Connectives bank

Structure and organise writing appropriately: linking paragraphs “using a range of methods” is a named writing skill. This bank groups connectives and discourse markers by the job they do - for developing sentences and linking paragraphs in Section B, and for comparing texts in Section A.

Sequencing / time

Order events in recounts, narratives and explanations.

firstthennextafter thatmeanwhilesooneventuallyfinallybefore longat last

Adding

Build a point or pile up detail.

alsoin additionfurthermoremoreoveras well asnot only … but alsowhat is more

Contrasting

Essential for comparing two texts and for balanced argument.

howeverwhereasin contraston the other handyetneverthelessalthougheven soconversely

Comparing (similarity)

Link ideas across texts in the comparison question.

similarlylikewisein the same wayjust asequallyboth texts

Cause and effect

Explain why something happens - strong for “explain” writing.

becausesothereforeas a resultconsequentlythis means thatthussince

Emphasising

Signal the idea that matters most.

indeedabove allin particularmost importantlysignificantlycruciallynotably

Giving examples

Anchor a general point in evidence.

for examplefor instancesuch asin particularto illustratenamely

Concluding

Close a paragraph or a whole piece with control.

in conclusionoverallto sum upultimatelyin the endon balanceall things considered

Developing a sentence (subordinating)

Build complex sentences for WAO2 S3-S4 - use a range, not just “and”.

althoughwhilewhereasifunlessaswhenbecauseso thateven thoughprovided that

Use them well, not just often

Vary them. Repeating “and then … and then” keeps you in the lower bands. A range of methods lifts WAO1 cohesion.

Match the job. A causal connective (“therefore”) must follow an actual cause - don’t bolt them on for show.

Link paragraphs, not just sentences. Open a new paragraph with a connective that signals its relationship to the last one.

For comparison answers (Section A), lean on the contrasting and similarity groups - see the comparison masterclass.

Qualification facts, assessment objectives and mark grids reproduced for educational guidance from the Pearson Edexcel International Award in Lower Secondary English Specification (Issue 2, November 2024, ISBN 978 1 446 95667 0) and the LEH11/01 October 2025 mark scheme. © Pearson Education Limited. The English Hub is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson. All practice texts on these pages are original works written by The English Hub and are not reproduced from any past paper.