How to Write an IELTS Task 2 Conclusion (Band 7 Templates)
The conclusion is the easiest paragraph to get right and the one most candidates rush. Here is exactly what it must do, ready-to-adapt templates by question type, and the mistakes that cost marks.
The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads and the easiest paragraph to get right — yet it is the one most candidates rush in the final minute. A weak conclusion can pull down both Task Response and Coherence; a clean one confirms your position and leaves a strong final impression. Here is precisely what it needs to do, with templates you can adapt to any prompt.
What a Band 7 conclusion must do
A conclusion has one job: restate your position and summarise your main reasons in fresh words. It does not introduce anything new. That is the whole brief — and most of the marks are lost by adding to it, not by leaving things out.
- 1Signal the end with a natural phrase ('In conclusion', 'To sum up', 'Overall').
- 2Restate your position clearly — the same stance you took in the introduction, reworded.
- 3Summarise your two main reasons in a single sentence, without repeating the body word-for-word.
- 4Stop. No new example, no new argument, no rhetorical question.
The single most common conclusion error is introducing a new idea in the final sentence. It signals to the examiner that you ran out of room in the body, and it weakens Task Response. The conclusion is for closing, not adding.
Templates by question type
Use these as scaffolding and fill them with your own content — they are structures, not memorised phrases to copy verbatim.
Opinion (agree/disagree)
In conclusion, I firmly believe that [restate your position]. This is primarily because [reason 1, reworded] and [reason 2, reworded], both of which outweigh the alternative.
Discuss both views and give your opinion
To sum up, while [view A] has clear merit, [view B] is more persuasive because [your reason]. On balance, therefore, [restate your overall opinion].
Problem / solution
In conclusion, [the problem] is driven largely by [main cause]. The most effective response is [your main solution], which would [its effect] more directly than the alternatives.
Advantages / disadvantages
Overall, although [the disadvantage] is a genuine concern, the advantages of [the topic] — chiefly [benefit] — are more significant, and so the development is, on balance, positive.
Mistakes that cost marks
| Conclusion mistake | Why it costs you | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Adds a new idea | Signals a rushed body; lowers Task Response | Only summarise what you already argued |
| Copies the introduction word-for-word | Repetition lowers Lexical Resource | Reword your position with different vocabulary |
| No clear position | Leaves Task Response unresolved | State your stance plainly, one more time |
| Too long (4–5 sentences) | Wastes time you needed for the body | Keep it to 2–3 tight sentences |
| Ends on a rhetorical question | Reopens the argument you should be closing | End on a definite statement |
How long should it be?
Two to three sentences, roughly 30–40 words. The conclusion is the shortest paragraph in the essay — it should take you two or three minutes, no more. Protect that time by not over-writing the body.
Check your real essay free
A strong conclusion only helps if the rest of the essay is scoring. Our free analyser reads a full Task 2 essay against all four criteria and shows you which one — Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource or Grammar — is holding your band down.
Paste a practice essay into the free analyser — no signup — and see your band on each criterion, including how well your conclusion lands.
For the full structure of every paragraph — introduction, body and conclusion — across all five Task 2 question types, the Band 7 Writing Playbook lays it out as a repeatable 14-day routine.
Frequently asked
Can I add a new idea in my IELTS conclusion?
No. A conclusion should only restate your position and summarise the reasons you already gave. Introducing a new idea in the conclusion signals that you ran out of space in the body and lowers your Task Response score. Save every argument and example for the body paragraphs and use the conclusion purely to close.
How long should an IELTS Task 2 conclusion be?
Two to three sentences, roughly 30–40 words. It is the shortest paragraph in the essay and should take only two or three minutes. A conclusion that runs to four or five sentences usually repeats the body and eats time you needed for development.
Do I need a conclusion in IELTS Writing Task 2?
Yes. A Task 2 essay without a conclusion reads as incomplete and is penalised on Task Response and Coherence. Even a single clear sentence that restates your position is far better than no conclusion at all, though two to three sentences is ideal.
Can I start my conclusion with 'In conclusion'?
Yes. 'In conclusion', 'To sum up' and 'Overall' are all accepted, natural signposting phrases and examiners expect one. Just avoid following it with a memorised, content-free sentence — the signpost should lead straight into a reworded statement of your actual position.
Should the conclusion repeat the introduction?
It should restate the same position, but in different words — not copy the introduction. Repeating your introduction verbatim lowers Lexical Resource because it shows a lack of vocabulary flexibility. Keep the stance identical but reword how you express it.
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