Most candidates think of IELTS Writing when they hear this word combination. Spelling mistakes influence your score in this section. However, it is often a surprise for test-takers that spelling really matters for the IELTS Listening section as well. To tell the truth, spelling mistakes can ruin your score in this section. While you are still preparing for the IELTS exam, it is a good idea to learn the most common mistakes made by candidates and avoid them.
Where can you make spelling mistakes? In IELTS Listening there are various types of questions such as multiple choice, note completion, matching, labeling a plan or a map, etc. In IELTS Listening, you are given one mark for each correct answer, i.e. the correct spelling matters. You have to be all ears in all parts of the Listening section but spelling mistakes are often made when candidates write their answers to labeling and note completion questions. You might have to write down such things as key words/phrases, lists, headings/subheadings, numbers/bullet points, names/surnames, places/times/prices, addresses, telephone numbers, stages, etc. We have grouped spelling mistakes by different types.
Single or double letters
Candidates are often confused under pressure and they might make this mistake when they are not sure how many letters to write: one or two. This group of words is the largest. Here are some examples:
- embarrassment, accommodation, annual, current, account, classroom, attendance, assessment, commencement, dissertation, questionnaire, pepper, blackcurrant, pizza, waterfall, cliff, village, hurricane, mammals, the Philippines, terraced house, employee, attraction, immense, pessimistic, discuss, arrange, immigrate, pottery, collection, billiards, soccer, bungee jumping, football, basketball, volleyball, jet-skiing, balloon, narrow, passenger, paddle steamer, cottage, swimming pool, copper, rubber, cotton, millennium, midday, address, attendant, assistant, curriculum, fulfillment, attitude, passport, commerce, umbrella, traffic jams, opportunity, illiteracy, sufficient, farewell, welfare, satellite, shopping, reference, assumption, affordable, cassette, antenna, business, unnecessary, tomorrow, recommend, process, apparel, parallel, success, possess, different, pepper, misspell etc.
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Silent letters
In English there are many letters that are not pronounced in words. However, you have to write them:
- Wednesday, June, science, discipline, conscious, knowledge, foreign, catalogue, environment, government, autumn, column, drought, reliable, renewable, Switzerland, palace, sculpture, insurance, lane, kitchen, colleague, dangerous, luxurious, castle, whistle, knowledgeable, climbing, comb, lamb, breeze, glue, psychologist, fortnight, memorable, confidence, Europe, catastrophe, exciting, plumber, etc.
“ei” or “ie”
When it comes to the combination of these two letters, even advanced learners often make spelling mistakes. However, you can easily remember how to write the words properly with the help of the following mnemonic: ‘I before E except after C’. For example:
- believe, die, friend, brief, field, hygiene, niece, priest, relieve, thief, experience, etc.
- receive, perceive, ceiling, conceive, receipt, etc.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule in English:
- ancient, caffeine, friend, height, leisure, seize, species, weird.
“or” vs “er” in nouns
Watch out when you write the following words:
- decorator, professor, doctor, mediator, collector, commentator, actor, sculptor, author, advisor, conductor, tutor, dictator, contributor, investigator, director, educator, narrator, survivor, editor, translator, inventor, counsellor, visitor, operator, spectator, governor, protector, generator, protector, radiator, separator, supervisor, refrigerator, bachelor, senior, junior, etc.
- lecturer, driver, runner, prisoner, builder, jeweller, commander, traveller, fertilizer, computer, register etc.
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Homophones
These are the words that sound the same. However, their spelling is different. Here are the most common pairs of words:
accept – except
plain – plane
peace – piece
scene – seen
stationary – stationery
steal – steel
sauce – source
sore – soar
for – four – fore
their – there – they’re
hour – our
band – banned
capital – capitol
chili – chilly
choral – coral
cite – site – sight
council – counsel
die -dye
discreet – discrete
daft – daught
flue – flew -flu
genes – jeans
hole – whole
marshal – martial
weather – whether
whose – who’s
you’re – your
loose – lose
affect – effect
principle – principal, and many others.
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Words that change their spelling when they change form
Many English words are spelled differently when they become another part of speech or when verbs are used in different tenses. For example:
benefit – beneficial
influence – influential
circumstance – circumstantial
pronunciation – pronounce
argue – argument
decide – decision
refer – referring
frolic – frolicking
occur – occurred
unity – unify
justice – justify
significant – signify
maintain – maintenance
violent – violence, etc.
While preparing for IELTS, you can still learn how to avoid making spelling mistakes. Here are some tips to help you:
Tip #1. Watch out for words with double letters. If you are not sure about the spelling, double check.
Tip #2. Always make sure you use the correct form of the verb.
Tip #3. Know which word you want to use. Check the meaning in the dictionary.
Tip #4. Watch where you place the apostrophe.
Tip #5. Don’t write what you hear. Check the spelling if you are not sure.
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