English Me · Task 2 · Lesson 1 · contrast · cause & effect

IELTS Academic Writing — Task 2 Lesson 1

Conjunctions of contrast and cause/effect: three ways to join two ideas, and how to pick the right one.
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Focus
Contrast conjunctions
Focus
Cause & effect conjunctions
Applies to
Every Task 2 essay

Task 2 essays constantly weigh a view against its opposite, and constantly explain why something happens. The words that do this job — although, despite, however for contrast; because, due to, therefore for cause and effect — are graded under Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Using several of them accurately, with the right word class after each one, is one of the fastest ways to move a script from Band 6 to Band 7.

  1. 1Three constructions, not three synonyms. Every contrast and cause/effect word belongs to one of three grammar families, and each family is followed by a different kind of language: a clause (subject + verb), a noun phrase / gerund, or a new sentence joined by a connector.
  2. 2The word decides the construction — not the other way round. Choosing although when a noun phrase follows (or despite when a clause follows) is one of the most common Grammatical Range errors at Band 6.

This lesson builds both families side by side, because essays almost always need them together: you present the opposing view (contrast), then explain the reasoning behind your own (cause & effect) — often in the same paragraph.

Family 1

Conjunctions of contrast

Contrast words link two ideas that pull against each other. All of them mean roughly the same thing, but each one demands a different kind of language after it:

  1. A+ a clause (subject + verb): although, even though, while, whereas. These sit at the start or in the middle of one sentence, joining two clauses.
  2. B+ a noun phrase or gerund: despite, in spite of. These are prepositions — never followed directly by a subject and verb.
  3. CSentence connector: however, nevertheless, on the other hand. These open a new sentence (after a full stop or semicolon), followed by a comma.

One idea, three grammatically correct ways to contrast it with another:

Two ideas
“Online learning is flexible.” / “Many students miss the social side of a classroom.”
A — conjunction + clause
“Although online learning is flexible, many students miss the social side of a classroom.”
B — preposition + noun phrase
“Despite its flexibility, many students miss the social side of a classroom.”
C — sentence connector
“Online learning is flexible. However, many students miss the social side of a classroom.”
A joins one sentence: Although + clause, clause B needs a noun: flexible → its flexibility C starts a new sentence: full stop, However, comma
“A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy, and error-free sentences are frequent — though a few grammar errors may still occur without blocking meaning.” — IELTS Writing Key Assessment Criteria, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, Band 7 (paraphrased)
Task 1 · Sort the contrast word 0 / 8 done

Decide what follows each word: a clause (subject + verb), a noun phrase / gerund, or is it a sentence connector that starts a new sentence?

Family 2

Conjunctions of cause & effect

Cause and effect words follow the same three-way split as contrast — only the meaning changes, from “these ideas pull against each other” to “one idea produces the other”.

  1. A+ a clause: because, since, as. Join two clauses in one sentence — the reason, then the result (or the other way round).
  2. B+ a noun phrase or gerund: due to, owing to, because of. Prepositions, never followed by a subject and verb.
  3. CSentence connector: therefore, consequently, as a result, thus. Open a new sentence, followed by a comma, and state the result of what came before.

The same idea, expressed three grammatically correct ways:

Two ideas
“Public transport in the city is unreliable.” / “Many commuters choose to drive to work.”
A — conjunction + clause
“Because public transport in the city is unreliable, many commuters choose to drive to work.”
B — preposition + noun phrase
“Owing to unreliable public transport, many commuters choose to drive to work.”
C — sentence connector
“Public transport in the city is unreliable. As a result, many commuters choose to drive to work.”
A joins one sentence: Because + clause, clause B needs a noun: is unreliable → unreliable public transport C starts a new sentence: full stop, As a result, comma
Task 2 · Choose the correct word 0 / 4 done

Look at what comes after the gap — a clause or a noun phrase — and at the meaning, then choose the option that fits both.

Accuracy

Correct, wrong construction, or wrong meaning?

At Band 6 and below, examiners see the same two mistakes again and again: a conjunction paired with the wrong kind of language after it (wrong construction), or a connector that states the wrong logical relationship altogether (wrong meaning) — using as a result where the ideas actually contradict, for instance. Both cost marks under Grammatical Range & Accuracy even when every individual word is spelled correctly.

Wrong construction“Despite the traffic was terrible, we arrived on time.”

Despite is a preposition — it cannot be followed by a clause (“the traffic was terrible” has a subject and a verb). Fix it two ways: Despite the terrible traffic, we arrived on time. / Although the traffic was terrible, we arrived on time.

Wrong meaning“The film received poor reviews; as a result, it became a huge box-office success.”

The two ideas contradict each other — poor reviews did not cause the success. This needs a contrast connector: “The film received poor reviews; however, it became a huge box-office success.”

Task 3 · Correct, wrong construction, or wrong meaning? 0 / 8 done

For each sentence, decide whether it is correct, has a wrong construction (the word is followed by the wrong kind of language), or states the wrong meaning (the logical relationship is backwards).

Now use them in a full essay

You have sorted the connectors by construction, chosen the right one by meaning, and told a wrong construction from a wrong meaning. The next step is a complete Task 2 essay, where these connectors carry the argument. Practice papers can be marked by AI against all four official criteria — that step needs a free account and credits; this lesson does not.

Go to a Task 2 practice paper
Example sentences are invented for practice purposes. Task phrasing and marking criteria follow the format described in IELTS's official Writing Key Assessment Criteria and Writing Band Descriptors (ielts.org). This is an English Me lesson, styled after the official test format — it is not an IELTS product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment English. The lesson exercises and language toolkit are learning aids, not scored elements.