🎧 IELTS Listening: Spelling and Pronunciation Master List (2026 Edition)
When it comes to the IELTS Listening test, one of the biggest reasons candidates lose marks is incorrect spelling or pronunciation confusion.
Even if you understand the audio perfectly, a single misspelled word can cost you your band score.
To help you fix that, here’s a complete word list from IELTS w/ Masters – Spelling & Pronunciation Practice Sheets — covering 15 practice sets with hundreds of frequently used IELTS words.
📘 Why Spelling and Pronunciation Matter in IELTS Listening
In the Listening test, you’ll often hear words that sound similar but mean different things — or words that are difficult to spell under pressure.
Examples:
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“Erosion” vs “Erosion”
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“Counsel” vs “Council”
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“Volcanic” vs “Volcano”
Even native speakers mix these up! Practicing them in context helps you recognize patterns and write confidently.
🔹 Listening – Spelling and Pronunciation Practice Sets
Set 1
Key Words: Ambition, Innovation, Achievement, Erosion, Theme, Genre, Grant, Entry, Gene
👉 Focus: Academic nouns used in research, education, and development contexts.
Set 2
Key Words: Hearing-aid, Ladder, Work, Bedsit, Accommodation, Predator, Insulation, Mature, Concrete
👉 Focus: Daily life and general training vocabulary.
Set 3
Key Words: Council, Weather, Consultant, Harbor, Volcanic, Shark, Mineral
👉 Focus: Public administration and environmental terms.
Set 4
Key Words: Approximate, Analysis, Athletic, Assessment, Bracelet, Campus, Lounge, Volunteer, Attitude
👉 Focus: Academic and university environment terms.
Set 5
Key Words: Checkbook, Colleague, Literate, Career, Conservation, Contemporary, Cooperative, Continent
👉 Focus: Work and employment vocabulary.
Set 6
Key Words: Receive, Receipt, Minister, Funding, Species, Glacier, Real-Estate, Reception
👉 Focus: Government, business, and environment-related terms.
Set 7
Key Words: Hall, Handout, Offshore, Piracy, Scratch, Northern, Assistance, Ornamental
👉 Focus: Academic and geographical terms.
Set 8
Key Words: Voucher, Nursery, Vegetarian, Discipline, Diagnosis, Overdue, Curtain, Thought, Injury
👉 Focus: Everyday and health-related vocabulary.
Set 9
Key Words: Status Symbol, Warehouse, Methodology, Submarine, Thesis, Priority, Poisonous
👉 Focus: Academic and research-based vocabulary.
Set 10
Key Words: Garage, Frigid, Souvenir, Bilingual, Schedule, Seismic, Uphill
👉 Focus: Travel, geography, and study-related words.
Set 11
Key Words: Crystal, Battery, Transmitter, Crown, Gridlock, Tutorial, Guidance
👉 Focus: Technology and education terms.
Set 12
Key Words: Habitat, Dimension, Questionnaire, Poetry, Pottery, Illegal, Courage, Withdraw
👉 Focus: Academic and environment vocabulary.
Set 13
Key Words: Patch, Submission, Storey, Clothing, Pesticide, Welfare, Commercial, Insecticide
👉 Focus: Architecture and general science.
Set 14
Key Words: Leather, Journalism, Cathedral, Scholarship, Olive, Immune, Encyclopedia
👉 Focus: Art, media, and academic expressions.
Set 15
Key Words: Pricey, Tension, Crisis, Route, Vocation, Continent, Occasion, Embarrassed
👉 Focus: General vocabulary and emotional tone words.
🧠 How to Practice Effectively
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Listen & Write: Play IELTS audios and write these words to improve spelling under time pressure.
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Speak Aloud: Say each word clearly and note where pronunciation differs from spelling.
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Test Yourself: Use flashcards — hide the spelling and try to recall it from sound.
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Repeat Daily: Spelling improvement happens through repetition and consistency.
📈 Pro Tip:
“In IELTS Listening, your ear catches the sound, but your hand must spell it right — that’s where most candidates lose half a band!”
🏁 Final Thoughts
These IELTS Listening – Spelling & Pronunciation Lists are your ready-made practice bank to avoid careless mistakes.
Mastering them can easily add 0.5 to 1.0 Band to your score.
Start today. Consistency beats luck. Every correct spelling is one step closer to your Band 8 dream. 💪
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