Essay Planning and Paragraph Structure

Many candidates skip planning and jump straight into writing. This is one of the most common reasons for scoring below Band 7. A well-planned essay is coherent, focused, and efficient to write. This lesson covers how to plan effectively in 5 minutes and how to structure paragraphs that impress examiners.

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Why Planning Matters

Consider two candidates with identical language ability:

Candidate A (No Plan)
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- Starts writing immediately
- Realises halfway through that they have misunderstood the question
- Changes direction mid-essay, creating incoherence
- Runs out of ideas in the second body paragraph
- Repeats points from the first paragraph
- Conclusion contradicts the introduction
- Result: Band 5.5-6.0

Candidate B (5-Minute Plan)
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- Analyses the question for 1 minute
- Brainstorms and selects ideas for 2 minutes
- Creates a paragraph outline for 2 minutes
- Writes fluently from the outline
- Each paragraph has a clear purpose
- Conclusion aligns perfectly with the introduction
- Result: Band 7.0-7.5

Planning does not waste time — it saves time. You write faster and more accurately when you know where your essay is going.

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