C1 Stage 5: Short essay
End an essay without repeating yourself
How to write an essay conclusion without repeating yourself
You can end an essay by answering the question in new words and leaving the reader with a final thought.
This guide is for B2 writers moving to C1. It is a stage 5 skill: write a short essay (4-5 paragraphs) (220-280 words).
When to use an essay conclusion
At the end of every essay, on any topic.
An essay conclusion: how to do it
A strong conclusion gives your answer again in new words, brings the main points together in one sentence, and ends with a final thought: what this means, what should happen, or a wider view. It brings in no new arguments and never copies the introduction.
Useful language for an essay conclusion
- In conclusion, ...
- Overall, ...
- Taken together, these points suggest that ...
- The more useful question is ...
- If ..., the result will be ...
- Ultimately, ...
Example of an essay conclusion
As ready meals and food delivery apps become part of everyday life, fewer young people learn to cook at home. Many educators therefore argue that cooking should become a compulsory school subject. I believe that it should, provided it is taught as a practical life skill rather than as an occasional treat. The strongest argument is health. Children who can prepare simple meals from fresh ingredients are less dependent on processed food, which is often high in salt, sugar and fat. Habits formed early tend to last, so a few hours of cooking each term could bring benefits that continue well into adulthood. Cooking also connects naturally with other subjects. Measuring ingredients uses maths, following a recipe practises careful reading, and planning a meal on a budget teaches basic money skills. Cooking lessons therefore need not take time from the core curriculum; they can reinforce it. The main obstacle is practical. Many schools lack suitable kitchens, and teachers would need training. These costs are real, but they could be reduced by sharing facilities between schools or by starting with simple dishes. In conclusion, cooking deserves a regular place in the timetable because it protects children's health and builds skills they will use every day. Schools that teach children to feed themselves well are not adding one more subject; they are preparing a generation to rely less on convenience food and more on itself.
Topic: Should children learn to cook at school?
How the BetterWrite coach checks an essay conclusion
The BetterWrite coach checks 5 points for this skill, plus accuracy and staying on topic, and quotes your own words when one is not there yet.
Try it
Write a short essay (220-280 words) for your tutor: Should the retirement age be raised? Focus on your conclusion.
Write 220-280 words (a short essay (4-5 paragraphs)).