First Impressions Count. So Do Final Ones.
Meta Description:
The introduction and conclusion are the most powerful parts of your IELTS essay. Learn how to avoid common framing mistakes and create a strong first and final impression for Band 7+.
Key Insight
Examiners make most of their judgment in the first and last 4 lines of your essay.
A strong frame = higher Coherence & Cohesion + Task Response scores.
Weak intros and conclusions drag your score down — even if your body paragraphs are strong.
Teaching Points
🔻 The 3 Most Common Intro Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem |
|---|---|
| Over-generalization | Vague or irrelevant openers (e.g., “Since the dawn of civilization…”) waste time and signal template use |
| Weak stance | “There are good and bad things about this…” = unclear argument |
| Memorized phrases | “It is universally acknowledged that…” sounds robotic and unnatural |
🔻 The 3 Most Common Conclusion Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem |
|---|---|
| Repeating exact thesis | Shows no flexibility or control of language |
| Adding a new idea | Confuses the examiner and breaks cohesion |
| “One size fits all” endings | “Every coin has two sides” or “People should decide for themselves” don’t actually conclude anything |
✅ Better Framing = Clearer Essays
A good introduction should:
- Introduce the topic clearly
- Reframe the question in natural language
- Take a clear position (if required)
A good conclusion should:
- Rephrase the thesis (new words)
- Add a final insight, consequence, or reflection
- End smoothly and naturally
🛠️ Tool: “Fix This Intro / Conclusion” Practice Sheet
Use this tool to practice improving weak opening and closing frames.
✍️ Exercise 1: Spot the Problem
Instructions: Read each intro or conclusion. Identify the problem and rewrite it using better framing.
Intro 1:
“Since the beginning of mankind, education has played an important role in society.”
❌ Problem:
→
✅ Your Rewrite:
→
Intro 2:
“There are good and bad sides to free university education.”
❌ Problem:
→
✅ Your Rewrite:
→
Conclusion 1:
“In conclusion, I think my essay is correct and this idea is good.”
❌ Problem:
→
✅ Your Rewrite:
→
Conclusion 2:
“To sum up, some people think it’s good, others don’t. This shows there are many opinions.”
❌ Problem:
→
✅ Your Rewrite:
→
✍️ Exercise 2: Match the Conclusions
Instructions: Match each strong conclusion to the question it belongs to.
Conclusions:
A.
“In summary, while social media offers instant connection, it often weakens face-to-face relationships. For this reason, users should be mindful of how it shapes their interactions.”
B.
“Ultimately, making public transport free could lead to cleaner cities and greater social equity — a step worth taking.”
C.
“Therefore, although gap years come with some risks, they offer valuable life experience that traditional education cannot provide.”
Essay Questions:
- Public transport should be free. Do you agree or disagree?
→ - Do you agree or disagree that social media harms real communication?
→ - Some students take a gap year before university. What are the pros and cons?
→
✅ Final Frame Fix Checklist
Before you submit your essay, ask:
| Question | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Does my introduction start clearly and avoid generalizations? | ☐ |
| Is my thesis specific and free from templates? | ☐ |
| Did I avoid repeating my thesis word-for-word in the conclusion? | ☐ |
| Did I avoid adding new ideas in the final lines? | ☐ |
| Does my conclusion reframe the main idea + add a final insight? | ☐ |
📥 Download: Framing Mastery Pack
Includes:
- “Fix This Frame” editing practice
- 10 intro rewrites + 10 conclusion rewrites
- Matching game answer key
- Printable framing checklist
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