Word Count Questions

‘Complete the form below. Write ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer’

Complete each of the following sentences with TWO WORDS.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Most of the Listening questions have either one of the lines that you see above in the questions. So, how do you count those words? How do you know if you’re answer is one word or two word?

You count, of course.

But how would you count –  $20.80 or  Mother-in-law ?

Here’s how.

[do_widget id=custom_html-36]

Word count list:

1. X-ray

This is counted as one word. A hyphenated word is always counted as one no matter how many hyphens you have in that word.

2. Isn’t

This is counted as one word. Although ‘Is not’ might be two words, it contracts to become one, thus any word with an apostrophe is a single word.

3. 22nd November

This is counted as two words in writing, whereas one number and one word in listening tests.

4. Whiteboard

This is counted as one word.

5. $ 30.80

This is counted as one number. The symbol is not taken into consideration.

6. 27%

This is counted as one word in writing and one number in listening.

7. 1990’s

This is counted as one word in writing and one number in listening.

8. In the canteen

This is counted as three words.

9. 1pm

This is counted as one word in writing and one number in listening. The word ‘pm’ does not stand as a word alone and hence isn’t counted.

Also check :

• IELTS Listening
• IELTS Listening Answer Sheet
• IELTS listening recent actual test
• IELTS Listening tips
• IELTS Listening Vocabulary
• How to Improve IELTS Listening Section 3 and 4?
• What is Signposting?