In IELTS Listening Section 1, it is common to be asked to listen for English names.
This lesson will test you on your ability to listen and write down English names. After the answers, I’ll give you a list of tips to help you understand how to listen for names in IELTS Listening Section 1.
UPDATE 2017: Capital letters are not marked in IELTS listening or reading so don’t worry about them. See this page for more info: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-listening-25-essential-top-tips/
Are you good at spelling? Do you know your English names? Let’s see…
Listening for English Names
Recommended
Click below for more useful listening practice for IELTS:
Hi Liz, your tips are very useful. I used to not give my attention to the questions, instructions and panic and just focused on the reader/tapes and sometime made a wrong spelling, but after listening to your tips which makes me lots of sense and change my mindsets to more concentrate and focus. Hope your tips are going to help me to overcome my target band score of at least 6 or 6.5.
Thanks for your patient and wish you have lots of good luck!
Glad to see you are improving 🙂
Hi Liz,
First of all thank you so much for your efforts. I have a question, suppose I would write initials as J K Rowling, without giving dot in between J K will it be considered as right answer?
The dot is optional.
Hi Liz.
Thanks a lot for your worthless efforts.
Could you amswer to my question?
If I wrote Mister instead of Mr. is it a mistake?
We never write “Mister”. I definitely wouldn’t do it in the test.
Hi Liz! Thanks for all the knowledge that you have taught us.
I am confused about this sentence;
If they hadn’t interviewed participants face to face, they could have used a much bigger sample size.
Can we understand ”they were interviewed face-to-face” from this sentence?
Correct. It means people were interviewed face to face, but if that choice had not been made, they could have had a bigger sample size.
Hi Liz,
Please confirm if the second initial in Rowling’s name in your video tutorial for names is actually written as a small letter k or a capital letter k? For people with two or three first names are the initials written in capital letters too in the IELTS listening test?
They are all capital letters. My writing isn’t clear. This is a good lesson for you all to learn about writing during the paper based IELTS test – make your writing clear.
Thanks a lot for your great efforts exerted.
Thank you for your video lessons. They are very helpful
Hi liz,
This lesson is very helpful for me,
Thanx for this video. U make me understand very clearly👍
I’m glad it’s useful 🙂
Thanks so much Liz !
You are best teacher
Your all videos are improving extremely helpful for me
I’m glad they are useful 🙂
Hey Liz.. I did my ielts last week. And they said the word “Gold Coast” which is a place in Australia. However I didn’t know the word and I wrote “goal coast” since that’s how I heard it. They didn’t pronounce the word as well. Since it’s a proper noun, are they not supposed to spell out that word? You didn’t hear the “d” in gold because it is not pronounced when linking with a word that begins “c”. The “d” tends to melt into the “c” sound. Linking sounds is a normal part of spoken English and something that you learn at a higher level.
The two words are common words in the English language. They would not spell out a word unless there are two ways of spelling it or it is an uncommon name.
Great Tips ! Thanks a lot for sharing these Liz!
You’re welcome 🙂
Hi Liz,
I like the way you have organized the lessons.
I have a question regarding initials. While using initials, I mentioned J K Rowling than J.K. Rowling. Is it necessary to use dots while mentioning it?
Similarly, do we need to use it while we write titles such as Mr., Mrs.?
Thanks,
Vas
The dots are optional.
I love your videos and this blog. Thank you so much, they´re very helpful.
I got all correct:
Thanks a lot, a very useful tip.
Hello Liz
Is it possible to provide us with a list shows the most common names of people in Ielts because I’m Egyptian man and I’m not familiar with these names
Regards
Sure. There’s a link on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/vocabulary/
Dear Liz,
Thanks.
You are great. 🙂
Regards,
Mina
Hello Liz,
Shouldn’t there be a dot after Mr and Mrs? Miss and Ms will not have dots but Mr and Mrs are abbreviations. You only used a dot after Dr.
Thanks
The dot is optional.
Hello Liz,
Thank you for your help on tips and training videos, they are much important to all ielts trainees.
You’re welcome 🙂
Hi Liz, thanks for all you do. Could names in the listening test be written in all capital letters like you have advised beforehand, for example, JOHN SMITH or must it be written in the standard form – John Smith?
You can use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS to write your answers.
Thank you Liz!!
I never knew about this. Thanks a ton!
You´re lessons are really useful, thank you so much.
If the questions says’ no more than three words’ and the answer is 10th january, should we write the number in words.. Ten january?
It’s best to use digits for numbers rather than words. Any spelling mistake will mean the answer is marked wrong. The instructions, when the answer is a number, will always say “No more than three words and/or a number” OR “No more than three words and/or numbers”.
Liz isn’t 10th itself is considered as a one word?
Don’t confuse writing with listening. All numbers in IELTS writing are counted as words because examiners are counting words. However, instructions in IELTS Listening allow for numbers to be counted as numbers: “No more than one word and a number”. So, January 10th is one word and one number. It is important that you don’t take one black and white rule to cover everything in IELTS and instead learn to apply rules when appropriate.
Thanks for sharing these videos, it really benefits.
Well done
Thank you Liz, may I know if spacing is required between initials? Thank you!
AS long as your answer is easy to read and it is written clearly, it’s fine. There are no fixed rules. Just don’t squash your letters together too much or make it difficult to read.
Thank you Liz,
Please I will like to know if punctuations after a title or an initial is looked into?
It is optional.
Is it possible for me to write the Names or address in the worksheet ( question sheet) while hearing itself. Mean may be spelling the words right, so is it possible to do note it the same time?
You can write all over the question paper. The examiner never sees it. It is thrown away as soon as the test is completed. So, make all the notes you want on the question paper. This applies to reading, listening and writing.
Thanks so much. This is really useful
Dear Liz,
Thank you so much, that is easy to understand your lessons, It is helpful for me.
Regards
Phong
You’re welcome 🙂
Thanks liz .God bless you
Thank you, Liz.
So helpful!
Hi Liz,
Realy helpful for me, your pronunciation is very clear, I can understand easily.
Thank you so much for this video.
You’re welcome 🙂
Hi Liz,
In listening how a name of a person can be written…For example S-Y-M-O-N-D-S or SYMONDS
Both. The most important thing is that each letter is clear and easy to read.
Hi Liz,
Thank you for the lesson, its quite loaded with helpful tips.
I would love to have more videos to practice English names.
It has been a wonderful experience to go through the tips taught by Liz. She is doing awesome job. The most impressive part of her teaching is her originality. she herself writes on the white board and talks very enthusiastically. i just wish her all the success in future.
Thank you for your kind comment 🙂
It is very helpfull. I am really Thanky to you.
Regards : Mr. Salmoon Javed
Hey Liz, I just took a practice listening test where the answer was “CAFÉ” but I wrote “CAFE”.
Am I right or wrong?
It would be marked correct.
Liz, thank you so much. You make ILETS listening easy to hit band 8 to 9.
Thankyou Liz . Your tips have taught me a lot
Hi Liz,
I have a query, which one is correct in the below words
Organizing
Organising
Thanks,
Pavan
1. US spelling
2. UK spelling
both are correct
Thanks Liz your tip has taught me a lot
Hi Liz,
I just had a course for Ielts, they told me that now they do not take points or mark a question as wrong if you forget the capital letters. They are not part of the score.
Is that correct?
Thank you, your lessons are very helpful
IT is always best to write your answers for reading and listening using all capital letters.
Thank you Liz for your videos. I have one question. You spelled Hilary with one L, will I be marked wrong if I spell HI(LL)ARY and MITCHE(LL)
If the spelling or name is not common, any differences will be highlighted for you or the name will be spelled completely. If it is a usual common name with usual spelling, it probably won’t be spelled.
Thank you very much Liz. I improve each time I watch your lecture videos.
You’re the best IELTS tutor.I’m proud of you.God bless you.
I fully agree, just I am a little disappointed not having found you before and just 2 weeks my IELTS test occurs, but hopefully it won’t be too late!!!!
Thanks
The lesson was very Educative. I learnt new things. Thanks
Dear Liz,
When one has to write a title like Mr.,
Should we write it with a dot following Mr or just Mr
Mr. Vikas Or Mr Vikas
The dot is optional.
Thanks for give information
Thank you so much it was very helpful ,
You are wonderful!
I love you lesson a lot,
Thanks so much.
very useful
Hi!
Thank you Miss Liz, indeed your lesson is worth watching and learning. God bless!
It’s very very useful.I never heard these instructions even from my paid course trainer.
God bless you.
Hello Liz ,
This is very useful .
Thanks !
Hi Liz,
I find this tips very useful. Would love to have more of this tips. Thank you
There are 300 pages on free tips and lessons on this site. Go to the HOME page and learn how to find them.
very usueful many thanks
your great teacher
Hi Liz
thanks once again for your devotion to teaching IELTS
having watched your video on IELTS listening: English Names, may I know whether dots will be required to separate initil=als as in ‘JK Rowling’?
Dots are optional.
super! thanks Liz.
Thank you so much teacher Liz
You are a great teacher of ielts. I watch all your YouTube videos and follow all tips which are working in my every module…..Thanks Liz
Found this very useful, please I don’t mind have more of it to practice.
Thanks Liz.
Hi Liz,
I have always followed your videos. One thing I want to know is that in IELTS listening “CV Hotspot” is considered as three words or two words. I had given the test on 1 st November, 2018, in which they asked to write answers in two words only. I wrote hotspot because I thought CV are two Alphabets. Is it correct or CV hotspot would have been correct.
I have never seen any instructions where they ask you to write two words. The instructions are always “two words and/or a number(numbers)”. The letters CV count for one word – you can see they are together.
Hello Liz
Thank you so much for the test, I took the test and I got all correct. However I have a number of questions I would like to ask
Firstly, I noticed you didn’t put a full stop at the end of the Mr, but you did put a full stop at the end of Dr.
I did put a full stop at the end of mine (Mr. , Mrs.) is this in anyway wrong and would I be marked wrong in the real IELTS exam
Secondly, I noticed the initials you wrote was J.k. with a small letter “k”. The second letter in the initials does it have to be a small letter or a capital letter. And I also noticed the full stop at the back of the “k” is it necessary for one to put the full stop?
In your test, you should be consistent with your dots after a title. You ether use them or don’t use them – choose one. That was actually a capital “K” – my writing isn’t clear.
Thank you, Liz, you are a new ray of hope for me please keep on doing this thank you a lot. with a lot of good wishes.
Hello Mam,
The above video for names was done in 2014 where in tips you place emphasis on capital letters to be used careful. Now I see on your website updated in 2017, you have mentioned we can go with all capital letters for listening and reading. Kindly confirm about use of capital letters and on my observations.
Thanks,
Vinayak N
It is fine to use all capital letters for your answers for both listening and reading.
Thanks Liz
Thanks..wanted to ask about this
Thank you very much Liz!! I am learning a lot from your videos
You’re a stunning teacher…
I would like to ask a question, can I capitalize all the letters of the name or only the first one, in case I’m using all capital letters in all my writing.
Thanks in advance
If you use all capital letters, it means each letter is capital. They will ALL BE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Avoid using all capital letters for the writing test.
Hi Liz,
I see in your comment above you have mentioned to avoid using all capital letters for writing. However other comments below you have recommended to use all capital letters for writing and reading test. I am confused now.
I recommended using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS FOR LISTENING AND READING – NOT WRITING.
I got all correct.
It was very useful,Liz thanks so much.Please i need more lessons on this too
Hi Liz,
Thank you very much for your useful tips around all sections in lELTS. I apologize to ask this repeated question but just wanted to clarify regarding the use of capital letters v/s small letters. It is fine to right everything in small letters for both listening and reading section right as long as Names or Proper nouns start with capital letter?
It is best to use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS FOR LISTENING AND READING.
Thank you so much for your marvelous site!
But I’m very confused about using capital letters in listening and reading tests!
at the top of this page you wrote: “UPDATE 2017: Capital letters are not marked in …..”
does this mean ALL CAPS is NOT considered correct answer?
It means you don’t have to worry about capital letters. It is good to use all capital letters for your answer.
I wrote ‘Simmon Brambling’ instead of ‘Simon’. Will that be correct?
No, it would be marked wrong.
What of Simeon instead of Simon
They are different names with different pronunciations.
Thank you liz😊
I really love your lesson. Thank you so much!
Hi Liz,
Lovely lesson, absolutely bang on! and cracking
is Dr correct way to write or is Dr. correct way or both are ok? Notice dot in the end
same goes for Mr /Mr. or Mrs /Mrs. etc
There is no requirement to use a dot. It’s completely your personal choice.
Hi Ma’am Thank you for the tips. Just want to know, in the answer no. 4 is it correct to write J K Rowling instead of J k Rowling.
Waiting for your reply
It is a capital letter in the video – my poor handwriting!
Than you Mam for the names listening. If it is possible to send more listening i am happy to practice all the excerise.
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-listening/
Hi Liz,
I am a bit confused, do you mean that i can write all my answers either they are names or not in capital letters?
Also do you mean all the word in capital letters or only the first letter.
thanks a lot!
It is recommended to write ALL YOUR ANSWERS USING CAPITAL LETTERS FOR LISTENING AND READING.
Hello mam,
Is this right if i write MR. SEAN FERGUS?
Yes.
Hi Mam .. thankyou so much for sharing so useful content regarding ielts.
I wrote all answers of listening and reading in CAPS and got 8 in both.
Hey Liz,
first of all thank you very much providing us with your amazing videos. Unfortunately, I have only one week to study so I am very depending on your videos.
I have read in another comment that it is allowed to write words in capital letters. Now I am wondering if it´s going to be marked when I write the answers of the listening part in capital letters while the answers of the reading part not.
Thank you for your help.
It is recommended to write ALL ANSWERS FOR BOTH LISTENING AND READING IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
You mentioned that we must stay with our choice! Is that about listening answers or reading answers or both together? In other words, would it be wrong if I write ALL the answers for listening in capital but ALL the answers for reading in lowercase?
Why would you choose that? Write all your answers for listening and reading with capital letters.
Thanks for your reply.
Just because it usually takes more time to write words in capital letters as we are not used to it.
For the listening test, you have 10 mins to transfer your answers – that is plenty of time using capital letters. For reading, using capital letters means you will be careful when you copy words from the passage to the answer sheet.
Hello ma
Please am to write my IELTS on may 19th and am yet to start practice,i dont want to attend any classes, just want to follow your tutorials online and pass…. Have gone through most of your you tube class and was amazing and i also subscribed with you…… Please how do i go about this with you? I barely have 3weeks and few days, i want to get band 7 or above please
Waiting for your reply, Thanks alot Ma
There are over 300 pages of tips, lessons, model answers etc on this website for free – have you completed all of them? If not, click on the red bar at the top of the website.
You are one of the my besr teacher who I have in my life. Thanks alot Liz🌷🌷🌷🌷
Hi maam i would like to ask if i spell John Smith as JOHN SMITH would that be also correct? Thank you.
This has been answered before. Please read other comments.
Thank you Liz
Thank you for your work.
I just wanted to say you are wonderful!! Thanks for everything.
Lmao
I spelled J.K Rowland instead of rowling
Thank you Teacher Liz I really admire learning on your website it cleared my mind.
Thanks
Hi,I enjoyed the practise video for name. I would like to receive more video.
Hi,
That’s so kind of you to share all this info with us.
How important is Hyphen and spacing in IELTS? I mean that once for example I wrote “keep fit” instead of “keep-fit” or I wrote “new town” instead of “Newtown” or similary, “door to door” instead of “door-to-door” and “bankroad” instead of “bank road”. I’m getting confused. Would you please help me with it? Thank you.
This is about learning compound nouns. Some are written as one word, some as two words and some using a hyphen. You need to learn the list. You can google this online.
Thank you liz..
I can see that in the video .. capital letters are not marked??
What does it mean?
you mean the capital letters at the beginning of the names??
My recommendation is that you use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS FOR LISTENING AND READING.
thank you its really useful ,i loved.
Hi Liz
I have a question
If I write J K Rowling instead of J.K.Rowling is it correct?Both are correct? or I have to use a full stop at initials?
It is not necessary to use the dots.
Hi Liz ,
Thanks a lot for your help and your very useful website
I’ve a Q
in terms of listening section, if I wrote the half of the correct answer, will it be right?
Ex : if the correct answer is( global temperature) and I write (temperature) , am I right ??
also in the common names question , the people say their full name but spells only their first name and I wrote the first name is it right?
Ex : in the audio he said ” Hi, I’m Kevin Smith , k-e-v-i-n ” so i wrote in the answer only Kevin …is it right??
It is the first time for me to study for IELTS , hope to complete
Your answer is either 100% correct or it is wrong. There are no half points awarded in listening. If you are asked for a name, you must write the full name.
I’m not sure if I should post it in here. Could you confirm if the questions/answers for listening comes in order as the record is played?
The questions will come in the order of their numbers. Question 1 first, question 2 second etc.
Thank you Liz,
Well I actually wanted to know if the answers for the questions comes in the order as the recording is played.
Eg. Answer for question 1 comes in the first part of the recording and answer for the last question of section comes in the last part of the recording.
In the IELTS listening test, the answers will follow the order of the questions.
hello Liz u so good & nice thanks for creating these videos
hi Liz can we use all capital letters or not ?
YES.
hi
can i use all capitals ?
J.K.ROWLING?
Yes. Sorry my writing isn’t clear.
Liz,
Thanks for the video session. I found it very useful and insightful. Kudos!
Thanks for very much for the videos , it is really fruitful videos
Would you please post another videos for common names ?
and
Regarding Initial I noticed there is a dot between initial letter like J.K. ,so is it a must to put dot after Dr. what Sir and others ?
You can use a dot or not use a dot – as you wish.
See my main listening page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-listening/
can we right all the answers with capital letters in listening and reading
Yes – I recommend it.
Hello Mam…. your way of teaching is awesome and your voice is melodious….i daily watch your lessons…Mam i have a problem in reading…how can I improve my reading?
See the tips on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-reading-lessons-information-and-tips/
Do i have to write the full stops when writing for example J.K: ? If yes, shoul I write them in space ?
The dots are not necessary.
I have a question. When IELTS spell the name, if they say “wt”, sometimes it is spelled “wt”, but can be “tt”. How can I tell the difference ?
“w” is pronounced “double you”. So, “WT” is pronounced “double you tee”. But “TT” is pronounced “double tee”. Can you see the difference?
thanks ,alot its very helpful tips and exercise as well
i appreciate all the efforts
thanku so much gorgeous lady
hi liz
Is it correct to write only JK instead of J.K.
Sure. You don’t need to use dots. I use them sometimes just to make it easier to read.
Hi liz
I’m falling in love with your lesson .It was beyond my idea that how a person teach tough things such a easiest way. Its really awesome. I always got afraid about IELTS. But now I’m getting little bit courage after watching your lesson. Thanks a lot.
Thank you very much for ur video tips.
How should I Write titles before name – Mr Mrs Miss Ms or Mr. Mrs. Miss. Ms. ? which one is correct?
How should I write initials before name – J K or J.K. or J.K ? which one is correct?
You don’t need to use a dot at all.
Too interesting. Simply amazing to listen and too clear to understand.
Thanks.
Very useful! I got 5.Thank u so much.
Hi Liz,
The lesson was really helpful You have touched on the areas where I usually take for granted, now I realized how important they are during the exams.
cheers,
Mary