Linking Words Guide – TOEIC® Preparation
Flow Exam team
Linking Words - Introduction
Linking words (or logical connectors) create logical relationships between ideas in a text or dialogue. In the TOEIC®, they appear everywhere:
- Part 5: dedicated questions for connectors (choice between 4 linking words)
- Part 6: choosing the missing sentence according to the text's logic
- Part 7: understanding cause/consequence, opposition, and purpose relationships in texts
- Listening (Parts 3 and 4): following the logical thread of a conversation or presentation
Based on our experience with Flow Exam candidates, mastering linking words improves performance in both Reading and Listening.
This point is also regularly highlighted on my YouTube channel Antoine TOEIC (over 300,000 views on YouTube).
Before diving into the categories, here are the recurring pitfalls we identify among candidates.
Mistake 1: Confusing "despite" and "although"
These two words express concession, but their grammatical structure differs completely.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Mistake 2: Using "so" in a formal context
"So" expresses consequence, but it belongs to spoken and informal registers. In the TOEIC®, professional emails, reports, and announcements use formal connectors.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
According to our test analysis, Part 5 and 6 questions systematically favor formal forms in professional contexts.
Mistake 3: Choosing the wrong cause connector
"Because", "due to", and "owing to" all express cause, but they are not constructed in the same way.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Our 5-Category Method to Master Linking Words
Instead of memorizing an endless list of connectors, group them by logical function. Each category addresses a precise logical relationship between two ideas.
Category 1: Addition and Enumeration
Function: adding information, continuing a line of reasoning, organizing arguments.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Category 2: Cause and Consequence
Function: explaining the origin (cause) or the effect (consequence) of an event.
Expressing Cause
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Expressing Consequence
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Category 3: Condition
Function: establishing a necessary condition for an event to occur.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Category 4: Opposition and Concession
Function: contrasting two ideas (opposition) or acknowledging an obstacle that does not prevent the result (concession).
Simple Opposition
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Concession (Overcome Obstacle)
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Category 5: Purpose and Illustration
Expressing Purpose (Finality)
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Giving Examples
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Summary Table: Choosing the Right Connector in 2 Seconds
Here is a quick decision tool that Flow Exam candidates use to instantly identify the type of logical relationship.
Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
Other Resources to Optimize Your TOEIC® Preparation
Ready to take action?
Flow Exam helps you master every linking word you just discovered for the TOEIC®, thanks to an intelligent method focused on your real weaknesses.
→ You can train specifically on the Linking words topic in Part 5, with exercises that precisely target this grammar point. Flow Exam analyzes, corrects, and guides you toward the most profitable areas for improvement. Your training becomes targeted, strategic, and effective.
Some superpowers of the Flow Exam platform:
- 150 exclusive tips based on the experience of over 200 candidates who scored over 950 on the TOEIC®: clear, concrete, tested, and validated in the field.
- Automatic analysis of your most penalizing errors to practice where you are losing the most points, without wasting energy.
- Intelligent training system that adapts exercises to your profile and helps you progress faster, without going in circles.
- Flashcards automatically generated from your own errors, and optimized by the J method (spaced repetition) for lasting memorization and zero forgetting.
- Personalized learning path, built from your results, to save you time and take you directly toward the quick +X points.