IELTS Writing for Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: How to Fix Overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
Use linkers where the logic needs them, not at the start of every sentence. Show relationships with sentence structure and reference words first, and keep explicit linkers for real contrasts, additions and results.
At a glance
- For
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher
- Problem
- Overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Scoring criterion
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Task affected
- Task 1 and Task 2
- IELTS test
- Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
- Typical effort
- about one week
- First step
- Circle every linker in your last essay and delete those that do not mark a real change of direction.
Why this happens to candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher
Candidates learn lists of connectors and insert one in every sentence. The examiner reads this as mechanical, and the Coherence and Cohesion descriptors penalise over-use of cohesive devices.
Why this affects candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: strong candidates over-edit and add complexity at the cost of clarity.
Seamless progression where referencing replaces mechanical linkers.
A strength to build on: A solid base means small refinements produce the final half band.
Fix it in four steps
- Circle every linker in your last essay and delete those that do not mark a real change of direction.
- Join related ideas with subordinating clauses (although, because, which) instead of starting a new sentence with a connector.
- Use 'this' plus a noun ('this trend', 'this policy') to refer back, which links ideas without a connector.
- Limit yourself to one new linker per paragraph.
Before and after
Before
Moreover, cars are expensive. Furthermore, parking is limited. In addition, fuel costs are high.
After
Cars are expensive to own because of high fuel costs, and limited parking makes them harder to use in cities.
Ten-minute drill: Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear.
Questions and answers
How can candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Use linkers where the logic needs them, not at the start of every sentence. Show relationships with sentence structure and reference words first, and keep explicit linkers for real contrasts, additions and results. Seamless progression where referencing replaces mechanical linkers.
How long does it take candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher to fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Most learners need about one week. Targeted, high-quality practice with detailed feedback matters more than volume.
Are linking words bad for the score?
No. Accurate, varied linkers help. The problem is mechanical over-use, where every sentence begins with one.
Which linkers are safest to keep?
Simple ones used for a clear purpose: 'however' for contrast, 'for example' to introduce an example, 'as a result' for consequence.
What does a good practice drill look like for candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher?
Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear. Targeted, high-quality practice with detailed feedback matters more than volume.
How can candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher tell they have fixed overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
No more than one sentence in four starts with a linking word, and the paragraph still reads logically.
What should candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher know about their IELTS Writing target?
Band 7.5 and above needs sustained control: fully developed ideas, flexible cohesion, precise vocabulary and rare errors.
Should candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?
It shows up in both tasks. Fix it in Task 2 first, because Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1, then check Task 1 with the same checklist. A solid base means small refinements produce the final half band.
Can an AI checker help candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher with overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.
Check your own essay
See where overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover' appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.
Related guides
- IELTS Writing for candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: overview
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: rare or memorised words used in the wrong place
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: unnatural word combinations
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: examples that are too general to prove the point
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: having no time or method to proofread
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: weak paragraphing and essay structure
- Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: unclear pronouns and reference words
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