What Is Referencing? How to Use Referencing in IELTS Writing

Mastering Referencing is a crucial step in improving your Coherence and Cohesion score in IELTS Writing. Let’s explore what referencing means, the most common types, and how to apply them effectively in your academic writing with IDP.

Referencing in IELTS Writing refers to the use of pronouns, synonyms, or substitute expressions to avoid repetition and link ideas together. This technique enhances the flow and clarity of your writing and is especially important for achieving a high score in the Coherence and Cohesion criterion.

Poor example (without referencing):

Improved version (with referencing):

By replacing “the internet” with it and this technology, the paragraph becomes smoother, clearer, and more natural.

Referencing directly impacts your score in Coherence and Cohesion, one of the four scoring criteria in IELTS Writing:

• Task Achievement

• Coherence and Cohesion

• Lexical Resource

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Using referencing effectively:

• Creates logical flow between ideas

• Avoids unnecessary repetition

• Enhances your academic tone

• Demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary and grammar

• Makes your writing more professional and cohesive

Especially in Writing Task 2, referencing helps you develop structured arguments and present ideas persuasively.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Use this, that, these, and those to refer to something previously mentioned:

• This (singular, near):

  I read an article on artificial intelligence. This explored ethical concerns around AI.

• That (singular, distant):

  My computer crashed and I lost my work. That was incredibly frustrating.

• These (plural, near):

  Students juggle heavy workloads and activities. These cause a lot of stress.

• Those (plural, distant):

  Some traditions still remain. Those are often hard to sustain.

Personal Pronouns

Use he, she, it, they, them, we, etc., to refer to people or objects mentioned earlier.

The government introduced new policies. They were heavily criticized. Students need better support. They often feel overwhelmed.

Note: Avoid using “I” in formal essays unless the task explicitly asks for your opinion. Use passive structures or impersonal phrases like: “It is widely believed that...” or “Many people argue that...”

Synonym or Paraphrased Referencing

Replace a word or phrase with a synonym or a rephrased version:

• Global warming is increasing rapidly. This environmental issue must be addressed.

• The number of cars has risen. This increase in vehicle use adds to pollution.

The Pronoun “One / Ones”

Use one (singular) and ones (plural) to avoid repeating countable nouns.

Buying a used car can be cheaper than a new one. Some teaching methods are outdated, but students prefer the modern ones.

Note: “One/ones” can only replace countable nouns.

Exercise 1: Use appropriate referencing words (it, they, this, that, one, ones...)

1. The government introduced a new law. … aims to reduce pollution.

2. The students joined extracurricular activities. … improved their skills.

3. I bought a phone and a tablet. The phone is cheaper than ….

4. Online learning is rising in popularity. … offers flexibility.

5. Some applicants sent creative CVs. The … impressed the employer.

Answers:

1. It

2. They

3. the other one / the tablet

4. It

5. Ones

Exercise 2: Replace repeated words with referencing

1. Students should manage their time. Students will succeed. → They will succeed.

2. The new app is easy to use. The new app is full of features. → It is full of features.

3. My parents always support me. I’m grateful to my parents. → I’m grateful to them.

4. Reducing plastic waste helps. Reducing plastic waste protects nature. → It protects nature.

5. Experts proposed solutions. Experts believe the solutions will work. → They believe these will work.

6. There are several solutions. One solution is public transport. → One is improving public transport.

Exercise 3: Use synonyms or paraphrased referencing

1. Air pollution causes health issues. → This environmental problem causes health issues.

2. Addressing education challenges needs effort. → Addressing these difficulties requires effort.

3. Many people support technology but fear data leaks. → These individuals express concerns about privacy.

4. Learning a language can be hard but rewarding. → This skill opens opportunities.

5. Cars, buses, trains help commuting but pollute. → These vehicles contribute to emissions.

Boost Your Coherence with Referencing Techniques

Referencing is more than just a grammar trick — it's a powerful tool to make your writing smooth, logical, and high-level. Whether you're aiming for IELTS Band 7.0 or higher, mastering referencing helps you show fluency, coherence, and strong command of academic writing conventions.

Practice referencing daily in your essays and take note of how ideas are connected in model answers. The more you apply this technique, the more natural it becomes.

Prepare for IELTS with IDP

Ready to put your referencing skills to the test? At IDP, you can:

• Take an IELTS mock test at a test center or at home

• Choose between IELTS Academic or General Training

• Register for computer-delivered IELTS with flexible test dates\

• Retake one skill with IELTS One Skill Retake

Boost your IELTS Writing with referencing — and register for your IELTS test with IDP today!