IELTS Grammar Ladder · Step 5 · Advanced Linking & Cohesion

Task 1 · Noticing

Read the two paragraphs written for the same IELTS Writing Task 2 question: "Governments should spend money on public transport rather than on new roads. To what extent do you agree?"

Answer A (Band 6.0):
Cities are becoming more crowded, and traffic is a big problem. Also, public transport is often slow and uncomfortable, so people prefer to use cars. But if the government invests in buses and trains, more people will use them. Because public transport is cheaper, it can help low-income families. In conclusion, I think governments should spend money on both.

Answer B (Band 7.5):
Urban congestion has reached critical levels; consequently, governments face mounting pressure to rethink transport budgets. Although private cars offer undeniable convenience, they impose significant costs on society, notably in the form of pollution and lost productivity. Investing in public transport, by contrast, yields benefits that extend far beyond individual commuters: reduced emissions, less congestion, and greater mobility for those who cannot afford a car. Such advantages, rather than pointing to a simple either/or choice, suggest that priority — though not exclusivity — should be given to mass transit.

1.2 Which paragraph scores higher for Coherence & Cohesion?

Answer A Answer B

🐾 Lapa QA: Answer B uses concession, result, contrast and referencing — every linker earns its place. That's the Band 7.5 magic!

Task 2 · Form & Meaning

2.1 Complete the rule box (write the grammar pattern):

Function	Linkers	Grammar pattern	Example
Concession	although / despite	although + · despite + / -ing	Despite the cost, the scheme passed.
Result	thereby	thereby +	Fees rose, thereby reducing traffic.
Referencing	such / this / these	+ (binds paragraphs)	Such measures pay for themselves.

2.2 Match the sentence (1–6) with the function it performs (A–F). Click a number, then a letter.

1. Moreover, the new tram line has created hundreds of local jobs.

A. Addition

2. Whereas cycling is free, driving costs thousands a year.

B. Contrast

3. Despite widespread scepticism, the congestion charge succeeded.

C. Concession

4. Owing to a shortage of drivers, bus services have been cut.

D. Cause

5. Funding was doubled; consequently, waiting times fell by half.

E. Result

6. Such measures demonstrate that political will matters more than budget.

F. Referencing (cohesive device)

🐾 Lapa QA: All pairs matched. Every linker is in its correct category.

Task 3 · Linker Grammar (Multiple Choice)

3.1 Choose the correct option (A, B or C).

1. ___ the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
A) DespiteB) AlthoughC) However

2. ___ the traffic was heavy, we arrived on time.
A) DespiteB) AlthoughC) However

3. The roads are dangerous; ___, the council refuses to act.
A) despiteB) neverthelessC) owing to

4. The council lowered the speed limit, ___ reducing the number of accidents.
A) therebyB) thereforeC) thus

5. ___ to budget cuts, the night bus service was cancelled.
A) BecauseB) AlthoughC) Owing

6. Public transport is subsidised, ___ private drivers pay full tax.
A) despiteB) henceC) whereas

7. The report lists three problems; ___, it proposes practical solutions.
A) therebyB) howeverC) owing to

8. Cycling is free; driving, ___ contrast, costs thousands a year.
A) byB) inC) on

🐾 Lapa QA: Linker grammar verified. Despite + noun, although + clause — no confusion detected.

Task 4 · Gap-fill from the Box

4.1 Complete the sentences with a linker from the box. Use each linker once.

Box: moreover · by contrast · consequently · despite · owing to · such · whereas · nevertheless

1. The city centre was pedestrianised; , air quality improved markedly.

2. the opposition of local businesses, the scheme went ahead.

3. Urban rail is frequent, rural buses run only twice a day.

4. The metro is efficient; , it is affordable for most residents.

5. a national strike, commuters faced delays of up to an hour.

6. Cycling lanes were installed last year; , accident rates have not fallen.

7. , cities that invested early in trams now enjoy far less congestion.

8. investments, the report argues, pay for themselves within a decade.

🐾 Lapa QA: All eight linkers placed correctly. Each used exactly once.

Task 5 · Matching Halves

5.1 Match the beginning of each sentence (1–8) with the correct ending (A–H). Click a number, then a letter.

1. Although the congestion charge was unpopular at first,…

A. …congestion has continued to worsen.

2. The government cut fuel subsidies;…

B. …such inefficiency, the authors note, is economically absurd.

3. Despite investing billions in new roads,…

C. …moreover, it calls for a tax on city-centre deliveries.

4. Buses stop more frequently than trains,…

D. …consequently, pump prices rose overnight.

5. Owing to the new cycle lanes,…

E. …the number of commuters cycling to work has doubled.

6. The report recommends higher parking fees;…

F. …whereas trains cover longer distances at higher speed.

7. Private cars stand idle for 96% of their life;…

G. …it is now widely accepted as necessary.

8. The metro extension was over budget;…

H. …nevertheless, it opened two months early.

🐾 Lapa QA: All 8 pairs matched. The cohesion is flawless.

Task 6 · Transformation (Combine with a Linker)

6.1 Combine or rewrite each pair using the linker in brackets. Do not change the meaning.

Example: The traffic was heavy. We arrived late. (BECAUSE) → We arrived late because the traffic was heavy.

1. The traffic was heavy. We arrived on time. (DESPITE)
→ , we arrived on time.

2. Funding was cut. The night bus service was cancelled. (OWING)
→ , the night bus service was cancelled.

3. The scheme was expensive. It transformed the city. (NEVERTHELESS)
→ The scheme was expensive;

4. Cycling is free. Driving costs thousands a year. (WHEREAS)
→ Cycling is free,

5. The council lowered the speed limit. The number of accidents fell. (THEREBY)
→ The council lowered the speed limit,

6. Many people support the plan. Some residents object. (ALTHOUGH)
→ , some residents object.

7. The metro is efficient. It is affordable. (MOREOVER)
→ The metro is efficient;

8. Cities that invested early in trams enjoy less congestion. Cities that did not face daily gridlock. (BY CONTRAST)
→ Cities that invested early in trams enjoy far less congestion;

🐾 Lapa QA: Sentences combined with precision. Punctuation after conjunctive adverbs: correct.

Task 7 · Error Correction

7.1 Each sentence has one mistake in linker grammar or punctuation logic. Click the wrong word to mark it. Three sentences are correct — for those, click "✓ No mistake".

Although the traffic was heavy, but we arrived on time. ✓ No mistake

Despite of the rain, the cycling event took place. ✓ No mistake

Because of the government invested heavily, services improved. ✓ No mistake

The metro is efficient; moreover, it is affordable. ✓ No mistake

However the traffic was heavy, we arrived on time. ✓ No mistake

Owing to the strike, commuters faced long delays. ✓ No mistake

The council lowered the speed limit, thereby the number of accidents fell. ✓ No mistake

Such the measures have proved effective in three cities. ✓ No mistake

Whereas cycling is free, driving costs thousands a year. ✓ No mistake

10.

In addition to be cheaper, buses are safer than cars. ✓ No mistake

🐾 Lapa QA: All 10 sentences processed. 7 linker bugs squashed, 3 clean sentences confirmed!

Task 8 · Cohesion in Context (Cloze)

8.1 Read the extract from an opinion article: "The case for car-free city centres". Click the correct cohesive device for each gap.

Car-free city centres were once dismissed as utopian. (1) However Despite Owing to, a growing number of European cities have pedestrianised their historic cores. (2) Although Despite Such schemes were initially controversial, most residents now support them. Air quality has improved; (3) moreover nevertheless despite, noise levels and road accidents have fallen. (4) Owing to Despite Although the loss of parking spaces, local retailers report higher footfall, (5) thereby therefore whereas boosting sales.

Critics warn that traffic merely displaces to surrounding streets; (6) nevertheless consequently such, they concede that total vehicle kilometres have declined. (7) Owing In addition Hence to the environmental gains, public spaces have become socially vibrant. (8) Such This These transformations suggest that the car-free centre is no longer utopian — it is simply good planning.

🐾 Lapa QA: Cohesive devices placed perfectly. The article flows like a native opinion piece.

Task 9 · Personalised Cohesion

9.1 Complete the sentences with true information about yourself. Use the structure in brackets.

1. Although I , I . (concession, clause + clause)

2. Despite , I managed to . (concession, noun/-ing + clause)

3. Owing to , I . (cause, noun + clause)

4. My city has invested in ; consequently, . (result)

5. I prefer ; by contrast, my friends prefer . (contrast)

6. is expensive; nevertheless, . (concessive contrast)

7. I recently , thereby . (result with -ing)

8. . Such (referencing: tie sentence 2 to sentence 1).

Task 10 · Speaking (IELTS Part 3 style)

10.1 Answer the questions below. Rule: each answer must contain at least TWO cohesive devices from different categories.

Example: Why do so many people still prefer cars despite the environmental cost?
"Although awareness of pollution has grown, cars remain the default choice, owing to the convenience they offer. Such habits, however, are slowly changing as cities become harder to drive in."

1. Should public transport be free in cities?

2. How has remote work changed commuting patterns?

3. Who should pay for road infrastructure: drivers or all taxpayers?

4. What are the advantages of car-free city centres for local businesses?

5. Why do governments often fail to reduce traffic congestion?

6. Will private cars exist in city centres in twenty years' time?

Task 11 · Writing (IELTS Task 2 paragraph)

11.1 Write one body paragraph (80–100 words) for the following essay question:

In many cities, traffic congestion is worsening despite continued investment in new roads. Why is this happening, and what should be done?

Requirements:

☐ Use at least 3 advanced linkers from different categories (concession, result, contrast, cause). ☐ Include at least one referencing device (Such / This / These + noun) to bind ideas. ☐ Include at least one semicolon join or a thereby + -ing construction. ☐ Ban: no sentence may start with And / But / So; no more than one linker per sentence. ☐ Underline each cohesive device you use.

0 words

Model (Band 7.5):
Congestion persists, owing to a simple economic law: driving remains artificially cheap. Although new roads initially ease flow, they induce additional traffic within a few years, thereby restoring the original jams. Such "predict and provide" planning has failed in city after city; nevertheless, governments continue to announce new highways. Investment should, by contrast, be redirected towards mass transit and demand management. Consequently, road-building budgets would shrink — though not disappear entirely — while buses, trams and cycle networks absorb the displaced traffic.

Task 12 · Self-Check

Before moving to Step 6, tick what you can do confidently:

I can distinguish despite + noun from although + clause without thinking. I punctuate conjunctive adverbs correctly (; however, … / ; nevertheless, …). I can express result with thereby + -ing. I use referencing devices (such, this, these) to bind paragraphs instead of repeating nouns. I never write double connectors (Although… but…). I avoid mechanical linker overuse (one per sentence, not one per clause). I used 3+ linker categories in my Task 11 paragraph.

Score: ___ / 7 → if 5+, move to Step 6: +1 PRESENT, PAST, FUTURE PERFECT

🐾 Lapa QA: You are ready for Step 6: Present, Past, Future Perfect!

Task 13 · Homework 🏠

13.1 Writing. Write a full IELTS Task 2 essay (250+ words) on any "Causes & Solutions" prompt. Cohesion audit: highlight each linker in a colour matching its category (concession = red, result = green, contrast = blue, cause = orange). You must use 4+ categories.

13.2 Reading. Open any opinion article on The Guardian or BBC Future. Extract 5 cohesive devices:

☐ 2 linkers ☐ 2 referencing devices (such / this / these) ☐ 1 semicolon join

13.3 Speaking. Record yourself answering 3 Part 3 questions from Task 10. Transcribe ONE answer word-for-word. Underline every cohesive device. If fewer than 2 — re-record.

🪜 IELTS Grammar Ladder · Step 5