IELTS Writing for Candidates with 30 days before the exam: 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 with 30 days before the exam
- 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 with 30 days before the exam
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 with 30 days before the exam: candidates write many essays without checking whether the same weakness repeats.
Use week two to fix paragraph logic if it is the weakest criterion.
A strength to build on: Enough time exists for three or four feedback and rewrite cycles.
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
What is the fastest way for candidates with 30 days before the exam 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. Use week two to fix paragraph logic if it is the weakest criterion.
How long does it take candidates with 30 days before the exam to fix overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'?
Most learners need about one week. Diagnose, target, rewrite, then rehearse under test conditions.
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 with 30 days before the exam?
Take a paragraph with five linkers and rewrite it with only two. Check the meaning stays clear. Diagnose, target, rewrite, then rehearse under test conditions.
How can candidates with 30 days before the exam 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 with 30 days before the exam know about their IELTS Writing target?
A month allows a criterion-based plan: diagnose in week one, fix the lowest criterion in weeks two and three, and rehearse timing in week four.
Should candidates with 30 days before the exam 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. Enough time exists for three or four feedback and rewrite cycles.
Can an AI checker help candidates with 30 days before the exam 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 with 30 days before the exam: overview
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: Writing scores that go up and down between attempts
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: the gap between Band 6 and Band 7 in Writing
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: making the same mistakes after getting feedback
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: ideas that are listed but not developed
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: running out of time in the Writing paper
- Candidates with 30 days before the exam: weak paragraphing and essay structure
- Arabic speakers: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Korean speakers: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Teachers: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Master's applicants: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- UK visa applicants: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- First-time IELTS test takers: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'