Fix Your Listening Spelling & Number Mistakes

1. ❌ Spelling Errors

Even a single incorrect letter = 0 marks, no exceptions.

🧠 Examples:

• “environment” → “enviroment” ❌
• “government” → “goverment” ❌
• “definitely” → “definately” ❌

✅ Fix:

• Use our Spelling Trainer PDF → with the top 100 IELTS Listening words.
• Do 10-minute dictation drills daily from our audio pack.
• Focus especially on Part 1 vocab: job titles, addresses, services, etc.

2. ❌ Number Format Errors

Numbers in IELTS must match what is heard: digits, decimals, hyphens, or words — exactly.

🧠 Examples:

• “15” written as “fifteen” when only a number is allowed
• “2.5” written as “25”
• “twenty twenty-three” written as “2023” when the audio meant the room number, not the year

✅ Fix:

• Train with our Number Listening Drill Sheets →
• Practise listening for:
  • “double” (e.g., 337 → “double three seven”)
  • “point” (decimals)
  • Hyphens in phone numbers (e.g., 020-7465-9213)

3. ❌ Hyphenated Words

These are common in IELTS forms — and you must include the hyphen if it’s part of the word.

🧠 Common Hyphenated Words in IELTS:

• self-employed
• part-time
• check-in
• follow-up
• well-known
• full-time
• e-mail

✅ Fix:

• Memorise our Hyphenated IELTS Vocabulary Sheet →
• Use our editable Part 1 mock answer templates for repeated practice

4. ❌ Capitalisation Mistakes

Proper nouns like names, street names, or titles must start with a capital letter — even if typed on a computer.

🧠 Examples:

• “dr. williams” → ❌
• “london road” → ❌

✅ Fix:

• Practice with our Mixed-Case Capitalisation Trainer →
• Review common IELTS Listening names, locations, and title formats

5. ❌ Ignoring Corrections in Audio

The speaker may change their mind mid-sentence. If you write the first thing you hear, you may get it wrong.

🧠 Example:

“The booking is under Ms. Clarke — actually, no, it’s under Mr. Clark with no e at the end.”

✅ Fix:

• Train your ear to wait for confirmation or final detail
• Practise with Correction Trap Listening Sets →