Linking Words for PTE: The Complete List by Function (With Examples)
Every PTE linking word grouped by function, with examples for essays, Summarize Written Text and speaking, plus which connectors to avoid. Practise free.
Published 13 June 2026 · Last updated 29 September 2026 · 19 min read · PTE Mocks editorial team
In one line
Linking words (also called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices) signal how your ideas relate. Used well, they lift the coherence PTE scores in your essay, Summarize Written Text and speaking. Used badly, in every sentence or stamped from a template, they hurt. Here is the complete list by function, with PTE-register examples and the connectors to avoid.
What linking words are, and why PTE rewards them
A linking word is a word or phrase that connects two ideas so the reader or listener can follow your reasoning: however, because, for example, in conclusion. You will also see them called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices. They are all the same family.
PTE Academic does not score linking words on their own, but it does score coherence. In Write Essay, one of the seven scored traits is Development, Structure and Coherence, and Pearson's own advice is to link ideas in a logical way and to check you have used linking words. Connectors are one of the clearest tools for hitting that trait, so the right ones in the right places genuinely help. The catch most guides skip is that overusing them works against you, and we cover both. If you are aiming for 79+, this is a cheap win to lock in, then practise it on real tasks. Pair this with a solid PTE vocabulary list and coherence stops being your capping trait.
Linking words by function
This is the core list. Each group below does one job in your writing or speaking. Learn a few from each, and reach for variety rather than repeating the same three.
Addition (add a related point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In addition / Additionally | Sentence start, adds a new supporting point | In addition, remote work reduces commuting costs. |
| Furthermore / Moreover | Adds a stronger or further point | Furthermore, automation can improve workplace safety. |
| Also | Mid-sentence or start, keep it light | Governments also fund public transport for this reason. |
| Not only ... but also | Adds two points in one balanced sentence; keep both halves parallel | Cycling not only reduces emissions but also improves fitness. |
| As well as | Adds a noun phrase inside a sentence, useful in Summarize Written Text | The programme offers job training as well as childcare support. |
Contrast and concession (show difference, or concede a point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| However | New sentence, signals a turn | However, this growth has raised environmental concerns. |
| On the other hand | Introduces the opposing view | On the other hand, critics argue the policy is too costly. |
| Although / Though | Joins a concession inside one sentence | Although the plan is expensive, it creates long-term value. |
| Despite / In spite of | Followed by a noun phrase, not a clause | Despite higher fees, enrolment continued to rise. |
| Nevertheless | Concedes a point, then pushes back | The risks are real. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh them. |
| Whereas / While | Contrasts two facts inside one sentence | Urban populations are growing, whereas rural ones are shrinking. |
| In contrast / Conversely | New sentence, sets two opposite cases side by side | Cities have invested heavily in rail. In contrast, rural areas still rely on cars. |
| On the contrary | Rejects the previous statement and asserts the opposite; it does not introduce a second view | The tax did not reduce spending. On the contrary, spending rose. |
Watch out: however starts a new sentence, while although joins clauses inside one sentence. Mixing them is a common error.
One refinement: in an essay, however can also follow a semicolon (costs rose; however, demand held) or sit inside a clause (this, however, is rare). What it cannot do is join two full clauses with a comma alone.
Cause and effect (show why, or what results)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Therefore | Formal result marker | Demand rose sharply; therefore, prices increased. |
| As a result / Consequently | Introduces an outcome | Funding was cut, and as a result, services declined. |
| Because / Since / As | Introduces the cause | Since fuel is costly, many people use public transport. |
| Thus / Hence | Concise and formal, use occasionally | The data is limited; thus, conclusions remain tentative. |
| Due to / Owing to | Followed by a noun phrase, not a clause | Due to rising rents, many graduates live with their parents. |
| In light of / In view of / Considering | Introduces a known fact that explains what follows | In light of the evidence, stricter limits on screen time seem justified. |
| Resulting in / Leading to | Adds a result to the same sentence, ideal for Summarize Written Text | Sea levels are rising, leading to more frequent coastal flooding. |
Sequence and order (organise stages or points)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Firstly, Secondly | Order your main points | Firstly, the policy lowers emissions. |
| Next / Then | Move to the following stage | Next, the government introduced subsidies. |
| Finally / Lastly | Last point before the conclusion | Finally, public awareness campaigns were launched. |
Examples and illustration (introduce evidence)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For example / For instance | Introduces a specific case | For example, Scandinavian countries fund free tuition. |
| Such as | Lists examples inside a sentence | Renewable sources such as wind and solar are expanding. |
| In particular | Narrows to a key case | This affects students, in particular those in remote areas. |
Comparison (show similarity)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Similarly / Likewise | Links two comparable ideas | Similarly, online courses widen access to education. |
| In the same way | Draws a parallel | In the same way, regular exercise improves mental health. |
| Compared with | Sets up a direct comparison | Compared with cars, trains emit far less per passenger. |
Emphasis (stress a key point)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Indeed | Reinforces the previous statement | The change was significant; indeed, it reshaped the sector. |
| In fact | Adds a stronger, factual point | In fact, the cost fell by nearly half. |
| Notably | Highlights importance, use sparingly | Notably, younger users adopted the technology fastest. |
| Above all / Particularly | Marks the most important point. Particularly goes inside the sentence (costs rose, particularly for families), not at the start with a comma | Above all, the policy must be affordable for low-income families. |
Conclusion and summary (close or sum up)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In conclusion | Opens the final paragraph only | In conclusion, the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks. |
| To sum up / In summary | Summarises the argument | To sum up, balanced regulation serves both sides. |
| Overall | Gives a final judgement | Overall, investment in education yields long-term gains. |
Watch out: use in conclusion once, in the final paragraph only. Opening a body paragraph with it is a classic misuse.
Condition (say when something holds)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If / Unless | Sets a condition; unless means if not | Unless funding increases, rural clinics will close. |
| Provided that / As long as | A condition that must be met first | The scheme can work, provided that councils share the cost. |
| Otherwise | Shows what happens if the condition fails | Cities must plant more trees; otherwise, summer heat will worsen. |
Clarification and restating (say the same idea another way)
| Connector | How to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In other words / That is to say | Restates a complex point more simply | The policy missed every target. In other words, it failed. |
| Namely | Names the specific items you mean | Two groups benefit most, namely older workers and recent migrants. |
Where linking words help across the PTE test
The same connector can be right in an essay and wrong in a one-sentence summary. Here is where they help, and where to be careful. No other guide maps this across every task.
| Task | How linking words help | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Write Essay | The clearest payoff. Connectors signal structure across your intro, two body paragraphs and conclusion, supporting the Development, Structure and Coherence trait. | Variety matters more than volume. A different, well-chosen connector per idea beats the same three repeated. |
| Summarize Written Text | Critical, because your answer must be one sentence. Joining words like and, but, while, because, although, which and whereas fuse the main idea with key points into one grammatical sentence. | Do not use essay markers (in conclusion, firstly, on the other hand) in a one-sentence summary. They tend to break the single-sentence form. |
| Summarize Spoken Text | A short paragraph of roughly 50 to 70 words. A few connectors (because, however, therefore) keep it coherent and show you grasped the relationships in the lecture. | A couple of accurate connectors, not a string of them. |
| Retell Lecture (speaking) | Spoken signposting (firstly, the speaker explained, then, finally) organises your retell and helps your discourse flow. | Keep it natural and spoken. Over-formal written connectors sound stiff aloud. |
| Speaking and Listening | In speaking, simple linkers aid fluency and coherence. In Listening, the same words are signpost words that tell you where a lecture is going. | Recognising connectors as you listen is as useful as producing them. |
You can drill the writing tasks and the speaking tasks free, with a model answer to compare, or sit a full PTE practice test online, with AI scoring on each attempt, to see how your connectors hold up under real timing.
One distinction worth knowing before you start: the question-by-question practice bank is self-marked (you compare your answer with a model answer), while the timed Writing section tests and full mocks give you a score from our AI.
What Pearson's Score Guide says about connectors, task by task
Pearson publishes its scoring descriptors in the PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (2025 edition, the version on Pearson's site on 29 September 2026). There is no separate linking-words trait, but the phrase connective devices appears inside the descriptors for five tasks, and the higher descriptors describe connectors used appropriately, effectively and with variety. None of them rewards a number of connectors.
| Task | Where connectors sit in the scoring | What the higher descriptors describe | What the lower descriptors describe | Score Guide pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Write Essay | Development, Structure and Coherence, a trait a human expert also reviews | A variety of connectors used effectively and consistently to show how ideas relate, inside clear, logically ordered paragraphs with an introduction and a conclusion | Connectors that only link ideas in a straight line while complex relationships stay unclear; lower still, simple links such as and, but and because; at the bottom, only very basic links such as and or then | 35 to 37 |
| Summarize Written Text | Content, which a human expert also reviews | A summary that flows smoothly and makes skilled use of “appropriate and varied connective devices” | Simple or repetitive connectors in the next band down, repetitive or inappropriate ones below that, and near the bottom a response that lacks coherence | 32 to 33 |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Content, which a human expert also reviews | The same connector wording as Summarize Written Text | The same connector wording as Summarize Written Text | 41 to 42 |
| Retell Lecture | Content, which a human expert also reviews | Ideas connected in a logical order, with connectors used effectively and consistently so the retell is easy to follow | Ideas that are not well connected, or missing language that ties them together; lower still, no coherence at all | 21 to 23 |
| Summarize Group Discussion | Content, which a human expert also reviews | The same connection and coherence wording as Retell Lecture | The same wording as Retell Lecture | 25 to 27 |
A response scored 0 for Content or Form earns no score points at all, which includes a response that fails to deal properly with the prompt because of significant pre-prepared or memorised material (page 8). A template with connectors bolted into fixed slots is exactly that risk. These page numbers are from the PTE Academic Score Guide, which covers PTE Academic only.
Summarize Written Text connectors and conjunctions: the one-sentence toolkit
Summarize Written Text is the task where connectors affect the Form mark as well as the Content mark. The Score Guide gives Form 1 only to a response written in one, single, complete sentence, and Form 0 to one that is not a single complete sentence, has fewer than 5 or more than 75 words, or is written in capital letters (page 33). Pearson's test format page adds the practical detail: you get 10 minutes for a passage of up to 300 words, and fitting the main point and the key supporting detail into one sentence needs a compound or complex sentence. Connectors are how you build one.
Three kinds of joining word do almost all the work, and together they answer the question of which conjunctions to use in PTE Summarize Written Text:
- Coordinating conjunctions join two equal ideas: and, but, yet, so, or. (The FANBOYS set also includes for and nor, which you will rarely need.)
- Subordinating conjunctions attach a reason, a contrast or a condition: because, since, as, although, even though, while, whereas, if, unless.
- Relative pronouns and -ing phrases fold in extra detail without a new sentence: which, who, where, that, or a phrase such as resulting in or leading to.
Drill it on Summarize Written Text practice questions, use the Summarize Written Text template as an adaptable frame rather than a script, and compare your sentence with our Summarize Written Text sample answers.
Write Essay connectors paragraph by paragraph, starting with the first paragraph
Pearson's current Write Essay page says a well-developed response follows a logical pattern, connects ideas and explains those connections, and that the best responses have several paragraphs, a clear introduction, body and conclusion, and smooth transitions between paragraphs. Pearson's 2021 writing tips go further on where the links sit: link the introduction to the body with an overview, link the first body paragraph to the second with a cohesive device, and open the conclusion with a phrase such as in conclusion or to conclude. For full Form marks the essay needs 200 to 300 words; 120 to 199 or 301 to 380 still scores 1, and under 120 or over 380 scores 0 (Score Guide, page 35).
| Paragraph | Its job | Connectors that fit | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction (first paragraph) | Paraphrase the prompt, state your position, preview your two reasons | It is often argued that; While some believe ..., others ...; In my view; I would argue that; for two main reasons | While some believe that students should pay for their own degrees, I would argue that university should be free, for two main reasons. |
| Body paragraph 1 | First reason, explained and supported | To begin with; Firstly; The first reason is that; This is because | To begin with, free tuition would widen access. This is because upfront fees deter many capable students from applying. |
| Body paragraph 2 | Second reason (or a counter-argument), linked to the first | In addition; Furthermore; On the other hand; However | In addition, a better-educated workforce benefits the whole economy, not only the graduates themselves. |
| Conclusion | Restate your position and reasons, with no new points | In conclusion; To conclude; Overall; To sum up | In conclusion, although free tuition is expensive, wider access and a stronger economy make it a sound public investment. |
The first paragraph is where memorised openers do the most damage. The Score Guide gives no score points to a response that fails to deal properly with the prompt because of significant pre-prepared or memorised material (page 8), and Pearson's task page says an unoriginal response gets no credit. Use the connectors above as frames you fill with the prompt's own topic, never as a fixed paragraph. Our essay template shows adaptable starters, and the Essay of the Week model answer shows them working in a full essay.
How many is too many? The overuse trap
Connectors help only when they mark a real relationship between ideas. Bolting one onto every sentence does the opposite: it reads as mechanical and can pull down the coherence and linguistic-range traits you are trying to lift.
This matters more in PTE than in a human-marked test, because PTE writing is scored by an automated engine (with human review on some traits). Repetitive, formulaic, template-stamped writing is exactly the pattern automated scoring is built to notice. A memorised essay template with connectors slotted into fixed positions is a risk, not a shortcut.
A useful rule of thumb, framed as guidance rather than an official rule: aim for roughly one clear connector per idea or per sentence-pair, and deliberately vary them. Across a full essay that might be two or three listing markers, around two for contrast, and one or two each for cause and effect, examples and the conclusion. The honest takeaway is simple: use the connectors a careful writer would actually use, not the maximum you can fit. The best way to feel the difference is to write under time and read it back, which you can do on a full scored mock.
Connectors to avoid in academic PTE writing
Register matters. PTE essays and summaries are formal academic writing, and informal connectors weaken the impression of your vocabulary and linguistic range. Swap these out:
- plus → use in addition or moreover
- anyways / anyway → drop it, or use in any case
- so (at the start of a sentence) → use therefore or as a result
- and / but starting a formal sentence → rework the sentence or use a formal equivalent
- lots of, a bit, kind of → use many, slightly, somewhat
Building a wider academic word range fixes this faster than memorising connectors. Our vocabulary by topic decks are built for exactly that.
Worked example: weak vs improved
The same five ideas, first with no linking, then linked and varied. Notice the improved version does not add a connector to every sentence: three well-placed ones do the work.
Weak (ideas feel disconnected)
Online education is popular. It is cheaper than traditional study. Students can learn from home. Some people say it lacks interaction. It is still a good option for many learners.
Improved (linked and varied)
Online education has become increasingly popular, mainly because it is cheaper than traditional study and allows students to learn from home. On the other hand, some critics argue that it lacks face-to-face interaction. Overall, however, it remains a practical option for many learners.
The same skill applies to Summarize Written Text, where the rule is one sentence:
Weak (two sentences, breaks the rule)
The article discusses renewable energy. It also explains the high cost of adoption.
Improved (one linked sentence)
The article discusses the benefits of renewable energy while acknowledging that the high cost of adoption remains a key barrier.
What our mock data says about PTE Writing
We cannot tell you how many connectors high scorers use, because we have not measured that. What we can show is where Writing sits for the people practising on our platform. Across 1,561 fully answered PTE Academic mocks by 909 people on PTE Mocks (6 July to 27 September 2026, every skill scored above the 10-point floor), Writing had the second-lowest median of the four skills:
| Our measure (1,561 mocks, 909 people) | Result |
|---|---|
| Median score per skill | Listening 60, Reading 63, Writing 48, Speaking 42 |
| Writing as the single weakest skill | 30% of attempts (Speaking 57%) |
| Of the attempts that missed Australia's Competent English line, the share that were short on Writing | 69.5% (the Writing line is 51 for tests taken from 7 August 2025) |
| Attempts that reached the Writing line for Competent (51) / Proficient (69) | 43% / 8% |
Two honest caveats. These are scores from our AI-scored mocks, an estimate, not Pearson results. And our mock-takers are self-selected practisers, many early in their preparation, so absolute levels run low; read the relative pattern. What that pattern suggests, and this is our inference rather than a measurement, is that Writing is a common bottleneck, and coherence is one of the Writing traits you can work on directly, which is what the tables on this page are for. For the per-skill visa lines, see PTE score for Australia, and for more of our data, the PTE mock test statistics study.
Quick reference: go-to connectors by function
| Function | Reach for these first |
|---|---|
| Addition | In addition, Furthermore, Moreover |
| Contrast | However, On the other hand, Although |
| Cause and effect | Therefore, As a result, Because |
| Sequence | Firstly, Next, Finally |
| Examples | For example, Such as, In particular |
| Comparison | Similarly, Likewise, Compared with |
| Emphasis | Indeed, In fact, Notably |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, To sum up, Overall |
| Concession | Although, Despite, Nevertheless |
| Condition | If, Unless, Provided that |
| Clarification | In other words, That is to say, Namely |
| Opinion | In my view, It can be argued that, While some argue that |
| Summarize Written Text joins | and, but, while, whereas, because, although, which |
How to practise linking words for PTE
Reading a list will not move your score. Using connectors under exam conditions will. A simple routine:
- Write a full essay and a Summarize Written Text answer under time, then read them back and check each connector marks a real relationship.
- Deliberately vary your connectors. If you used however twice, swap one for on the other hand or in contrast.
- Read your writing aloud. Clunky or repeated connectors are easy to hear.
- Get scored feedback so you know whether your coherence is actually landing.
Drill the writing tasks free in our practice bank, see the recurring prompts on the most repeated PTE questions page, and widen your range with vocabulary by topic. For the highest-return listening-and-writing task, work through our Write from Dictation practice pack, and study a full worked essay in our Essay of the Week model answer.
Quick reference: linking words for PTE at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are linking words scored on their own? | No. There is no linking-words trait, but connective devices appear in the scoring descriptors for five tasks |
| Which tasks name connective devices? | Write Essay (Development, Structure and Coherence), plus Summarize Written Text, Summarize Spoken Text, Retell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion (Content) |
| What do the higher descriptors reward? | Connectors used appropriately, effectively and with variety, never a set number of them |
| Best joining words for Summarize Written Text? | and, but, while, whereas, because, although, which |
| Summarize Written Text form rule? | One single, complete sentence of 5 to 75 words, not in capital letters; anything else scores 0 for Form |
| Semicolon in Summarize Written Text? | Neither the Score Guide nor Pearson's task page mentions it; a conjunction is the safer join, with one full stop at the end |
| First paragraph of the essay? | Paraphrase the prompt, state your view (In my view, While some argue that) and preview your reasons |
| Linking the two body paragraphs? | A cohesive device such as In addition, Furthermore or On the other hand |
| How many connectors in an essay? | No fixed number; roughly one per idea, varied (our guidance, not Pearson's) |
| However or although? | However starts a new sentence or follows a semicolon; although joins clauses inside one sentence |
| Connectors to avoid? | plus, anyway or anyways, sentence-opening so, lots of, kind of |
| Essay length for full Form marks? | 200 to 300 words; 120 to 199 or 301 to 380 still scores 1 |
| Memorised connector templates? | Risky: significant memorised material can score 0 for Content, and a 0 for Content means no points for that response |
Frequently asked
What are linking words in PTE?
Linking words (also called connectors, transition words or cohesive devices) are words and phrases such as however, because and for example that connect your ideas so the reader can follow your argument. They are useful across PTE writing and speaking tasks.
What are connectors in PTE?
Connectors in PTE are the linking words and phrases that join your ideas, such as however, moreover, because, for example and in conclusion. Connectors, linking words, transition words and cohesive devices all mean the same thing. Used accurately and with variety, they support the Development, Structure and Coherence trait in PTE essays and the coherence of your other PTE writing and speaking, so reach for the right connector for each relationship (adding, contrasting, giving a reason, giving an example, concluding) rather than repeating and or so.
Should you use linking words in a PTE essay?
Yes, but with care. They support the Development, Structure and Coherence trait, and Pearson advises using them. The goal is clear, varied connectors that mark real relationships, not a connector in every sentence.
How many linking words should I use in a PTE essay?
There is no fixed number. A useful guide is roughly one clear connector per idea or sentence-pair, with variety: a few for listing, around two for contrast, and one or two each for cause and effect, examples and the conclusion.
Can I use informal connectors like so, plus or anyways in PTE writing?
Avoid them in academic PTE writing. Words like plus, anyways and sentence-initial so read as informal and can weaken your vocabulary and linguistic-range impression. Use therefore, in addition or moreover instead.
Do linking words increase your PTE score?
They are not scored on their own, but coherence and structure are scored traits, and good connectors help you meet them. Using them well supports your score, while overusing them can work against you.
What are the best linking words for Summarize Written Text?
Because your answer must be one sentence, use joining words like and, but, while, because, although, which and whereas. Avoid essay markers like in conclusion or firstly in a single-sentence summary.
Should I use a connector in every sentence?
No. A connector in every sentence reads as mechanical and can hurt your coherence score. Use one only when it marks a genuine relationship between ideas.
What is the difference between however and although?
However starts a new sentence and signals a contrast with what came before. Although joins a concession inside a single sentence, for example: Although it is costly, it is effective. They are not interchangeable.
Are linking words the same as cohesive devices and transition words?
Yes. Linking words, connectors, transition words and cohesive devices all describe the same family of words that connect ideas in your writing and speech.
Where do linking words help most in the PTE test?
Most in Write Essay and Summarize Written Text, and also in Summarize Spoken Text, Retell Lecture and speaking for coherence. In Listening they act as signpost words that show where a lecture is heading.
Can I use a semicolon in PTE Summarize Written Text?
Neither Pearson's Score Guide nor its task page mentions semicolons. The Score Guide requires one single, complete sentence, and Pearson's tips ask for a capital letter at the start and one full stop at the end. A correctly used semicolon joins two clauses inside one sentence, but Pearson does not say how its engine treats one, so a conjunction such as but, while or because is the safer way to join ideas.
Are moreover and therefore good linking words for PTE writing?
Yes, in Write Essay, where both are standard formal transitions: moreover adds a further point and therefore marks a result. Use each once or twice, not in every paragraph, because the top Write Essay descriptor in the Score Guide describes a variety of connectors, and repeating the same two works against that. In Summarize Written Text they need a semicolon or a new sentence, so and, so or which usually does the same job more safely.
Put it to the test
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