IELTS Conclusion: What to Write (and What to Avoid)

Reading time: 12 minutes

The conclusion is the easiest part of your IELTS essay to get right - and the most costly to get wrong.

Get it right: you reinforce your argument and leave a strong final impression.
Get it wrong: you lose marks for Task Response and Coherence, potentially dropping a full band.

The good news? A solid conclusion takes only 30-40 words and 2 minutes to write. This guide shows you exactly what to include, what to avoid, and how to write conclusions quickly under exam pressure.

Why the Conclusion Matters

Many students run out of time and skip the conclusion. This is a serious mistake.

Without a conclusion, you risk:

• Band 5 for Task Response (essay feels incomplete)
• Lower Coherence score (no clear ending)
• Overall impression of rushing or poor time management

Even a brief conclusion shows:

• You understood the task
• You can summarise your argument
• Your essay has a complete structure

A two-sentence conclusion is infinitely better than no conclusion at all.

What a Conclusion Must Do

Your conclusion has one essential job:

Summarise your main points and restate your position.

That's it. No new ideas, no new arguments, no new evidence.

Think of it this way: if someone only read your introduction and conclusion, they should understand your complete argument.

The Two-Sentence Formula

For most essays, this simple structure works perfectly:

Sentence 1: Summarise your main points (what the essay discussed)
Sentence 2: Restate your position (your answer to the question)

Example

Essay topic: "Some people think public transport should be free. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Conclusion:
"In conclusion, while free public transport could increase ridership and reduce congestion, the financial burden on governments makes it impractical for most countries. Therefore, I believe subsidised rather than free transport offers the best balance between accessibility and sustainability."

Sentence 1: Summarises both views (free transport benefits vs. financial burden)
Sentence 2: Restates position (subsidised is better than free)

Conclusions by Essay Type

Different essay types require slightly different conclusion approaches:

Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)

Focus: Restate your opinion clearly

Template: "In conclusion, I firmly believe that [position] because [brief summary of reasons]."

Example:
"In conclusion, I strongly agree that university education should be free because it promotes social equality and benefits the economy through a more educated workforce."

Discussion Essay (Both Views + Opinion)

Focus: Acknowledge both perspectives, then restate your position

Template: "In conclusion, while there are valid arguments on both sides regarding [topic], I believe that [your position] is more compelling because [reason]."

Example:
"In conclusion, although both traditional and online education have their merits, I believe that a hybrid approach combining classroom interaction with digital flexibility offers the best outcomes for modern students."

Advantages/Disadvantages Essay

Focus: Summarise the balance, state which side is stronger (if asked)

If asked which outweighs:
"In conclusion, despite the disadvantages of [topic], the benefits in terms of [key advantage] and [key advantage] clearly outweigh the drawbacks."

If not asked for opinion:
"In conclusion, [topic] offers significant advantages in [area], though these must be balanced against drawbacks including [area]."

Problem/Solution Essay

Focus: Briefly restate the problem and emphasise the solutions

Template: "In conclusion, while [problem] presents serious challenges, implementing [solutions] could significantly address this issue."

Example:
"In conclusion, urban traffic congestion is a growing problem, but investment in public transport infrastructure and congestion charging could substantially reduce its impact on city residents."

Two-Part Question Essay

Focus: Briefly answer both parts of the question

Example:
"In conclusion, the main causes of youth unemployment are lack of practical skills and limited job opportunities, and governments can address this through vocational training programs and incentives for businesses to hire young workers."

Starting Your Conclusion

The opening phrase signals to the examiner that you're concluding. Use one of these:

Recommended:

• "In conclusion,"
• "To conclude,"

Acceptable:

• "To summarise,"
• "Overall,"

Avoid:

• "In a nutshell" (too informal)
• "To sum it all up" (wordy)
• "Finally" (suggests you're making a final point, not concluding)
• "All in all" (slightly informal)

Keep it simple. "In conclusion" is perfectly fine for every essay.

What NOT to Include

No New Ideas

If you think of something new while writing your conclusion, ignore it. It's too late.

Avoid: "In conclusion, education is important. Additionally, healthcare funding should also be increased."

The healthcare point is new - it doesn't belong in the conclusion.

No New Examples

Your conclusion is for summarising, not illustrating.

Avoid: "In conclusion, technology has many benefits. For example, in Japan, robots are used in elderly care."

This example should have been in a body paragraph.

No Repetition of the Question

Don't waste words restating the question.

Avoid: "In conclusion, whether technology has more advantages or disadvantages is an important question to consider."

Get straight to your answer.

No Cliches or Empty Phrases

Avoid: "In conclusion, this is a very important topic that affects many people around the world."

This says nothing. Be specific.

No Apologies or Hedging

Avoid: "In conclusion, I may not have covered everything, but I believe..."
Avoid: "In conclusion, it is difficult to say, but perhaps..."

Be confident and direct.

The One-Sentence Emergency Conclusion

Running out of time? Write this:

"In conclusion, [restate your position in one sentence]."

Examples:

For opinion essay:
"In conclusion, I firmly believe that the advantages of online education outweigh its disadvantages."

For discussion essay:
"In conclusion, while both views have merit, I support increased government investment in public healthcare."

For problem-solution:
"In conclusion, implementing stricter environmental regulations and promoting renewable energy would significantly address climate change."

These single-sentence conclusions are brief but complete. They demonstrate you understood the task and had a clear position. That's enough to avoid the "no conclusion" penalty.

Length and Timing

Ideal length: 30-50 words (2-3 sentences)
Time to write: 2-3 minutes

If your conclusion is longer than 60 words, you're probably repeating too much or adding new information.

When to write it:

• Leave 3-5 minutes for conclusion and final proofreading
• Check the clock at 35 minutes (paper test) or watch the timer (computer test)
• If running short on time, write conclusion first, then add to body paragraphs if time permits

Common Conclusion Mistakes

Mistake 1: Contradicting Your Essay

Your conclusion must match your body paragraphs.

Problem: Body paragraphs argue advantages outweigh disadvantages - Conclusion says "both have equal importance"

This inconsistency damages your Coherence and Task Response scores.

Mistake 2: Being Too Vague

Avoid: "In conclusion, there are many things to consider about this topic."

What things? What topic? Be specific.

Better: "In conclusion, while technology poses some privacy risks, its benefits for communication and access to information make it an overwhelmingly positive development."

Mistake 3: Introducing Uncertainty

Avoid: "In conclusion, this issue is very complex and depends on many factors, so it's hard to say whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks."

If the question asks for your opinion, give it confidently.

Better: "In conclusion, despite its complexity, I believe the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks."

Mistake 4: Making It Too Long

A 100-word conclusion wastes time and suggests you don't know how to summarise.

Cut to the essential: position + brief supporting reason.

Optional: Adding a Prediction or Recommendation

If you have time and words to spare, you can add a forward-looking element:

Prediction:
"It is predicted that this trend will continue as technology advances."
"If current trends persist, this problem will likely worsen."

Recommendation:
"Governments should therefore prioritise investment in this area."
"Addressing this issue should be a priority for policymakers."

Warning: These additions are optional. If your conclusion is already 40-50 words, you don't need them. They can enhance a conclusion but aren't required for a high score.

Quick Conclusion Checklist

Before submitting, verify:

• Does it start with a concluding phrase? ("In conclusion")
• Does it summarise my main points? (not just one)
• Does it clearly restate my position? (if opinion was asked)
• Is it free of new ideas or examples?
• Is it 30-50 words?
• Does it match what I argued in my body paragraphs?

Practice Exercise

Write conclusions for these essay topics. Aim for 30-40 words each.

1. Opinion: "University education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

2. Discussion: "Some people believe children should be taught to be competitive. Others think children should learn to cooperate. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

3. Problem-Solution: "In many cities, traffic congestion is a major problem. What are the causes and what solutions can be implemented?"

Sample Conclusions:

1. "In conclusion, I strongly believe that free university education would create greater social equality and economic benefits through a more educated workforce, though funding mechanisms would need careful consideration."

2. "In conclusion, while both competition and cooperation have educational value, I believe teaching cooperation should take priority as it better prepares children for successful collaboration in modern workplaces."

3. "In conclusion, traffic congestion primarily stems from over-reliance on private vehicles and inadequate public transport. Investing in metro systems and implementing congestion charging could significantly alleviate this problem."

The Conclusion About Conclusions

Writing conclusions is straightforward once you understand what they require:

• Summarise (don't repeat word-for-word)
• Restate your position (be clear and direct)
• Stop (no new information)

Practice writing conclusions quickly so they become automatic. In the exam, you shouldn't need to think about structure - you should be applying a formula you've mastered.

Key Takeaways:

1. Always write a conclusion - even one sentence is better than none
2. Summarise main points + restate position = complete conclusion
3. No new ideas, examples, or arguments in the conclusion
4. Aim for 30-50 words (2-3 sentences)
5. Use "In conclusion" to start - simple and effective
6. Your conclusion must match what you argued in your body paragraphs

End strong. Finish your essay. Secure your score.

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