The body paragraph formula

Body paragraphs are the heart of your essay. This is where you earn most of your Task Response and Coherence marks. A strong body paragraph has one main idea, explained clearly and supported with an example. A weak one lists three ideas in three lines and explains none of them.

Why this matters

For band 7, the descriptors expect main ideas to be extended and supported. Many Bangladeshi students list many ideas without developing any. One well-developed idea is worth more than four undeveloped ones.

The formula: Point, Explain, Example, Link

Point: a topic sentence that states the main idea.
Explain: why or how this is true. One or two sentences.
Example: a specific, realistic example.
Link (optional): connect back to the question or your position.

A good body paragraph is usually 90 to 130 words.

A model paragraph

Question: "Some people think governments should invest in public transport rather than building new roads. To what extent do you agree?"

(Point) The main reason to prioritise public transport is that new roads rarely solve traffic problems for long. (Explain) When a road is widened, driving becomes easier for a while, which encourages more people to use their cars, and soon the new lanes are just as crowded as before. (Example) In many large cities, including Dhaka, new flyovers have eased traffic at first, only for congestion to return as car ownership continued to rise. (Link) Investing in efficient buses and metro lines, by contrast, can move far more people using the same amount of space.

Word count: about 95. One idea, fully developed.

What makes a good example

Specific: a type of person, place or situation, not "some people".
Realistic: something that could easily be true.
Relevant: it supports the point directly.

Don't invent statistics

Avoid sentences like "A Harvard study shows that 87% of students..." if you made it up. Examiners can't check it, but it looks unreliable, and inventing evidence is a bad habit for real academic writing. Use realistic general examples instead: "In many countries...", "For instance, a student who..."

Common mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Three ideas in one paragraph	One main idea per paragraph
No explanation, only an example	Explain why before giving the example
A long personal story	Keep examples to one or two sentences
Topic sentence too vague: "There are many advantages."	Name the idea: "The main advantage is lower cost."

How many body paragraphs?

Two strong body paragraphs is the most common and safest structure. Three is fine if you have time and each is developed. Four short paragraphs usually means none are developed enough.

Try it yourself

Write a body paragraph for this point: "Learning online saves students money." Use Point, Explain, Example.

Sample answer: "One clear advantage of online learning is that it reduces costs for students. Because classes can be attended from home, students no longer need to pay for daily travel or, in some cases, for accommodation in an expensive city. For example, a student from a district town who takes an online course can avoid the cost of renting a room in Dhaka. This makes education more accessible to families on lower incomes."

Honest note

The formula is a guide to help you develop ideas, not a rigid template. Good writers vary the order sometimes. But until your paragraphs are consistently well developed, the formula is your best friend.

Your task today

Take one body paragraph from your last essay. Label each sentence: Point, Explain, Example or Link. What's missing?