Environment & Nature — Part 4
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: the formal connectors and written-register phrases that structure a persuasive, well-organized CELPIP Writing Task 2 response about environmental issues.
Why register matters in Writing Task 2
CELPIP raters score Writing on Content/Coherence as a separate criterion from Vocabulary — and coherence depends heavily on connectors that signal how ideas relate. Casual phrases like "also" and "but" work, but formal alternatives ("furthermore," "in light of") show a wider register range, which raises your Vocabulary score too.
Formal connectors and phrases
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| it is widely acknowledged that | many people agree that (opens a paragraph) | It is widely acknowledged that climate change is accelerating. |
| in light of the growing concern over | given increasing worry about | In light of the growing concern over water scarcity, cities are acting fast. |
| this raises serious concerns regarding | this creates worry about | This raises serious concerns regarding long-term food security. |
| furthermore / moreover | adds a further, related point | Furthermore, the policy would reduce landfill waste significantly. |
| as a direct consequence of | because of, resulting directly from | Flooding increased as a direct consequence of deforestation. |
| it is imperative that | it is essential/urgent that | It is imperative that governments act before the deadline passes. |
| with this in mind | considering the point just made | With this in mind, recycling programs deserve more funding. |
| on the other hand | presents a contrasting viewpoint | On the other hand, some argue the costs outweigh the benefits. |
| to mitigate this issue | to reduce the severity of a problem | Planting trees is one way to mitigate this issue. |
| in conclusion / overall | summarizes the argument | Overall, the benefits of clean energy clearly outweigh the drawbacks. |
| a compelling case can be made for | there is strong evidence supporting | A compelling case can be made for stricter emissions standards. |
| taking the above into account | considering everything discussed | Taking the above into account, I firmly support the new policy. |
Worked example — CELPIP Writing Task 2 (survey response)
Prompt: Should the government ban single-use plastic bags?
It is widely acknowledged that plastic waste is one of the most visible environmental problems today. In light of the growing concern over ocean pollution, I believe a ban on single-use plastic bags is justified. Furthermore, reusable alternatives are now widely available and affordable, so the transition would not burden consumers significantly. On the other hand, small businesses may face short-term costs adjusting their supply chains, and this raises serious concerns regarding fairness for local shop owners. With this in mind, I would suggest a phased approach to mitigate this issue — perhaps a gradual fee before a full ban. Taking the above into account, it is imperative that the government act, but a careful, staged rollout would serve everyone best.
Common mistakes
- Overusing one connector (usually "also") throughout an essay — rotate between furthermore, moreover, and in addition instead.
- Starting a sentence with "As a result of" and then repeating "result" again later in the same sentence — vary with as a direct consequence of.
- Treating it is imperative that as optional flavor text rather than following it with a real recommendation — it signals urgency, so pair it with a concrete action.
- Ending an essay with just "In conclusion" and no synthesis — pair it with taking the above into account plus a one-sentence summary of your position.
Recap
You now have twelve formal connectors — from it is widely acknowledged that to taking the above into account — built specifically for structuring a persuasive CELPIP Writing Task 2 response. Part 5 shifts to spoken fluency chunks for the Speaking module, where a slightly more casual register is expected.