IELTS Writing for Undergraduate applicants: How to Fix Unclear pronouns and reference words

Make sure each 'this', 'it' or 'they' points to one clear noun. If the reader has to guess, repeat the noun or use 'this' plus a noun such as 'this approach'.

At a glance

For: Undergraduate applicants
Problem: Unclear pronouns and reference words
Scoring criterion: Coherence and Cohesion
Task affected: Task 1 and Task 2
IELTS test: Academic
Typical effort: a few days
First step: Underline every 'this', 'that', 'it' and 'they' in your essay.

Why this happens to undergraduate applicants

Unclear reference breaks the chain between sentences. Writers know what 'it' means, but the reader may see two possible nouns, and cohesion suffers when referencing is faulty or ambiguous.

Why this affects undergraduate applicants: school essays reward a memorised structure and topic knowledge more than a direct answer to a new question.

Over-reliance on taught connectors is common.

A strength to build on: Recent classroom writing practice means essay structure is already familiar.

Fix it in four steps

Underline every 'this', 'that', 'it' and 'they' in your essay.
Draw an arrow to the noun each one refers to. If you cannot find one, rewrite the sentence.
Replace a bare 'this' with 'this' plus a noun when two things were mentioned before.
Vary reference with synonyms only when the meaning is exact.

Before and after

Before

Governments and companies invest in research and this can improve it.

After

Governments and companies invest in research, and this investment can improve public health.

Ten-minute drill: Mark all reference words in two past essays and fix any that point to more than one noun.

Questions and answers

How can undergraduate applicants fix unclear pronouns and reference words?

Make sure each 'this', 'it' or 'they' points to one clear noun. If the reader has to guess, repeat the noun or use 'this' plus a noun such as 'this approach'. Over-reliance on taught connectors is common.

How long does it take undergraduate applicants to fix unclear pronouns and reference words?

Most learners need a few days. Study around school or a gap year gives time, so regular weekly essays with feedback are realistic.

Is it safe to repeat the same noun?

A little repetition is better than ambiguity. Use pronouns for clear references and repeat or substitute a noun when a pronoun could mean two things.

What is the most common referencing error?

A bare 'this' that follows a sentence with several ideas. Adding a noun after it usually fixes the problem.

What does a good practice drill look like for undergraduate applicants?

Mark all reference words in two past essays and fix any that point to more than one noun. Study around school or a gap year gives time, so regular weekly essays with feedback are realistic.

How can undergraduate applicants tell they have fixed unclear pronouns and reference words?

A reader can follow every reference word to a single noun without re-reading.

What should undergraduate applicants know about their IELTS Writing target?

Universities set an overall IELTS score and often a minimum Writing score that varies by course and institution. Check each offer's conditions.

Should undergraduate applicants 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. Recent classroom writing practice means essay structure is already familiar.

Can an AI checker help undergraduate applicants with unclear pronouns and reference words?

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 unclear pronouns and reference words appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

Run a free first check

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.