What is Signposting?

Kasturika Samanta

6 min read

Updated On Jan 21, 2025

Signposting language refers to words and phrases that people use to organize what is being said in a logical manner and guide the listener through what is being said. Learn what is signposting with examples to achieve band score of 9 on IELTS.

What is Signposting?
Types of Signposting Language with Examples
Why is Signposting Language Important for IELTS?

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Knowing what is signposting is essential for the IELTS exam as it is a crucial skill in the IELTS exam. Effective signposting enhances clarity, coherence, and cohesion, which are key criteria in the IELTS marking scheme.

In this blog, we will not only learn what is signposting in IELTS but also go through lists of the most important signposts and why they are important.

What is Signposting?

Signposting is an easy and simple way to guide listeners or readers through specific words and phrases that signal different parts or ideas of the speech or write-up. These words and phrases are called signposts or signposting language. Let’s see an example!

Ryan: What are your plans for the weekend?

Brad: Well, firstly, I plan to visit my grandparents. They’ve been asking me to come over for a while now.

Ryan: That sounds nice. What else do you have in mind?

Brad: Secondly, I’m thinking of going to the park with some friends. It’s supposed to be sunny, so it’ll be nice to get some fresh air.

Ryan: And after that?

Brad: Finally, I might catch up on some reading. I’ve got a couple of books I’ve been meaning to finish.

In this conversation, you can see Brad using words like ‘firstly’, ‘secondly’ and ‘finally’ to present his plans for the weekend. They are signposting language as they clearly organize and list the ideas that the speaker is trying to say. As a result, they can be used in the IELTS Writing exam as well as listening and speaking.

Types of Signposting Language with Examples

Signposting language can be of various types depending on the flow of the conversation or writing. So, using them appropriately in your IELTS Listening, Writing and Speaking exams can help you frame your answer coherently or find your answer from the audio.

In the table below, you will find the different types of signposting language that you can use in the modules of the IELTS exam.

Type	Details	Examples
Introduction	These phrases are used to introduce the topic and outline the main points you will discuss. They help the examiner understand the direction of your essay or speech from the outset.	This talk critically examines … This essay is organised in the following way: … The essay is divided into…main parts: part one will … part two … This essay seeks to investigate/evaluate/illustrate/discuss the impact of … in relation to … The aim of this study is to … / The purpose of this essay is to … This essay argues that … The major issue that needs to be addressed is … The main questions addressed in this paper are … This essay will [first] outline/examine/address/argue/demonstrate/focus on … and will [then] ascertain/establish/clarify/show/judge/prove … Next, it closely examines … in relation to … Finally, it focuses on … and how this affects … To understand the role of …, this essay provides a discussion of … This section illustrates that … This section explores the idea that …
Introducing New Ideas	These phrases are used to introduce new ideas or points in your argument.	One aspect which illustrates … can be identified as … The current debate about … identifies an interesting viewpoint on … First(ly), … / second(ly), … / finally, … The first/next/final section provides a general discussion of …
Developing Ideas	These phrases help to develop or build upon the ideas presented earlier in the discussion.	Having established …, this essay will now/next focus on … Building on from the idea that …, To further understand the role of … Another line of thought on … Another/A second/ of equal importance is … This idea/theory had been extended/developed by….
Sequencing	These are used to show the order of your points or arguments. They help in organizing your ideas logically.	Firstly, Secondly, Finally To begin with, In addition, To conclude Afterwards,… Next,… Then,…. Following this… Lastly,…
Addition	These phrases are used to add more information or ideas to your argument.	As well as,… In addition… Additionally,… What is more… Another… Besides... Also,… Further,… To elaborate,…
Contrast View/ Disagreement/ Personal Opinions	These phrases are used to show differences or contrast between ideas or to introduce a personal viewpoint.	However, another angle on this debate suggests that … In contrast to evidence which presents the view that… an alternative method illustrates that … However, not all research shows that… Some evidence confirms that … This conflicts/contrasts with/is contrary to the view held by …
Examples	These are used to introduce examples that support your points.	For instance… Such as… To illustrate… For instance,… In particular,... Namely,… Notably,… …as can be seen in… …as demonstrated by… …exemplifies…
Transitioning between ideas	These phrases are used to move from one point or idea to the next without creating a confusion.	Moving on to… Having considered…we will now consider… It is now necessary to… This section identifies… Next...
Emphasis	These phrases are used to emphasize a point so that the reader/listener will identify that it is an important point.	In particular,… Especially… Indeed,… Importantly,… In fact,… Chiefly,… Mainly,… Mostly,…
Cause and Effect	These phrases are used to explain the reasons behind a situation or the consequences of a particular event or action.	Therefore,… Consequently,… Accordingly,… Thus,… As a result,… This means that… This causes… Hence,… For this reason… Because of this… In view of this,… With this in mind… It can be seen that… Resulting from this… As a result,… This suggests that… Subsequently,…
Concluding Paragraphs	These phrases are used to summarize the main points or conclusions drawn from the discussion.	The evidence highlights that … It is clear that … The strength of such an approach is that … It is evident that.. The source information confirms that..
Final Conclusion	These phrases are used to signal the end of your argument or discussion, summarizing the main points.	In conclusion, … / To summarise, … / As has been shown … Clearly, this essay has shown that the main factors which impact upon … are … From the above, it is clear that … Several conclusions emerge from this analysis … The evidence presented has shown that … This essay has focussed on three factors affecting … It has been established that … To conclude I would say.. To sum up…

Why is Signposting Language Important for IELTS?

Besides being an important factor in achieving a top IELTS band score and improving your overall IELTS vocabulary, using signposting language has significant importance for the IELTS exam. They are as follows:

Adds Clarity: It makes your writing or speech clearer by signaling the structure of your argument or discussion. This helps the examiner easily understand your points without confusion.
Improves Coherence and Cohesion: It helps logically connect your ideas, contributing to a smoother flow in your response. This is essential for achieving high scores in the coherence and cohesion in IELTS Writing.
Boosts Organization: Using signposts help you organize your thoughts and ideas systematically, which is crucial for both the Writing and IELTS Speaking sections.
Refines Time Management Skills: Time management is crucial for all the modules of the IELTS exam. In such a case, signposting helps you structure your response within the limited time, ensuring you cover all parts of the question in writing and speaking as well as help to find out the correct answer in listening and reading without wasting time.
Understand the flow of the audio: In the Listening section, signposting helps you to follow the conversation or lecture by indicating shifts in topics, key points, or transitions. Recognizing these cues helps you in predicting answers in IELTS Listening with prepositions and context clues and answer questions more accurately.
Guides the Examiner: Signposting guides the examiner through your essay or speech, making it easier to follow your arguments and see how they develop.

Now that you have understood what is signposting, it is time to use them appropriately in your IELTS exam. Start by using them while practising IELTS practice tests and gradually you will be able to integrate them into your daily conversations and writing as well.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are signposting words in IELTS?

Signposting words are phrases used to guide the reader or listener through your arguments and ideas, helping to clarify the structure and direction of your response.

What is an example of signposting?

An example of signposting is using phrases like ‘To begin with’, ‘Next’, and ‘In conclusion’ to clearly indicate the sequence and structure of your points in writing or speaking.

How can I get 8.5 in IELTS listening?

To score 8.5 in IELTS listening, practice regularly with different types of listening materials, focus on improving your ability to follow conversations, recognize signposting words, and improve your understanding of various accents.

What is the purpose of signposting?

The purpose of signposting is to provide clear indications of the structure of your response, making it easier for the reader or listener to follow your arguments and ideas.