Compilation of the most common spelling errors in IELTS Listening

Spelling errors are seen as a challenging issue for most English learners, especially those at beginner to intermediate levels. Below are some of the most common spelling error groups in the Listening test.

Some of the most common spelling errors in IELTS Listening

Word Form Group

Word Form: This group consists of words with more complex form variations compared to the majority of vocabulary in English. Therefore, during the Listening test, under time pressure, many students often fail to recall the exact spelling of words in this group. Some common Spelling errors that candidates often encounter in IELTS Listening include:

• Một phụ âm thay đổi khi từ danh từ thành tính từ.
• Một nguyên âm thay đổi hoặc mất đi khi động từ thành danh từ.
• Một nguyên âm gấp đôi khi chuyển danh từ thành động từ.
• Phụ âm cuối được tăng lên gấp đôi khi động từ thay đổi thì.

Specifically, students often misspell certain words such as:

Homophones Group

This is a group of words with similar or identical pronunciation but different spellings. Specifically, these word groups include:

Group of words with the ending sound /əl/

This sound has various spellings such as -ple, -pal, and -ble. Therefore, due to the limited time in the Listening test, many students often forget the correct spelling for words with this pronunciation. Some specific examples:

Nouns ending in -ance and -ence

This is considered the most common error. Although students are familiar with words in this group on normal days, many still make mistakes during the listening test.

Group of words with similar spellings

For this group of words, students often confuse one word with another during the listening test.

Some common words in this group include:

Analyzing common spelling errors in IELTS Listening

Single and double consonants

Single and double consonants (Phụ âm đơn và kép) are the most common errors that candidates often encounter in the IELTS Listening test. This happens when single and double consonants are close together, causing candidates to spell incorrectly or write the wrong spelling.

Some instances of single and double consonants to be aware of:

• Theo sau một phụ âm đơn là một cặp phụ âm kép: Across, harass, disappoint, recommend, tomorrow,…
• Một cặp phụ âm được theo sau một phụ âm đơn: Parallel, exaggerate, occasion, occur, apparent,…
• 2 cặp phụ âm kép: Success, access, accommodation, address, embarrass,…

Weak vowels

There will be cases of difficult-to-spell or easily confused words due to containing many weak vowels. One prominent weak vowel is /ə/, which can lead listeners to confusion and inadvertently skip over it because they cannot hear the speaker pronounce this sound.

Additionally, for native speakers, they often have a habit of swallowing sounds and speaking quickly. This also involves stressing syllables, emphasizing important sounds, and reducing unnecessary ones, which can cause listeners to not hear weak vowels clearly.

Some cases of words containing the weak vowel /ə/: Separate, literature, temperature, desperate, category, relevant, general, capable, display, ignorance, attendance, visible, sentence, existence, capable, achievable, ...

Some cases containing the weak vowel /r/: Opportunity, surprise, pursue, persuade, ...

Mute sounds, silent letters in words, and phrases

Similarly, in the case of weak vowels, words with silent sounds or letters can also cause confusion and oversight for listeners.

Native speakers often have a habit of swallowing sounds when speaking, making listeners prone to missing letters containing silent sounds.

Some cases of silent sounds, silent letters in words, and phrases to note:

• /nm/: Environment, government,…
• /mn/: Column, autumn,…
• /xc/: Exceed, excite, excellent, exception,…
• /sc/: Conscious, science, ascend, descend,…
• /th/ trong các số thứ tự: Eighth, nineteenth, fourteenth,…
• /dg/: Acknowledge, knowledge,…