✦ IELTS Topic: Linking Words for Sequence – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Firstly
   e.g., Firstly, we need to agree on the main objectives.

2. Secondly
   e.g., Secondly, the team must allocate roles clearly.

3. Next
   e.g., Next, we should prepare the necessary documents.

4. Then
   e.g., We visited the museum, then went for lunch.

5. After that
   e.g., After that, we took a bus to the city centre.

6. Following this
   e.g., Following this, the company launched a new marketing campaign.

7. Subsequently
   e.g., The new rules were introduced; subsequently, complaints decreased.

8. Meanwhile
   e.g., I was cooking dinner; meanwhile, my friend set the table.

9. Finally
   e.g., Finally, we reached the top of the mountain and enjoyed the view.

10. In the end
    e.g., In the end, we decided to cancel the trip because of the rain.

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✦ Why These Words Are Important in IELTS

• They organise ideas logically, which boosts your Coherence & Cohesion score.

• They help guide the listener or reader through your argument, story, or explanation.

• They make your speech sound structured in Speaking Part 2 and make your Writing essays flow smoothly.

Without sequence words, your ideas can sound messy and harder to follow.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Linking Words for Sequence

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Tell me about your morning routine (use sequence words).

2. Describe how you travel to work/school.

3. How do you prepare for a holiday?

4. What steps do you take when cooking?

5. Can you explain a process you know well?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a process you recently followed (e.g., preparing a meal, completing a project).
You should say:

• what the process was

• what steps you took

• what the outcome was
  and use at least three sequence words.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1

1. Firstly, I wake up and make coffee. Next, I check my messages. Then, I take a shower and get ready for work. Finally, I leave the house at around 8am.

2. I take the bus to work. Firstly, I walk to the bus stop. After that, I wait for my bus. Then, I get off near the office.

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Part 2 Sample Answer
Last month, I helped organise a charity event. Firstly, we discussed the type of activities we wanted to include. Secondly, we booked the venue and contacted volunteers. Following this, we promoted the event on social media. Meanwhile, the catering team prepared the food. Finally, the event took place and it was a great success. In the end, we raised more money than expected.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Linking Words for Sequence

1. "Firstly, we need to agree on the main objectives."
Q: What is the first step?

2. "Secondly, the team must allocate roles clearly."
Q: What is the second step?

3. "Next, we should prepare the necessary documents."
Q: What happens after allocating roles?

4. "We visited the museum, then went for lunch."
Q: What did they do after the museum?

5. "After that, we took a bus to the city centre."
Q: What happened after visiting the museum?

6. "Following this, the company launched a new marketing campaign."
Q: What action was taken after the previous step?

7. "The new rules were introduced; subsequently, complaints decreased."
Q: What happened after the new rules were introduced?

8. "I was cooking dinner; meanwhile, my friend set the table."
Q: What was happening while the speaker was cooking?

9. "Finally, we reached the top of the mountain and enjoyed the view."
Q: What was the last step?

10. "In the end, we decided to cancel the trip because of the rain."
Q: What decision was made?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Agree on objectives.

2. Allocate roles.

3. Prepare documents.

4. Went for lunch.

5. Took a bus to the city centre.

6. Launched a marketing campaign.

7. Complaints decreased.

8. Friend set the table.

9. Reached the top and enjoyed the view.

10. Cancelled the trip.

 

📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 6 (Adapted)

Title: The Lure of the Sick Day

Monday morning arrived, and Tom did not want to go to school. He lay in bed, trying to think of a way to stay home. He considered that maybe, just maybe, he was sick enough.

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Tom’s First Attempt

Tom looked at his sore toe. He remembered hearing once that a sore toe could be dangerous. Maybe Aunt Polly would believe he was dying! He groaned loudly. Sid, still asleep, didn’t react. Tom groaned again, even louder.

Finally, Sid woke and asked what was wrong. Tom told him in a weak voice that he might not live until morning. Sid panicked and ran for Aunt Polly.

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Aunt Polly’s Response

Aunt Polly hurried in, worried—until she heard Tom’s dramatic story about his sore toe. Her concern turned into anger. “Get out of bed, Tom!” she ordered. “That toe’s fine, and so are you.”

Tom sighed, defeated. But then he had an idea—his loose tooth! He complained about the tooth until Aunt Polly decided to fix it right away.

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The String Trick

She took a piece of thread, tied one end to Tom’s tooth and the other to the bedpost. Then she suddenly pulled, and the tooth was out! Tom winced but then smiled—he was proud to show off the gap at school.

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A Lucky Meeting

On his way to school, Tom met Huckleberry Finn, the boy all mothers warned their children about. Huck was dressed in old clothes and carried a dead cat. Tom asked what it was for, and Huck explained that a dead cat could cure warts if you took it to the graveyard at midnight.

The two boys agreed to meet that night to try it out. Tom arrived at school late and was punished, but his punishment came with a surprise—he had to sit next to Becky Thatcher, Judge Thatcher’s pretty daughter.

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Tom no longer wished for a sick day. School suddenly seemed much more interesting.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Dramatic	Overacting to show emotion
Defeated	Feeling like you have lost
Bedpost	One of the upright posts at the corner of a bed
Wince	To make a face because of sudden pain
Graveyard	Place where dead people are buried
Punished	Made to suffer for breaking a rule

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Tom pretend to be sick?

2. What was his first fake illness?

3. How did Aunt Polly remove Tom’s tooth?

4. Who did Tom meet on the way to school?

5. Why was Tom happy about his punishment?

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✅ Answers

1. Because he didn’t want to go to school.

2. A sore toe.

3. She tied it with a string to the bedpost and pulled it out.

4. Huckleberry Finn.

5. He got to sit next to Becky Thatcher.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Linking Words for Examples – 10 Useful Phrases

1. For example
   e.g., Many people enjoy outdoor activities; for example, hiking and cycling are popular.

2. For instance
   e.g., Some countries, for instance, Japan, have very efficient public transport.

3. Such as
   e.g., I enjoy sports such as tennis and badminton.

4. Like (informal in speaking)
   e.g., I love sweet desserts like chocolate cake and ice cream.

5. Namely
   e.g., Three students, namely Sarah, Alex, and Priya, won the award.

6. In particular
   e.g., I enjoy reading; in particular, historical novels.

7. To illustrate
   e.g., To illustrate the problem, the speaker showed photos of the flooded area.

8. As an illustration
   e.g., As an illustration, the teacher shared a story from her own life.

9. Especially
   e.g., I like music, especially jazz and blues.

10. Including
    e.g., The museum has many famous works, including pieces by Picasso.

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✦ Why These Words Are Important in IELTS

Giving examples makes your answers richer, more specific, and more convincing.

• In Speaking, they help you explain your ideas clearly.

• In Writing Task 2, examples show evidence and strengthen arguments.

• They improve Coherence & Cohesion, which is essential for a higher band score.

Without examples, your answers might sound too general or abstract.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Linking Words for Examples

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. What hobbies do you have? (Give examples)

2. What kinds of food do you like? (Give examples)

3. Do you like sports? (Give examples)

4. What types of movies do you watch? (Give examples)

5. What do you do in your free time? (Give examples)

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe an activity you enjoy doing. Give examples of why you enjoy it.
You should say:

• what the activity is

• how often you do it

• why you like it
  and give examples to support your answer.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1

1. I enjoy outdoor sports, such as hiking and cycling.

2. I love Italian food, for example, pasta and pizza.

3. Yes, I like many sports, especially badminton.

4. I prefer action movies, like the Marvel series.

5. I spend my free time reading; in particular, historical novels.

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Part 2 Sample Answer
One activity I enjoy is photography. I go out most weekends to take pictures of nature. For example, I often visit the local park to photograph flowers and birds. In particular, I enjoy capturing early morning light, which gives photos a warm tone. Including photography in my routine helps me relax and be creative. To illustrate the benefits, last month I won a small local competition for one of my pictures.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Linking Words for Examples

1. "For example, hiking and cycling are popular."
Q: What activities are popular?

2. "Some countries, for instance, Japan, have very efficient public transport."
Q: Which country is mentioned?

3. "I enjoy sports such as tennis and badminton."
Q: What sports are given as examples?

4. "I love sweet desserts like chocolate cake and ice cream."
Q: What desserts are mentioned?

5. "Three students, namely Sarah, Alex, and Priya, won the award."
Q: Who won the award?

6. "I enjoy reading; in particular, historical novels."
Q: What type of novels is mentioned?

7. "To illustrate the problem, the speaker showed photos of the flooded area."
Q: What did the speaker show?

8. "As an illustration, the teacher shared a story from her own life."
Q: What did the teacher share?

9. "I like music, especially jazz and blues."
Q: Which types of music are mentioned?

10. "The museum has many famous works, including pieces by Picasso."
Q: Which artist’s work is mentioned?