What Is Write from Dictation?

You hear a short sentence (spoken once) and must type it exactly as you heard it. Every word, including articles and prepositions, must be correct. This is the highest-scoring item type in the Listening section.

Scoring

Contributes to both Listening and Writing scores. Each correctly spelled word in the right position = 1 point. With 3–4 items and sentences of 8–12 words, this task can be worth 24–48 points total — extremely high value.

Strategy

• Listen to the full sentence first without writing — get the meaning and sentence structure.
• Immediately begin typing. You have enough time if you start right away.
• If you miss a word, use logic and grammar to reconstruct it: “The researchers [verb] that…” — what verb fits?
• Check spelling carefully after typing. Misspelled words score zero.
• Capital letters and punctuation are not penalised, but spelling is.

High-Frequency Words to Practise

• Common academic words: analysis, evidence, significant, previous, population, environment
• Function words: despite, although, throughout, whether, between, among
• Numbers and measurements written as words

Practice Technique

Listen to academic lectures and pause every sentence to write it down. Compare your version to the transcript. Track recurring misspellings and review those words weekly.

Quick Reference

Number of items	3–4 per test
Skills assessed	Listening + Writing
Key requirement	Every word correct, exact spelling