How to Write a Band 8.0 Essay Conclusion in Under 3 Minutes
A conclusion should take about three minutes at most. Its job is small: remind the reader of your position and pull your main points together. Spend the saved time on your body paragraphs and on proofreading.
The conclusion is not marked on its own. Your whole essay is assessed on four equally weighted criteria, and a clear conclusion helps with two of them: Task Response (your position is clear all the way through) and Coherence and Cohesion (the essay is closed in a logical way).
Written by Mitch Rankin, CEO and owner of EnglishForward.com since 2018. Last reviewed 13 October 2026.
The two-sentence formula
- Restate your position in different words from your introduction.
- Pull together your main points in one sentence. Do not add anything new.
That is usually 30 to 50 words. There is no official length, and a third sentence is fine if you have time. Never leave the essay without a conclusion.
Sentence 1: restate your position
Change the wording, not the meaning. You can change the structure, use synonyms or change the word class.
- Introduction: I strongly believe that governments should fund university education.
- Conclusion: In conclusion, I am convinced that university education should be paid for from public money.
Sentence 2: pull your points together
Name both of your body-paragraph ideas in one sentence.
- Public funding opens higher education to students from all backgrounds, and it supplies the country with the skilled workers it needs.
Sample conclusions for four essay types
These are my own samples, written for example prompts. They are not from real candidate scripts.
Agree / disagree
In conclusion, I disagree that universities should offer only job-specific training. Academic study teaches students to think critically, and that skill benefits both the individual and society.
Discuss both views
In conclusion, although private donations can improve university facilities, I believe public funding is the fairer approach. It allows students to enter university according to ability rather than income.
Problem and solution
In conclusion, traffic congestion is mainly caused by weak public transport and heavy use of private cars. Better bus and rail networks, together with charges for driving in the city centre, would reduce the problem.
Advantages and disadvantages (outweigh)
Overall, remote work brings some communication difficulties, but its advantages are greater. Employees gain flexibility and save money on travel, which outweighs the extra effort needed to stay in contact.
Use the phrases that fit your own view. Each sample answers the question that its prompt asks, so copying one will not suit a different essay.
Mistakes to avoid
- A new idea. Do not introduce a point you have not developed in the body. The examiner cannot see evidence for it, and it can make the essay feel unfinished or off-topic.
- Copying your introduction word for word. Restate the position in fresh wording.
- Very informal openers. “In a nutshell” is too casual for academic writing. “In conclusion”, “To conclude”, “To sum up” and “Overall” are all acceptable. Pick one and do not overuse it.
- Vague or hesitant endings. Perhaps time will tell does not answer the question. State your view clearly.
- No conclusion at all. If time is short, write one sentence rather than nothing.
Practice
Restate this position in your own words, then write a second sentence from the two points below.
- Position: Children should learn at least one foreign language at primary school.
- Point 1: young children learn languages more easily.
- Point 2: languages help later in life at work and travel.
One possible answer: In conclusion, I believe that learning a foreign language should begin in primary school. Young children pick up languages quickly, and the skill helps them later in their working and personal lives.
Yours will differ. That is fine if it states the position and names both points.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an IELTS conclusion be?
There is no set length. Two or three clear sentences are usual.
Can I use “I” in a conclusion?
Yes, if the question asks for your opinion, for example “To what extent do you agree?” Use it consistently with your introduction.
Do I need to repeat the examples I used?
No. Refer to the ideas, not the details.
Practise with others
Post your conclusion in the English Forward Essay & Composition Writing forum.
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