IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Conclusions & Cause and Effect Language  ·  B2–C1

Why the conclusion matters

The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads — and it contributes directly to your coherence and cohesion score. A strong conclusion brings your essay to a definite close; a weak one leaves the examiner with the impression that your essay ran out of ideas.

What a conclusion must do

Essential conclusion checklist:

Why should you never introduce a new idea in the conclusion?

Introducing a new idea signals to the examiner that your essay is unfinished — the new idea needed a full paragraph to develop it properly. It can also suggest poor planning. Examiners specifically look for this error and it affects your coherence and cohesion score.

Discuss:

In spoken English, how do you typically end a long explanation or argument? Do you use the same techniques in writing?

What is the difference between "summarising" and "copying" the introduction?

Cause and effect language

IELTS essays often require you to explain why something happens (cause) and what it results in (effect). Varying your language for this is key to a high vocabulary score. Click each card to see the pattern and an example.

means Simple cause-effect link. More formal than "so".
A sedentary lifestyle means that many adults are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
leads to / results in The cause (subject) produces the effect.
Excessive screen time leads to disrupted sleep patterns and reduced concentration.
as a consequence of The effect follows from the cause. More formal.
As a consequence of poor dietary habits, childhood obesity rates have risen sharply.
contribute to One of several causes — suggests partial responsibility.
Stress and long working hours both contribute to declining mental health in many professions.
therefore / consequently Connects cause and effect between sentences.
Many people lack access to healthy food options. Consequently, diet-related illness is disproportionately high in low-income communities.
owing to / due to Identifies the cause of a situation. More formal than "because of".
Owing to a lack of physical activity, rates of type 2 diabetes have increased significantly.

Sentence building practice

Complete each sentence using the cause-effect link shown. Check your answer when ready.

Cause: people take less exercise / Effect: obesity rates increase
→ Use: leads to
A sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity lead to higher rates of obesity and related chronic illness across all age groups.
Cause: too much sugar in processed food / Effect: children develop poor eating habits early
→ Use: as a consequence of
As a consequence of high sugar content in processed and fast food, many children develop unhealthy eating habits during their formative years that are difficult to reverse in adulthood.
Cause: poor diet + lack of exercise / Effect: increasing strain on national health services
→ Use: contribute to
Poor dietary choices and declining levels of physical activity both contribute to the increasing burden placed on national health services by lifestyle-related conditions.

Discuss:

Think about a health, education, or environmental problem you know well. Can you explain it using at least two cause-effect links from this tab?

Good vs. weak conclusions

Compare these pairs and identify what makes the second conclusion stronger. Read the prompt first.

Prompt: Physical exercise and diet both contribute to good health. Some people believe that governments should do more to promote healthy lifestyles. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

✗ Weak conclusion

"In conclusion, I have talked about exercise and diet. These are very important and the government should do something about it because health is important for everyone."

✓ Strong conclusion

"In conclusion, while personal responsibility plays a role in maintaining health, I firmly believe that governments have a duty to create environments that make healthy choices accessible to all citizens — not merely to those with the financial means to pursue them."

Weak conclusion problems: Vague ("something", "very important"), no paraphrase of argument, no specific position, no language range.

Strong conclusion strengths: Paraphrases the essay's thesis, gives a clear opinion, uses formal language and a nuanced qualifier ("not merely to those who"), demonstrates lexical range.
✗ Weak conclusion

"To summarise, exercise is good for health. In the future, technology will help solve this problem. People need to make better choices."

✓ Strong conclusion

"To summarise, the relationship between lifestyle choices and health outcomes is well-established. I believe governments should take a proactive role — through public health campaigns, urban planning, and food regulation — to ensure that leading a healthy life is achievable for all, regardless of income."

Weak conclusion problems: Introduces a new idea (technology), is vague and disconnected from the essay's argument.

Strong conclusion strengths: Directly addresses the prompt question, summarises the essay's position with specific detail (campaigns, planning, regulation), no new information.

Discuss:

What patterns do you notice in the strong conclusions? Can you identify a "formula" that you could apply to your own IELTS writing?

Write a conclusion

Read each prompt and the summary of arguments below it. Write a strong conclusion of 50–70 words.

Prompt A — Exercise & fitness:

Some people believe that regular exercise is the most important factor in maintaining good health. Others argue that diet is more significant. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Arguments discussed: Exercise — cardiovascular benefits, mental health, longevity. Diet — prevention of chronic disease, nutritional foundation for body function. Your view: both are interdependent; neither alone is sufficient.

"In conclusion, while both exercise and diet contribute significantly to overall health, I would argue that they are most effective when practised together. A nutritious diet provides the fuel required for physical activity, while regular exercise helps maintain the cardiovascular and mental wellbeing that no diet alone can sustain. A holistic approach is therefore essential."

Prompt B — Screen time & children:

Increasing use of digital devices is having a negative impact on children's health and social skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Arguments discussed: Agree — reduced physical activity, disrupted sleep, weakened face-to-face social skills. Partial disagreement — educational technology provides valuable skills. Your view: mostly agree, but parental guidance and balance are key.

"In conclusion, I largely agree that excessive screen time poses genuine risks to children's physical and social development. However, the issue is not technology itself but its unregulated use. With appropriate parental guidance and balanced screen time policies, the negative consequences outlined in this essay can be significantly mitigated."

Write a full essay

Focus on applying everything from this lesson series. Use cause-effect language in your body paragraphs and write a strong, well-structured conclusion.

📝 The prompt:

In many countries, levels of obesity and diet-related illness are rising. Some argue that individuals are responsible for their own health. Others believe governments should take more action to address this problem. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

40:00

Final essay checklist: