Academic IELTS - Signposts For The Writing Tasks

Signposts usually found at the beginning of the sentence
Function
Signpost
Introduce a new subject
Regarding
With regard to
As regards
Concerning
Turning to
Sequence ideas
Firstly
The most important reason
Another reason
Finally
Introduce a contrasting idea
However
In contrast
On the other hand
Nevertheless
Although
Yet
Introduce a similar idea
Likewise
Similarly
Add another idea
Also
Moreover
Furthermore
In addition
Besides
Give an example
For example
For instance
Give the cause
Because of
Due to
Give the effect
Therefore
As a result
As a consequence
Consequently
For this reason
Conclude your essay
In conclusion
To sum up
In summary
Signposts usually found within a sentence (conjunctions)
Function
Signpost
Introduce a contrasting idea
Cities are polluted, but/while/whereas the countryside is not.
Give an example
Urbanisation causes a lot of pollution such as air, noise and water

pollution.
Add another idea.
Air pollution is caused by smoke from factories and/as well as cars.

Air pollution is caused by smoke from factories too/also.
Give the cause
Cities are polluted because/as there is so much smoke.
Give the effect
There is a lot of smoke in cities so/so that they become polluted.

Academic phrases are used to:
Give your opinion
I think
I feel
I believe
I am of the opinion that
It is my belief that
smoking should be banned in all

restaurants.
Show to what extent you agree/disagree with a statement
I firmly agree/disagree
I partially agree/disagree
I totally agree/disagree
that smoking should be banned in all

restaurants.
Give the opposite side of an argument
However, I would argue
To counter this, I would say
that everyone should be allowed to make

their own decision.
Give the opinion of others
Some people say
Many people would argue
that smoking in restaurants affects nonsmokers as much as smokers.
Give a solution to a problem
I would recommend
A good solution would be
that all restaurants have a special smoking

area.
Show the cause followed by the effect

Smoking
causes
is the cause of
results in
is the reason for
cancer.
Show the effect followed by the cause

Cancer
is caused by
is due to
is the result of
is the consequence of
smoking.
Make a prediction
I feel confident
I am certain
I am sure
that restaurants will be forced to ban

smoking in the future.
Quantifiers
innumerable
countless
much (of)
many (of)
a great deal of
a large number of
a large proportion of
a few
some
several
few
little
not many
a small number of
a small proportion of
Very large quantities
Large quantities
Small quantities
Very small quantities
Conjunctions of contrast:
although, though, even though, while, whereas
Conjunctions of cause and effect: as, since, because, in order that

Conjunctions of condition:
if, unless, only if, even if, in case (that), whether or not
Conjunctions of time:
until, after, before, while, since, when
Relative pronouns:
which, that, who, whose, whom

SIGNPOSTS
To introduce a trend that is the same
Similarly, also, likewise, followed by
To introduce a trend that is different
However, on the other hand, in contrast, whereas, although,

nevertheless, while
To introduce a new category or a new graph
With regard to, regarding, with respect to, with reference to,
as for, turning to, ...commenced at
To incorporate data
...respectively, correspondingly, ...the former...the latter,

being recorded, with x number at, constitutes, consists of,
makes up, accounts for
Comparing
The more/least likely, marks the biggest change, more than, x

times as many as..., fewer than ,
To contrast data
But, besides, it is however interesting
Connectors
In addition, furthermore, moreover, more and more, finally,

as well as, firstly, secondly, over a period of, throughout this
period, in the late 1950s, between 19xx and 19yy, by the end
of 19xx,
Emphasize
most significantly/importantly, considerably, by far
Words to describe quantity

to show less than
to show similar quantity
to show more than
just under
well under
less than
around
approximately
about
roughly
nearly
similar to
equal to
almost the same
there is not a great deal of difference
just over
far greater
well over
more than
Alternative ways of writing about the different parts of an object or machine

has
a number of
main
parts:
a ____,
is made up of
several
distinct
sections:
a ____,
consists of
four
separate
An [object name]
a ____.
is comprised of
Upwards trends
Increase
Rise / to rise
Peak
Growth
Jump to
Grow
TREND DESCRIPTORS
Downwards trends Max
little or no change
Decrease
Maximum
Stabilize
Fall
Reach a peak
Reach a plateau
Drop
Highest
Remain the same
Hit the highest point Remain stable
Decline
Dip
High
Stay constant
Diminish
Finish at a high
Level out
Tail off
Remain steady
Fluctuation
and a ____.
Min
Minimum
Low
Lowest
Fall to the lowest point
How much
Sharp
Rapid
Substantial
Dramatical
Considerable
Steep
Major
Significant
Fluctuate
Moderate
Steady
Gradual
Marginal
Slight
Gentle
Feeble
Negligible

Academic IELTS - Signposts For The Writing Tasks

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What are some common signposts used at the beginning of sentences?

What are some common signposts used at the beginning of sentences?

What are some common signposts used within sentences?

What are some common signposts used within sentences?

Signposts usually found at the beginning of the sentence

Cities are polluted, but/while/whereas the countryside is not.

Urbanisation causes a lot of pollution such as air, noise and water

Add another idea.

Air pollution is caused by smoke from factories and/as well as cars.

Give the cause

Cities are polluted because/as there is so much smoke.

Give the effect

There is a lot of smoke in cities so/so that they become polluted.

smoking should be banned in all

Show to what extent you agree/disagree with a statement

that smoking should be banned in all

Give the opposite side of an argument

However, I would argue

To counter this, I would say

that everyone should be allowed to make

Give the opinion of others

Some people say

Many people would argue

that smoking in restaurants affects nonsmokers as much as smokers.

Give a solution to a problem

A good solution would be

that all restaurants have a special smoking

Show the cause followed by the effect

is the reason for

Show the effect followed by the cause

that restaurants will be forced to ban

Very large quantities

Very small quantities

although, though, even though, while, whereas

Conjunctions of cause and effect: as, since, because, in order that

until, after, before, while, since, when

which, that, who, whose, whom

To introduce a trend that is the same

Similarly, also, likewise, followed by

To introduce a trend that is different

However, on the other hand, in contrast, whereas, although,

To introduce a new category or a new graph

...respectively, correspondingly, ...the former...the latter,

The more/least likely, marks the biggest change, more than, x

But, besides, it is however interesting

In addition, furthermore, moreover, more and more, finally,

most significantly/importantly, considerably, by far

Words to describe quantity

to show similar quantity

to show more than

Alternative ways of writing about the different parts of an object or machine

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