IELTS Listening Form, Note and Table Completion: Obey the Word Limit
Rahul from Indore heard “the 14th” and wrote it down. Two seconds later the caller said, “Sorry, I mean the 15th.”
In IELTS Listening form completion tasks, use the reading time to predict what each gap needs, listen for the exact word or number, and write it within the word limit. Watch for speakers who correct themselves, and write the version they finally confirm.
What Does a Completion Task Look Like?
In form, note, table and flow-chart completion, you fill gaps in an outline of the recording. A form is often used for facts such as names, and a table groups information into categories such as place, time and price.
When you take words from the recording, the instruction states a word limit, such as “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER”. The limit can change from one question to the next, so read each instruction. Our practice form below uses “ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER”.
IDP IELTS says numbers can be written as figures or words, and advises figures to avoid spelling slips. For phone numbers, dates and prices, see our guide to numbers, dates and names.
How Do I Predict a Gap Before the Recording Starts?
There is time to read the questions before each set of questions. Use it to look at the words before and after each gap, and decide what is missing: a name, a date, a number or a plural noun.
IDP IELTS also reminds candidates that nouns can appear in plural form. A plural you heard but did not write can leave the sentence ungrammatical.
What Happens When a Speaker Changes Their Mind?
The British Council warns that a speaker may give an answer and then change their decision. A speaker might offer a date, then realise it clashes with something else.
A correction can follow straight after the first answer. Listen for words such as “sorry”, “I mean” or “actually”, and write the version the speaker confirms.
How Do Spelling and Plurals Cost Marks?
The Cambridge IELTS FAQ says you lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar, and that both UK and US spellings are accepted. It adds that names may be spelt out in the recording.
For words to practise, see our list of Listening spelling words. Plurals, hyphens and capitals have their own post: plurals, hyphens and capital letters.
Practice: A Phone Call to a Yoga Studio
Ask a friend to read the transcript aloud at normal speed, or record yourself reading it once and play it back before answering.
Practice transcript (written for this post)
Receptionist: Good morning, Green Valley Yoga. How can I help you?
Caller: Hello, I’d like to join your weekend course for beginners, please.
Receptionist: Certainly. May I have your surname?
Caller: It’s Nayar. That’s N-A-Y-A-R.
Receptionist: Thank you, Mr Nayar. The next course starts in May. Which date suits you?
Caller: The 14th, please. Oh, sorry, I mean the 15th. The 14th is my cousin’s wedding.
Receptionist: No problem, the 15th it is. And your mobile number?
Caller: Oh seven seven oh oh, nine oh oh, six one eight.
Receptionist: Thanks. Will you bring your own equipment, or do you need to borrow some?
Caller: I have my own clothes, but I’ll need to borrow two mats, one for my wife and one for me.
Receptionist: Fine. The registration fee is eighty-five pounds.
Caller: That’s fine, thank you.
Questions
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Weekend Yoga Course Registration
- Surname: _____
- Start date in May: _____
- Mobile number: _____
- Equipment to borrow: two _____
- Registration fee: £ _____
Show answers
- Nayar — the caller spells it out: “N-A-Y-A-R”.
- 15th — the caller says “The 14th, please”, then corrects it: “sorry, I mean the 15th”.
- 07700 900618 — “oh” means zero: “oh seven seven oh oh, nine oh oh, six one eight”.
- mats — the caller says “two mats”, and a gap after “two” needs the plural. The “clothes” are the caller’s own, not borrowed.
- 85 — the receptionist says “eighty-five pounds”, and the £ sign is already printed beside the gap.
Which Habits Should I Change?
Incorrect: “I write down the first number I hear to save time.”
Correct: A correction can follow straight after the first number, so wait until the speaker has confirmed the detail.
Incorrect: “Writing two words when the limit is one word and/or a number is fine if the fact is right.”
Correct: You lose the mark for going over the word limit, even when the information is correct.
Tip
After the practice, check each answer against the word limit and your spelling before you read the key.
Key Takeaways
- Read the word limit in each instruction, as it can change between questions.
- Use the reading time to predict whether a gap needs a name, number or plural.
- Listen for “sorry” or “I mean” before you write a number or date.
- Write plurals as the sentence needs them, and check your spelling.
The bottom line: A completion mark needs the right information, a correct form and an answer that stays inside the limit.