在雅思写作考试的评分标准中，有很重要的一项叫做连贯与衔接，连贯性指文章的流畅程度，而衔接性就是指连接词的使用。对于文章中的连接词，一要避免重复，二要适当，不可强加逻辑关系，也不可过度使用，否则一样会影响雅思写作考试成绩。
连接词本身是非常繁琐的知识，在教授连接词时也会遇到很多困难，那么学连接词首先把连接词词性掌握并掌握各词性的用法，学连接词就简便得多。连接词大体可分为四种词性：连词，副词，介词和短语，它们各自的用法又不一样。
连词：如but, and后接句子，连接并列句时前面逗号可有可无。当然连词也可放句首，这一点在考官范文里有很多体现。例：In the past, populations were partly regulated by frequent war and widespread disease, but in recent years the effects of those factors have been diminished. (并列句中的连词)
介词：如before, despite，后接名词或动名词例：Before talking about the essential role of death penalty, you have to think about the meaning, and the purpose, of any kind of punishment.
副词：副词连接并列句，前面用句号或分号，后面用逗号（当然，如果副词前用句号，那就是另起一句了，不称之为并列句）例：In many places today, children start primary school at around the age of six or seven. However, because it is more likely now that both parents work, there is little opportunities for children to stay in their own home up to that age.( 副词另起一句)
短语：如on the contrary, in addition，用法和副词用法完全一样。例：They feel this is one area of life where they have the right to make decisions for themselves. For that reason, it would seem that the best approach would be work by persuasion rather than compulsion.
掌握连接词的四大词性及用法以后，连接词的教学和运用就容易展开。我们可以参看雅思写作考试考官范文，看看各类关系的时候考官如何使用连接词，使文章凸显出来。
