International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most popular English language proficiency tests for higher education and immigration overseas. The IELTS examination is of two types, IELTS Academic which is taken for higher education, and IELTS General Training for work and migration purposes in English-speaking countries. The IELTS test has four sections – Writing, Speaking, Reading, and Listening. This English language proficiency test measures the ability of candidates to converse in English. For all the papers in IELTS, vocabulary and spelling are some of the important skills that are tested and evaluated. In this article, we will discuss some common spelling mistakes in IELTS.
For all the IELTS papers, that is, Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, vocabulary is allocated 25% of marks. A candidate must know the exact pronunciations as well as the spellings of all the repeated words that come in the IELTS exam. It is very important to know the right spelling to maintain accuracy. Spelling mistakes are an obstacle in fetching a high band. It is important to understand the basics of spelling and the common spelling mistakes in IELTS. This will help the applicants ace the IELTS test.
Applicants make mistakes with some words as they are quite ambiguous about the complicated and long spellings. Spelling is an important part of the vocabulary, and it helps in examining the English language proficiency among non-native English speakers. Too many spelling mistakes can affect your IELTS band in writing and listening. It is important to understand some very common spelling mistakes that IELTS test takers usually make so that you can learn from them and not commit them in your attempt.
Some common spelling mistakes in IELTS
The four sections of IELTS should be accurate in terms of vocabulary and spelling. Applicants making spelling errors in IELTS papers often score a low band. Since it is an English language proficiency test, the focus is primarily on vocabulary and spelling. To submit a 100% accurate write-up, applicants must know the common spelling errors in IELTS to avoid them in future attempts:
- Single/ Double letters: It is a very common mistake that is seen in the IELTS examination. Applicants get confused in some words as to whether they should put a single letter or double letter. There are common words where there is confusion between single and double letters like ‘Emabarasment’ is incorrect, while ‘Embarrassment’ is correct.
2. Silent letter: In English, there are words where one letter is silent. But when you write that word you cannot ignore that particular letter. While speaking the letter is not pronounced, but while writing you need to write it. Take the example of ‘Handkerchief’, where D is silent and ‘Hankerchief’ is spelt wrong. Some other examples are Autumn, column, government, environment.
3. Position of I and E: There are various words in the English language that you use regularly but there is confusion in the letters ‘i’ and ‘e’ together. In some words, you use ‘i’ followed by ‘e’ while in others, it is just the reverse. ‘Cheif’ is incorrect, while ‘Chief’’ is the correct spelling. This is one of the most common spelling mistakes that are committed by the applicants.
4. Confusion with ‘er’ and ‘or’: You will find some very common words in the English language that end with ‘or’ e.g. doctor, while you use ‘er’ in some words e.g. gather. It is very likely to get confused in such a case and hence, you need to be careful about these words. For example, ‘Traveler’ is correct and ‘Travellor’ is incorrect. This confusion leads to a lot of spelling mistakes that are used in daily lives. Applicants must be very careful with such spelling errors.
5. Writing how you speak English: Being a non-native speaker, you will end up borrowing some very common English language words from the local language or speak some words incorrectly with the local accent and will end up writing the English language words with the same accent. The accent is an important thing behind spelling. It is important to speak and say the same thing. For example, the word ‘Modren’ is incorrect and ‘Modern’ is correct. This is one thing that is commonly found among non-native English speakers. This leads to a lot of spelling errors in the IELTS test. It should be addressed by the test takers while preparing.
6. Doubling letters: Doubling words are a very common reason for making spelling mistakes. It is a common spelling mistake like, ‘Oppinion’ instead of ‘Opinion’. Removing the double consonant in words like in ‘Disappointment’, ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Recommend’, ‘Embarrassed’.
7. Writing the wrong word: A very common mistake is writing ‘Loose’ instead of ‘Lose’; ‘Prospective’ instead of ‘Perspective’; getting confused between ‘There’ and ‘Their’.
8. Using the wrong vowel: Writing the wrong vowel: ‘Tirtiary’ instead of ‘Tertiary’.
9. Confusion between C and S: Expenses, society & service. This happens because the pronunciation of the words is almost the same.
10. Changing form changes spelling – influence- influential; benefit – beneficial; maintain – maintenance.
11. Forgetting common letters: Forgetting letters like ‘a’ in ‘Literature’ or r in ‘Surprise’.
12. The wrong combination of vowels: Wrong two vowel combinations – writing ‘Dreems’ instead of ‘Dreams’.
13. Foreign words mistake: Some foreign and English language words have some difficult words from Greek: rhythm, psychology, hierarchy, xenophobia.
14. French words in English: Words from French used in English like chauffeur, connoisseur, rendezvous, silhouette cause some very common spelling mistakes committed in the IELTS examination.
15. Reversing vowels: The reversing vowels like ‘WEIRD’, not ‘WIERD’; ‘RECEIVE’, not ‘RECIEVE’, are very common spelling mistakes.
Recommended Reads:
Conclusion
Vocabulary is an essential part of the IELTS examination. Writing and speaking sections focus on vocabulary and spelling. To test and measure English language proficiency, vocabulary and spelling are given a lot of importance. Applicants must avoid making common spelling mistakes that can lead to a low band.
Read More:
Important Exams
IELTS Exam PTE ExamGMAT Exam TOEFL Exam SAT ExamACT ExamGRE Exam Duolingo English TestImportant Resources for IELTS
IELTS Band Score ChartHow to get 8 band in IELTSTypes of IELTS ExamAverage IELTS ScoresIELTS Score for USAIELTS Reading Band ScoreIELTS Bar GraphWriting Task 1 Line GraphCollocation for IELTSIELTS Reading TipsIELTS Speaking TopicsIELTS Writing Task 2Opinion Essay IELTSImportant Vocabulary for IELTSIELTS Band ScoreValidity of IELTS ScoreIELTS Reading SectionIELTS Essay Writing SamplesEssay on Historical PlacesHow to Postpone IELTS ExamIELTS Score for New Zealand PRHow to Make Complex Sentences in IELTSIELTS Test Report formHow Many Times IELTS Exam is Conducted in a YearBenefits of IELTS CoachingAgree or Disagree Essay IELTSHow Much Time is Required to Prepare for IELTSCommon Spelling Mistakes in IELTSHow to Crack IELTS in first AttemptImportant Vocabulary for IELTSHow to Cancel IELTS ExamWhy IELTS Exam is RequiredIELTS Exam DatesIELTS Online CoachingIELTS Full FormMBA in Germany Without IELTSStudy in UK Without IELTSStudy in USA Without IELTSMS in Germany Without IELTSStudy in Europe Without IELTSUniversities in Canada Without IELTSStudy in Singapore Without IELTSStudy in Ireland Without IELTSIELTS Score For UKIELTS Score For USAIELTS For AustraliaIELTS Score for New ZealandUS Universities Accepting Only IELTS Score For MSIELTS PreparationRefer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹40000
Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.
TRENDING SEARCHES
IELTS Sample Essay
IELTS Cue Card
Other Exam
IELTS Reading Answer
- Honesty is the Best Policy Essay
- Social Media Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
- Disadvantages of A Nuclear Family
- Letter Email Telephone Are Example Of Communication Channels
- Learning is A Continuous Process
- Write About Your Family
- Paragraph On Digital India
- Famous Brands Of Clothes
- Understand the Most Important Characteristics of a Society
- How To Face Problems In Life
- What Gets Sharper The More You Use It
- Theme Of The Poem The Road Not Taken
- Difference Between Online And Offline Classes
- Essay On Generation Gap
- Telecommuting Has Many Advantages And the Following Drawbacks
- Life in A Big City Paragraph
- Nowadays Many People Choose To Be Self Employed
- Advantages of Plastic Containers
- Young People Are Often Influenced By Their Peers
- Essay on Coronavirus 150 Words
Disclaimer
The above tips are the Author's experiences. upGrad does not guarantee scores or admissions.