How to Avoid Problems with Your Answers in The IELTS Listening Test

You would be surprised how many correct answers get disqualified for 'technical' reasons. To make sure this doesn't happen to you read through the common problems below and make a mental note to avoid making these mistakes.

Problem 1—not following the task instructions.

You may have noticed how every task type has a clear set of instructions. They specify how many words or numbers you can use, and what you need to do— complete a sentence, answer a question, circle a letter, and so on. It is very important that you do exactly as the instructions say. If the instructions say “Circle two letters”, do exactly that— don't circle just one or three letters.

Especially important is the word limit, because any answer that consists of more words than the limit allows, will get zero points even if its meaning is correct. 

If the instructions say, “WRITE NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS” , you may write one, or two or three words— but never more than three.

Problem 2—transferring information incorrectly. 

a) Words
When transferring the answers from the question booklet, only the missing words should be written on the answer sheet.
For instance, consider a task that asks you to complete a sentence using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

Example:
The sentence is: “Peter and Mary are ___________ to visit their relatives in Ottawa”
Since the correct answer is ‘not going’, writing the words ‘are not going to’ on the answer sheet will mean receiving zero points for your answer.
Note: the definite and indefinite articles 'a', 'the' count as one word each.

b) Symbols and abbreviations

If you are required to complete a sentence that talks about money such as,
“The deposit Peter has to pay for plane tickets is $_________” write only the amount on the answer sheet, without the '$' sign, because it's already written in the question booklet.
In a sentence that talks about time, such as, “Trading hours of the travel agency are Mon–Fri, ______ am to 5 pm.” write only the time on the answer sheet, without the ‘am’. The reason is that ‘am’ is already written in the booklet and you do not need to repeat it. 

c) Numbers
Confusing numbers with digits is a common problem. The word 'digit' means any of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. A number is a combination of digits, or in other words more than one digit may form a number.
Why is this important? Because when instructions ask to ‘answer in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’, it is a mistake to think that you are only allowed to write one digit in the space provided on the answer sheet. You are allowed to write one number, which can consist of many digits.

Example:
Complete the sentence below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
“The address of Peter's uncle is ___________ Main street, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.”
Let's say the correct answer (the missing house number) is ‘308’. It’s a mistake to think that all you're allowed to write just one digit (such as ‘3’), in fact you are allowed to, and should, write ‘308’.

d) Letters
When the task instructions ask you to circle a letter, this is exactly what you need to transfer to the answer sheet—the letter, not the full answer. 

There is a whole set of reasons why you shouldn't copy the full answer:
1. It's not what the instructions say
2. You can make a spelling mistake
3. It takes longer to write two or three words than to write a letter.

Example:
Circle the correct letter A–C.
The reason Mary prefers to stay in this hotel is
A because of the magnificent view
B because of the facilities
C because of the affordable pricing

Let's say B is the correct answer. While you are listening, circle B in the question booklet. When transferring the answers to the answer sheet, write ‘B’ in the relevant space—don't copy the words ‘because of the facilities’.