IELTS Computer Delivered Tests + Band Score

Transitional Phrases for Essays

This lesson shows you transitional phrases for essays in order to help you present other people’s arguments in your IELTS writing essays for part 2.

This lesson is aimed more at those who are wanting a band 7 or higher as this page will show you a more sophisticated way of presenting arguments.

Presenting Two Sides of an Argument

When you write an argumentative essay, it is likely that you will want to present two sides of an argument.

Take a look at this paragraph from an essay (which was recently posted as a model essay on this site) which is in answer to this question:

University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The person is presenting the side of the argument about why education should not be free:

Body Paragraph: Arguments against free education 

Firstly, students should be charged because education is becoming more expensive to fund as universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching.  In addition, students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending university are from the middle classes.  Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.

The paragraph is fine but it does look like the opinions being presented are the writers own views.

What if you want to make it clear that they are not your opinions, but those of someone else because you intend to disagree with it in your next paragraph or because you don't want to make it clear which side of the argument you agree with until the end?

The paragraph has now got some transitional phrases for essays that make it clear that they are not your arguments, but another person's:

Body Paragraph: Arguments against free education 

One argument put forward in favour of charging students is that education is becoming more expensive to fund as universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching.  In addition, it is argued that most students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending university are from the middle classes.  Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.

The last point “Last but not least, in many countries…” has not been changed, but this would be overdoing it. It is clear by this point that all the arguments the writer is presenting are other people’s.

In your next paragraph, you may then want to present your arguments. So you may begin your paragraph with something like:

However, I do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. Firstly,...

Alternatively, you may want to present another paragraph with other people's ideas, that shows the opposite side of the argument. So your second paragraph may begin:

However, some people oppose these views. Firstly, they claim that...

And then you would let the reader know in your conclusion your position on the matter.

Here are some examples of transitional phrases for essays that can be used:

  • It has been argued that…
  • Some people claim / argue / believe / think that…
  • An argument commonly put forward is that…
  • Those that support (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
  • Proponents of (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
  • These arguments have been critisized for several reasons...

These are just some examples. There will be some other ways.

I suggested these as band 7 and above as it is a more difficult skill to place them in your essay. They can't just be placed in front of an idea and used like a transition such as "Firstly,..." in the hope of getting a band 7!

They create a certain register or tone that you are writing with so you need to make sure the rest of your essay fits with this style.

Here is an example of another full essay using this style: animal rights essay



Video

Also check out this video which gives you more ideas for band 7 transitional phrases for essays that can help you move up from a band 6. 

< Getting IELTS Band 7

Getting IELTS Band 8 >

More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:


Join IELTS buddy for Free IELTS Tips!

Comments

Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.




Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

ielts buddy ebooks