IELTS Tips: How to Write Numbers - Part 2

Today we’ll learn more about how to communicate different types of numbers and measurements that are used in everyday life. This is an efficient review on how to express phrases using numbers during the IELTS test.

This article was originally published in https://ielts.idp.com

Hearing difference between numbers

Quantities that end in -teen and -ty are used often when it comes to numbers such as age, year, and just counting how many.  

Hearing the difference between, for example, 13 and 30, is a necessity as they have similar ending sounds. The best way to hear the difference is to note the syllable stress. The last syllable ‘teen’ is stressed, whereas ‘ty’ is often unstressed.  

13 – 30: thirteen - thirty 

14 – 40: fourteen - forty 

15 – 50: fifteen - fifty 

16 – 60: sixteen - sixty 

17 – 70: seventeen - seventy 

18 – 80: eighteen - eighty 

19 – 90: nineteen - ninety

How to write currency

Dollars ($) and pounds (£) are the two most commonly used types of currency in IELTS. 

You can choose to write currency as: 

  • Words (e.g ‘dollars’ or ‘pounds’)

  • Currency symbols (e.g. $ or £) 

When listening to amounts, numbers can be said in different ways. As correct spelling is important in the Listening test, a good tip is to write the numeral you hear, rather than writing the complete word. For example: 

  • $4.50 = Four dollars fifty cents

  • £4.50 = Four pound fifty pence

How to write measurements

You may hear different measurements in your test. For example, you might hear measurements as: 

  • Centimetres  

  • Kilometres 

  • Kilograms  

You can abbreviate the word when writing these measurements as numbers. For example, you can write 60 kilometres as: 

  • Sixty kilometres 

  • 60 kilometres 

  • 60 km  

  • 60 kms 

All the forms mentioned above are correct ways to write measurements. While you can write numbers in all the above formats, it is best to avoid writing the numbers out as words to avoid spelling mistakes. Write in the number form instead. 

How to write dates

Dates can be written in a variety of ways. You can use the number or word form, as well as abbreviate days of the week or months of the year. For example: 

  • March 5th 

  • Mar 5th  

  • 5th of Mar  

  • 03/05  

  • 5/3 

Be careful with ordinal numbers. Most ordinal numbers end with ‘th’ except for: 

  • 1st (first) 

  • 2nd (second) 

  • 3rd (third) 

  • 4th (fourth) 

  • 5th (fifth) 

 If you write, for example, 2th, this will be marked as incorrect as the correct format is 2nd. 

How to write time

Although times can be said differently, it is generally written in the same way. When writing time, make sure you know what quarter past, quarter to, and half past mean. For example:  

  • 6:45 = Six forty-five OR Quarter to seven 

  • 6:15 = Six fifteen OR Quarter past six 

  • 6:30 = Six thirty OR Half past six 

How to write telephone and credit card numbers

There are a few things to remember with a sequence of numbers, especially in telephone or credit card numbers.  

A 0 (zero) can sometimes be called ‘O’, like the letter. Also, the same number twice or three times in a row may be referred to as double or triple. For example: 

  • 2450 - 7762 - 3338 = Double seven/ Triple three 

  • 03 9658 9914 = ‘O’ three / Double nine 

Numbers can feel unimportant, but they play an important role in the English language, and your IELTS test. Make sure you can write and say them correctly in order to get the best possible score.

Practice reading, writing, speaking and listening for these different number formats when preparing for your IELTS test, and remember them for your test day.

Munveer D