Useful Transitional Expressions for TOEFL iBT Writing

To achieve high score in your iBT Writing, besides you have to be good in grammar, you also have to make your Writing is well organized and well developed. It can be done if your ideas in your Writing flow nicely and are well-connected. To connect your ideas between sentences or paragraphs, you can use some transitional expressions (words and phrases). They are as follows:

1) To add:
also, and, and then, as well, besides, beyond that, equally important, finally, first (second, third, last, and so on), following this further, for one thing, furthermore, in addition, indeed, in fact, last, lastly, likewise, moreover, not only ..., but also, not to mention, or, then, too, what is more

2) To compare:
also, as well, both (neither), in the same way, likewise, similarly

3) To contrast:
although, be that as it may, but, even though, however, in contrast, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, whereas, yet

4) To concede (a point):
certainly, granted that, of course, no doubt, to be sure

5) To emphasize:
above all, absolutely, always, as a matter of fact, besides, certainly, definitely, emphatically, even more, extremely, forever, in any case, in any event, indeed, in fact, more importantly, naturally, never, obviously, surprisingly, that is, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably, without a doubt, without reservation

6) To illustrate:
especially, for example, an example, for instance, in this case, in another case, in this situation, including, namely, notably, on this occasion, particularly, in particular, specifically, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration

7) To show a cause and effect relationship:
accordingly, as, as a result, because, because of, being that, consequently, as a consequence, due to (the fact that), for, for the simple reason that, for this reason, hence, inasmuch as, in that, in view of (the fact that)

8) To clarify:
I mean, in other words, in this case, that is to say, to put it another way, under certain circumstances, up to a point

9) To show a signal of time relationship:
after, after a while, afterward, as soon as, as first, at last, at the same time, before, before long, before this, currently, during, eventually, finally, first of all (first, second, third, etc), formerly, immediately, in the end, in the meantime, in the future, later, meanwhile, next, now, recently, soon, suddenly, then

10) To summarize:
finally, in brief, in other words, lastly, on the whole, to sum up

Note: My suggestion is "Use it properly and do not use the same transitional words repeatedly". For example, when you want to give illustration or sample, if you have used transitional expression "for example" in the first paragraph, then it is better to use other transition words such as: "for instances", "such as" or "as an illustration", and other words" in the following sentences or paragraphs.