Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
The expert answer
Asked whether abbreviations are allowed in Listening answers, IDP expert Rocco Nigro said you can with measurements (writing '1km' instead of '1 kilometre'), but regular words should be written in their full form, and spelling is important (IDP Community).
What IDP accepts
Collected from IDP's guides to numbers (IDP) and number punctuation (IDP).
| Type of answer | Short form IDP accepts |
|---|---|
| Measurements | 60 km, 60 kms, 1km |
| Months in dates | Mar 5th, 5th of Mar |
| Morning and afternoon | 9.30 a.m., 9:30am, 9:30AM |
| Money | $ or £ instead of dollars or pounds |
| Ordinary words (street, avenue, professor) | No: write in full |
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Why not shorten everything?
Answers are marked right or wrong, and IDP says spelling errors are marked incorrect (IDP). An informal short form of an ordinary word, such as "St" for street or "Prof" for professor, is not covered by the IDP guidance, so the safe choice is the full word. IDP lists street, avenue and professor among words to practise spelling for Listening (IDP).
Frequently asked questions
Can I write km instead of kilometres?+
Yes. IDP accepts 60 km and 60 kms as well as the full word.
Can I write 'St' for street?+
IDP's guidance says regular words should be written in full, so write street.
Can I use $ instead of 'dollars'?+
Yes. IDP says you can write the currency as a word or a symbol.
Can I shorten months in dates?+
Yes. IDP lists Mar 5th and 5th of Mar as acceptable.
Keep reading
Related
- How to write numbers in IELTS Listening
- How to write dates and times in IELTS Listening
- Can you write in capital letters in IELTS?
- All 3112 guides
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