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Spelling, plurals and numbers in Listening
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Put the number beside the thing it measures
- Original written script: “There are thirty lockers and thirteen desks. Each locker key costs six pounds fifty.” “Number of desks” needs 13; “Key cost: £____” needs 6.50. The nearby 30 and the price answer different questions.
- Six pounds fifty equals 650 pence, but 650 in a gap already labelled £ would mean £650. Keep the unit supplied by the question. A correctly heard number can still end up in the wrong pocket.
The recording says 'six pounds fifty'. Write the amount in pence.
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£6.50 — six pounds and fifty pence, which is 650 pence. Written as an amount of pounds it is 6.50, never 650.
The key costs six pounds fifty. Fill the numeric amount of pounds in “Key cost: £____”.
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£6.50 is 6.5 pounds, not 650 pounds.
A new question asks for key cost in pence. Which amount follows from £6.50?
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One pound is 100 pence: 6.50 × 100 = 650 pence.
Use grammar without inventing the missing word
- “Bring two ____ of ID” with “two forms of identification” in the script requires forms. Grammar and the given wording agree. Check endings and irregular plurals where relevant; not every plural is formed by adding s.
- “A ____ is provided” suggests a singular noun phrase, but several words could fit. Grammar narrows the possibilities; the recording supplies the actual item. In word-selection completion, use the heard wording that fits rather than changing its form to rescue an unsupported guess.
The recording says 'you will need two forms of identification'. The gap reads 'Bring two ______ of ID.' What do you write?
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The script says forms, and two agrees with that plural. Use the heard word and surrounding grammar rather than adding an ending to an unsupported guess.
Stress is a cue, not a mechanical number detector
- In isolation, thirTEEN commonly has main stress later than THIRty. In connected speech, rhythm and contrast can alter prominence: do not infer the number from one stress position alone. Listen for the whole word, context and any clarification.
- A written choice between thirteen and thirty does not test your audio discrimination. Identify your own difficult contrasts using real recordings, compare after the first attempt, then test a fresh sentence without the transcript.
In the usual isolation pronunciation, which word has main stress on the second syllable?
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In isolation, thirTEEN commonly contrasts with THIRty. Prominence can change in connected speech; this written check does not test sound recognition.
A single stress position always distinguishes thirteen from thirty in connected speech.
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Rhythm and contrast can alter prominence; use the whole word and context.
Check spelling from the evidence
- Listening answers need accurate spelling; standard British and American variants such as organise/organize are accepted. There is no half mark for a nearly correct spelling. Follow the task’s word limit and the spelled name when one is supplied.
- For a name spelled double L, write LL. Practise letter pairs you actually confuse, rather than assuming everyone misses the same sounds. Silent spelling review and writing while following audio have different demands; use both where useful.
The recording says 'organise'. You write 'organize'. What happens?
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British and American spellings are both accepted. There are no half marks anywhere in Listening — an answer is right or it is not.
Checking can repair a visible error
- On computer, answers are entered during Listening and checked in the allotted screen time. Older paper samples have a ten-minute transfer period; do not apply that timing to computer delivery. Check spelling, word limits, units and question numbers.
- A numbering slip can misalign several answers until corrected, but does not necessarily invalidate every later answer. Correct a definite mismatch; do not replace a supported answer merely on a hunch. A blank can receive a reasoned guess if time remains.
Which are useful checks of entered Listening answers in the checking time? Choose all that apply.
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Spelling, singular/plural and question alignment can reveal definite errors. Do not assume the paper transfer period is provided on computer.
Separate written interpretation from spoken recognition
- For this script, desks → 13, lockers → 30 and key price → £6.50. A fresh question asking for pence needs 650; a fresh recording must establish whether you can recognise the spoken number. The arithmetic check does not establish the listening skill.
- Recap: match noun and unit, use the evidence and inspect the entered answer. Sources checked on 2 October 2026: IELTS Listening completion rules, test delivery update. Number examples are original teaching practice, not score predictions.
- Written strategy practice teaches an answer decision. Use actual audio to check sound recognition and performance while the recording continues.
Match the distinctions in this worked case.
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The noun controls which number answers the gap. The two spoken numbers can sound close, so compare real audio after a first attempt and practise your own difficult contrasts.
What number fills “Number of desks” in the script?
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Original written script: “There are thirty lockers and thirteen desks. Each locker key costs six pounds fifty.” For “Number of desks: ”, enter 13; for “Key cost: £”, enter 6.50. The noun controls which number answers the gap. The two spoken numbers can sound close, so compare real audio after a first attempt and practise your own difficult contrasts.