IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write a Conclusion That Lifts Your Band Score
Plenty of candidates write a strong introduction and two solid body paragraphs, then run out of time and tack on a rushed, vague final sentence. That is a costly mistake. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads before deciding your band, and a weak one can undercut an otherwise good essay. The good news: a strong Task 2 conclusion follows a simple, repeatable formula. This guide shows you exactly what to write.
What a conclusion is actually for
In IELTS Writing Task 2 you write a discursive essay of at least 250 words in roughly 40 minutes. The conclusion has one job: to restate your position and summarise your main points so that your answer to the question is unmistakably clear. It is not the place to introduce a brand-new argument, add a fresh example, or suddenly change your mind.
Task 2 is marked on four equally weighted criteria — Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. A clear conclusion directly supports Task Response (it confirms you answered the question fully) and Coherence and Cohesion (it gives your essay a logical end). Skipping it, or writing something muddled, hurts both.
The three-part formula
Almost every high-scoring conclusion contains three moves, in this order:
- Signal the ending. Open with a short cohesive phrase so the examiner knows you are closing.
- Restate your position. Answer the question directly, using different words from your introduction.
- Summarise your reasons. Refer back to the main points from your body paragraphs in a single sentence.
That is it. Two to three sentences is enough. A conclusion does not need to be long — it needs to be clear.
How to signal the ending (without cliché)
You need a linking phrase, but tired ones like "In conclusion" are fine and safe. What matters is that you do not overuse the same connector you used elsewhere. Reliable options include:
- In conclusion, …
- To conclude, …
- Overall, …
- In summary, …
Avoid "All in all" and "Last but not least" — they read as informal and are overused. For more on connectors across the whole essay, see our guide to linking words and cohesive devices.
Restate your position — don't copy it
The single most common error is copying the thesis word-for-word from the introduction. Repetition does not demonstrate range and can be penalised. Instead, paraphrase: change the vocabulary and, where possible, the grammatical structure.
Suppose your introduction said: "I firmly believe that governments should invest more heavily in public transport." Your conclusion could rephrase it as: "It is clear that greater state funding for public transport networks would bring the most benefit." Same position, fresh wording. If paraphrasing feels difficult, our post on paraphrasing techniques breaks the skill down.
Sentence templates you can adapt
These frameworks work across the common Task 2 question types. Fill in the brackets with your own content — never memorise a whole essay, but a flexible skeleton is fair game.
Opinion / agree-disagree essays:
- "In conclusion, while [opposing view] has some merit, [your position] because [reason 1] and [reason 2]."
- "Overall, I am convinced that [restated opinion], primarily due to [main reason]."
Discussion (discuss both views) essays:
- "To conclude, although both [view A] and [view B] carry weight, I believe [your position] is the more persuasive stance."
Problem / solution and advantage / disadvantage essays:
- "In summary, [problem] can be addressed through [solution 1] and [solution 2], provided that [condition]."
- "Overall, the benefits of [topic] appear to outweigh the drawbacks, chiefly because [key benefit]."
For a worked example of a full opinion essay, including how the conclusion fits, read our Band 7 Task 2 structure guide.
Common conclusion mistakes to avoid
- Adding new ideas. A new argument or example in the conclusion confuses the reader and suggests poor planning. Keep new content in the body.
- Contradicting yourself. If your body clearly argued one side, do not hedge into "it depends" at the end. Commit to your position.
- Being too short. A one-word "In conclusion, yes." is not a conclusion. Restate and summarise properly.
- Being too long. Do not re-explain every argument. A single summarising sentence is enough — spend the extra minutes checking grammar instead.
- Rhetorical questions. Ending on "So what will governments do?" leaves your answer open. Task 2 rewards a clear final position, not an open one.
Timing: leave 3–4 minutes
The reason so many conclusions are weak is timing, not ability. Plan your essay so you begin the conclusion with at least three or four minutes left. Because the formula is fixed, you can write it quickly once your body paragraphs are done — and a calm, formulaic ending beats a panicked one every time.
Check your work
The fastest way to see whether your conclusions are actually helping your score is to get objective feedback on a full essay. Paste a complete Task 2 answer into our free IELTS Writing checker for an assessment against the four criteria, and use our band score calculator to see how a stronger Writing mark could lift your overall band. Write a few practice conclusions using the templates above, get them checked, and you will quickly turn a weak spot into an easy set of marks.