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ieltsIELTS preparation courseListeningListeningabout 20 min

Form and note completion

Form and note completion in Part 1 and Part 4: predict the answer type, follow the word limit and spell correctly.

In this lesson you will

  • Predict the type of answer for each gap
  • Follow the word limit exactly
  • Avoid distractors when speakers correct themselves

Learn

Before the recording, read the form and predict each answer: a number? a name? a noun? a date? Grammar around the gap helps: a ___ bag needs an adjective or noun.

Word limits are strict: ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER means red or 15 or 15 red — but not a red one. Writing more than the limit makes the answer wrong.

Distractors: speakers often change their minds or correct information: It’s on Wednesday — oh no, sorry, it’s moved to Thursday. The answer is the final information.

Spelling counts. Names are often spelled out letter by letter. Practise the alphabet, double letters (double L) and numbers such as fifteen/fifty.

Examples

  • Gap: “Start time: ___ pm” → you’re listening for a time.
  • “It costs one hundred and fifty — no, sorry, one hundred and twenty.” → 120
  • “That’s W-H-I-T-E-L-E-Y.” → Whiteley — write exactly the letters you hear.

Vocabulary

predict

guess before you hear

word limit

the maximum number of words allowed

distractor

information that seems like the answer but isn’t

correct yourself

change what you said because it was wrong

double letter

two of the same letter together, e.g. ll

Practice

1 / 7

Gap: “Phone: 07700 ___” — what will you listen for?

Listening: A short booking call

Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.

Receptionist: Can I take your name?

Caller: Yes, it’s Marta Ellison — E-L-L-I-S-O-N.

Receptionist: And how many people?

Caller: Four — oh, sorry, five. My cousin is coming too.

Receptionist: And the date?

Caller: The fourteenth of June.

1.Complete the sentence.

Surname:

2.Complete the sentence.

Number of people:

3.Complete the sentence.

Date: June

Lesson quiz

1 / 4

What should you do before the recording starts?

Review

Key points

  • Predict answer types.
  • Obey word limits exactly.
  • Take the final (corrected) information.
  • Spell carefully.

What you learned

  • ✓ I can predict answers.
  • ✓ I follow word limits.
  • ✓ I avoid correction distractors.

KitWren is independent. This is original practice material written by KitWren; it is not official IELTS material and is not produced, approved or endorsed by the IELTS partners. Any band shown is an educational estimate — not an official IELTS score.