How to write an amazing conclusion for IELTS W2

In this article, I will show you how you can write effective high-scoring conclusions for IELTS.  This lesson is suitable for those both taking the general and academic tests.

You will learn about: 

1/ common mistakes when  writing IELTS conclusions 

2/  how to write IELTS conclusion paragraphs 

3/ optional prediction or recommendation sentences 

A conclusion should be relatively simple to write as you are essentially just summarising the ideas you have already detailed in your earlier paragraphs. That said, it is the last paragraph and you want to make a good final impression on the examiner. 

Most likely, you will have little time left when you get to the conclusion paragraph. For that reason, it is vital that you know how to write them under pressure. 

Common mistakes when writing IELTS conclusions 

• No new ideas in a conclusion paragraph 

Many people get to the end of their essays and decide to put in a  few new ideas that they haven’t had time to mention earlier. This is a mistake, your conclusion should contain NO NEW IDEAS. Your supporting paragraphs should contain all your new ideas, the concluding paragraph is just for conclusions. 

•  Not answering the question directly 

After you write “in conclusion” or “to conclude” please make sure that you directly answer the question and make your point of view crystal clear.

• Not paraphrasing  

If possible, avoid repeating the vocabulary that you have used in your earlier paragraphs. It is key to paraphrase not only the question but also yourself throughout the essay. 

• Repeating everything you have just explained

Your conclusion paragraph should only contain your concluding remarks and cover your main points. There is no need to explain things again in detail. That is what the supporting paragraphs are for. 

• Not including one

Failure to include a conclusion paragraph will impact your score dramatically. Make sure you include some sort of conclusion even if you have little time left, just write 

How to write IELTS conclusion paragraphs

For your conclusion paragraph I recommend using one of the following transitional phrases: 

• In conclusion

• To conclude 

There are of course other transition options but let's keep life simple as we only need to write one conclusion. Many other transitions I see online for conclusions such as “finally” are not suitable, so stick to the two above.

What makes a good conclusion?

A good conclusion should paraphrase your thesis statement from your introduction and sum up your main supporting points. 

Let's take a look at an example question and introduction. In bold is the thesis statement, in italics, we have our supporting reasons: 

Humans are responsible for climate change.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? 

 Example introduction 

Within academic circles, it is unclear to what extent global warming can be attributed to human activity. From my point of view, it is self-evident that people are the primary driver of atmospheric warming --- it is beyond a reasonable doubt. To support its central thesis, this essay will first explore the fact that current global temperature averages are far above what we would anticipate. Secondly, in order to further bolster its claim, it will show how the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions proves that mankind is responsible for the changes.  

Example conclusion 

To conclude, although many detractors doubt the reliability of current data, it is clear that people have had a profound impact on global warming as planetary temperature averages have soared, and freak weather conditions have become commonplace. 

The format 

The basic format for the conclusion above is: 

To conclude + concession to the other side of the argument + thesis statement + reason 1 + reason 2. 

Optional prediction or recommendation sentences 

If you have finished your essay and have already checked it for spelling and grammar mistakes you may want to consider an extra sentence for your conclusion. In general, a conclusion should be around 45-50 words so it may not even be necessary to write it. 

In the extra sentence, you can include your personal thoughts, predictions, or recommendations on the subject matter. 

Prediction 

To conclude, although many detractors doubt the reliability of current data, it is clear that people have had a profound impact on global warming as planetary temperature averages have soared, and freak weather conditions have become commonplace. In fact, It is predicted that the mean global temperature will have increased by a staggering 6 degrees Celsius by the year 2050 if current trends persist. 

NOTE - In order to make a prediction I am using the future perfect tense. It can be quite difficult to use this tense so I only recommend it for more advanced students. 

Recommendations

To conclude, although many detractors doubt the reliability of current data, it is clear that people have had a profound impact on global warming as planetary temperature averages have soared, and freak weather conditions have become commonplace. I urge all those with power and influence to make the necessary changes that we require in order to avoid the potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change. 

Next steps?

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog.  If you have any questions regarding the test or would like to inquire about my writing correction services or IELTS online classes please email me at info@lovetolearnenglish.com.