Academic exam, I hope the following information and questions will support you:

1. Cohesion between paragraphs: One accessible solution is enumeration, or adding keywords and transitional phrases such as "First," "Last," "One reason why...," and "Another reason that..." Depending upon the task, using words like those near the start of your paragraphs can help signal to your reader the place of a paragraph within a larger argument. Also, you might consider any meaningful connections between paragraphs. For instance, if one builds on another that came before, you might use wording such as "Furthermore" or "Additionally." If the subsequent paragraph contrasts with what came before, you might instead use words such as "However" or "Nevertheless." How strategically do you use such wording already?
2. Word repetition: This is a common concern in essays, especially when discussing trends or examples. When possible, consider using synonyms when you need to speak about the same topic more than once within a single paragraph. For example, rather than using the word "Cadillac" multiple times, you might use words such as "car," "vehicle," "automobile," and so forth after you have used "Cadillac" for the first time. How do you currently use synonyms in your writing?
3. Sentence structure: Great question about complex and compound sentences! How familiar are you with those sentence types, clauses, subjects, predicates, and conjunctions? There are nuanced details there, but for now, you might find this resource a helpful primer: https://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/complex-sentences.html.
4. Time management: I am curious to know more about your time management struggles. One thought at the moment is that the time spent on Task 2 may prove shorter as you practice, integrate, and apply the suggestions mentioned here and others more automatically.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, and I'm happy to speak further.