The best vocabulary for IELTS essay conclusions.

Here is a selection of some of the best IELTS words and

phrases I give students for essay conclusions.

I’m giving you three pieces of information for each word or

phrase:
1. The word or phrase.

2. The word or phrase in context (it’s been my experience

over the years that people learn lists of words or phrases
but don’t know how to use them in context!).

3. Any additional information I think is useful.

• In summary,
• In summary, I would say that…
• Don’t forget the comma after the words ‘in summary’.

• view
• My personal view is that
• This is useful when the essay question asks you to
include your own opinion. You could also use the words
‘opinion’, ‘position’ and ‘conclusion’.

• On balance,
• On balance, it appears that the arguments….
• Don’t forget the comma after the words ‘on balance’.
• As we have seen,
• As we have seen, many people are divided on this issue
• A phrase that students tend to use less regularly than ‘in
summary’ or ‘in conclusion’ but is a nice way to ‘round
off’ an essay.

• outweigh
• The advantages outweigh the disadvantages
• A nice ‘academic’ phrase for giving your own opinion.

• however
• It is a fact, however, that……
• ‘however’ is an extremely useful linking word, not just in
conclusions. In conclusions, it is useful when you want to
add an additional point to your conclusion.

• In conclusion,
• In conclusion, it is obvious that…
• Don’t forget the comma after the words ‘in conclusion’.

• analysis
• On analysis it can be seen that…. / My personal analysis
is that….
• This is a useful word in discussion essays.

• Finally,
• Finally, it should be noted that…..
• Don’t forget the comma after the words ‘finally’.
• no easy answers
• There are no easy answers to this question.
• A useful phrase in an essay with a balanced conclusion.

• complex issue
• This is obviously a complex issue.
• A useful phrase in an essay with a balanced conclusion.

• both sides of
• There are strong arguments to be made on both sides of
the issue.

• A useful phrase in an essay with a balanced conclusion.

I hope you find some of these words and phrases useful in
your essay conclusions. You should be aware, however, to
make sure that they sound ‘natural’ and not to simply use
as many phrases as possible.