70 Skills that guarantee IELTS success - Spelling Correctly (Skill 2)

Have you ever done some IELTS Reading or Listening practice and gotten some questions wrong because you did not add "s" to a particular word? That's a common issue with many candidates. I can mean the difference between Band 6.5 and Band 7.0. Misspelled words. They seem like tiny mistakes, but in the IELTS exam, they can be silent score killers. Mastering your spelling isn't just about looking smart; it's a fundamental step toward achieving the score you need in the Listening, Reading, and Writing modules.

Why is spelling important?

In the IELTS Listening and Reading sections, particularly in tasks like "Sentence Completion" or "Summary Completion," one single misspelled word can turn a correct answer into a zero. The examiners are strict: if the word is not perfectly reproduced as it appeared in the audio or text, you do not get the point. There is no room for error here! Proper nouns must be spelt correctly. Singular OR plural words must be spelt correctly. The exact word written in the IELTS Reading passage is the word that you must write as your answer.

In the IELTS Writing module, spelling accuracy directly impacts your score under the criterion of Lexical Resource. Frequent errors in spelling—especially on high-frequency words—will drag your score down. It signals a lack of control over the English language, making your communication less effective and distracting the examiner. For example, confusing "their" and "there" might seem minor, but repeated homophone errors can significantly lower your score. Another example is the essay introduction: candidates commonly use past tense spellings (e.g. opined) instead of the normal present tense spelling (opine). These are things you need to watch out for and ensure that they don't hurt your score.

Strategies for improving your Spelling skills

1. "Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check": This is a strategy that forces your brain to focus on the structure of the word. Look at the word, say it out loud, cover it, write it, and then check it against the original. Identify the words that you commonly misspell, and practice doing this with those words.

2. Focus on the Tricky Part: Spelling mistakes commonly happen because students get some parts/letters mixed up. To improve, identify the part of a word that you always get wrong (e.g., the double letters in "accommodate" or the "e" before "i" in "receive"). Create a mental note or a rhyme to help you handle such words. The apply strategy 1 of 'look, say, cover, write, and check' so that you can improve.

3. Read, Read, Read: Consistent reading exposes you to correct spelling and helps you internalize the visual shape of words. When you read wide, your brain will start to flag an incorrect spelling when you see it.

Don't let small spelling mistakes stand between you and your target band score. Start practicing today!

Click this link to test your spelling skills

For more in-depth lessons and strategies that guarantee success in IELTS, enroll for personalized coaching class with us at Tentimesbetter Academy. Click here and schedule a call with us. Let us draft a unique IELTS Success Plan for you. The call is free!!!