Spelling, numbers and traps
Stop losing easy marks: spelling, numbers, dates, times, letters, plurals and word limits in IELTS Listening.
In this lesson you will
- Write numbers, dates and times correctly
- Handle spelled-out names and letters
- Avoid plural and word-limit errors
Learn
Spelling counts. A misspelled answer is marked wrong. British or American spelling is normally accepted, but be consistent. Practise commonly tested words: accommodation, environment, library, necessary, questionnaire, Wednesday, February, government.
Numbers and dates: thirteen (13) vs thirty (30) — listen to stress: thirTEEN vs THIRty. Dates can be written 15 March or March 15. Phone numbers: double three = 33; oh = 0.
Letters: know the alphabet sounds, especially A/E/I, G/J, B/P/V, M/N. Postcodes and names are often spelled out.
Plurals and word limits: if the speaker says boots, boot is wrong. NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER allows, e.g., 3 bedrooms but not three large bedrooms. Hyphenated words count as one.
| You hear | You write |
|---|---|
| double seven, oh, five | 7705 |
| the twenty-first of June | 21 June / June 21 |
| half past three in the afternoon | 3.30 pm / 15:30 |
| G-A-R-D-I-N-E-R | Gardiner |
| fifteen pounds fifty | £15.50 |
Examples
- thirTEEN (13) — stress at the end; THIRty (30) — stress at the start.
- “Double three” → 33.
- ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER: “12 students” ✓
Vocabulary
spell out
say the letters one by one
stress
saying part of a word more strongly
consistent
the same throughout
hyphenated
joined with a hyphen (-)
postcode
letters and numbers for an address area
Practice
“Double five, oh, two” is…
Lesson quiz
Correct spelling:
Review
Key points
- Spelling counts.
- 13 vs 30: listen to stress.
- Know alphabet sounds.
- Plurals and word limits.
What you learned
- ✓ I write numbers and dates correctly.
- ✓ I spell common words accurately.
- ✓ I respect word limits.