Textual and discourse competence: connectors, register, organisation of ideas
What the domain tests
Textual and discourse competence is tested across the whole paper: how well you link ideas, choose a register, and organise a text for a reader. In the composition, examiners look for connectors that express the right logical relationship, referencing that is easy to follow, and paragraphing that matches the plan. In comprehension items, the same competence helps you recognise how a text is built.
Core rules
- Choose connectors by meaning, not by length. Addition: moreover, in addition. Contrast: however, although, despite + noun/-ing. Cause: because, due to. Result: therefore, as a result. Example: for instance. Conclusion: overall, to sum up.
- Do not use 'although' and 'but' in the same clause. Do not use 'despite' before a full clause: 'despite the rain', 'although it rained'.
- Register: match the reader. Formal writing avoids contractions, slang and vague fillers; a magazine article can use a rhetorical question but should not become chatty.
- Organisation: one central idea per paragraph; use the first and last sentence to frame it.
- Cohesion: repeat key nouns or use synonyms, not the same pronoun for three different things.
Worked example
Sentences: 'The museum is free. Few young people visit it.' Combination A: 'Although the museum is free, few young people visit it.' Reasoning: 'although' introduces a concessive clause with subject + verb. The contrast is clear and the register is neutral. Combination B: 'Despite the museum is free, few young people visit it.' This is wrong because 'despite' needs a noun phrase or -ing form: 'Despite the museum being free...' or 'Despite its free entry...'. Combination C: 'The museum is free, however few young people visit it.' This is a comma splice in many exam registers. Use a semicolon or a full stop: 'The museum is free; however, few young people visit it.'
Traps
- Using 'moreover' when the second idea is a contrast.
- Overusing connectors at the start of every sentence, which makes the text mechanical.
- Mixing formal and informal register in the same composition.
- Writing a list of ideas without topic sentences.
- Using 'it' or 'this' without a clear referent.
Exam routine
Before writing, draw a three-part plan with the connector you expect to use. After writing, check that each paragraph has a clear function.