IELTS Listening Table Completion: How to Fill Tables Quickly

Quick Answer: Table Completion questions test your ability to extract specific information from a recording and organise it into a table. To fill tables quickly, focus on predicting the type of information needed (dates, names, numbers, etc.), skim the table before the recording starts, and listen for signposting language. Practice writing in capital letters or your neatest handwriting to save time and avoid errors.

Table of Contents

Understanding Table Completion Tasks

Key Strategies for Speed and Accuracy

Predicting the Answers Before Listening

Listening for Signposts and Keywords

Writing Quickly and Accurately

Band Score Comparison Table

Understanding Table Completion Tasks

Table Completion appears in Sections 1 and 4 of the IELTS Listening test. You receive a table with missing words or numbers, and your task is to fill the gaps as you listen. The table organises information clearly – often with headings like Name, Date, Price, or Location – making it easier to anticipate what you need.

The recording is played once only, so you cannot afford to get distracted. Many test takers panic when they miss an answer, but with the right approach, you can stay calm and keep up.

Key features of table completion:

Usually 2–4 words or a number per gap.

The answers appear in order in the recording.

The table may have rows and columns; always check the headings to understand the structure.

Spelling and word form must match the table context (e.g., a name might be capitalised, a price might include currency symbol or decimal).

Key Strategies for Speed and Accuracy

Before we dive into specific steps, here are the core strategies that will help you fill tables quickly:

Use the 30-second preparation time wisely. Read the entire table, not just the first row. Understand the relationship between columns.

Predict the word type or format for each gap. Is it a date? A name? A number? A noun? This narrows down what you listen for.

Keep your pen moving. Write in short forms or use abbreviations you understand, then write the full answer later if needed.

Focus on keywords in the recording that match the table headings. The speaker will often paraphrase.

Don’t dwell on a missed answer. Move to the next gap immediately – missing one is better than missing two.

Predicting the Answers Before Listening

Prediction is the most powerful time-saver. When the recording says “You now have 30 seconds to look at the questions,” don’t just glance at the table – analyse it.

How to predict effectively:

Look at column headings. For example, if a column is “Address”, you expect a street name, house number, or postcode. If it’s “Cost”, expect a price (e.g., £45 or $120).

Examine row labels. In a table about a museum tour, rows might be “Adult”, “Child”, “Senior”. The answer for “Child” might be a reduced ticket price.

Check for word limits. The instructions often say “Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER”. This tells you how much you need to write – avoid extra words.

Think of synonyms. If the table says “Departure Time”, listen for words like “leaves at”, “departs”, “starts”.

Look for patterns. Tables often repeat similar information (e.g., every row has a time, a place, a cost). The pattern helps you anticipate the next missing item.

Example: Table heading: “Course Details” Columns: Course Name, Duration, Fee Row 1: “Intermediate French” – “10 weeks” – “£200” Row 2: “Advanced Italian” – ??? – “£250”

You can predict that the missing entry is a duration (probably a number followed by “weeks” or “months”). When you hear “Advanced Italian lasts 8 weeks”, you know the answer is 8 weeks.

Listening for Signposts and Keywords

The speaker will give clues that a table answer is coming. These signposts help you stay on track.

Common signposting language:

“Now let’s move to the next row…”

“The first item is…”

“Under ‘Location’ we have…”

“For the children’s ticket, it’s…”

“Regarding the cost…”

“We also need to note that…”

“The opening hours on weekdays are…”

Keywords are words that match the table content or the table labels. For instance, if the table column is Facilities, listen for words like “swimming pool”, “gym”, “car park”. The speaker may not say “facilities” but will mention examples. How to use them:

Underline key words in the table before listening.

When you hear a signpost, immediately move your pen to the correct row/column.

If you hear a number, write it down even if you aren’t 100% sure which gap it belongs to – you can decide later.

Writing Quickly and Accurately

Speed is useless without accuracy. Many candidates miss easy marks because they rush and make spelling mistakes or omit a word.

Tips for writing quickly:

Use all capital letters. IELTS Listening answers can be in upper or lower case – but capital letters are easier to read when you write fast.

Abbreviate during the recording. Write “Feb” for February, “St” for Street, “NB” for Number. After the recording, you can change them to full forms if time permits.

Don’t worry about neatness. As long as the answer is legible, it will be marked. Scribble down the raw information first.

Write only the required words. If the instruction says “ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER”, don’t add extra words like “the” or “a”.

Check spelling for common words. Dates like “30th June” – always write “30 June” without “th” if the table shows that format. Follow the table’s existing pattern.

Common pitfalls:

Writing “Library” when the table shows “Library” in the heading – but the answer might be “Libary” (misspelled). Be careful.

Adding unnecessary articles: e.g., the table says “___ Room” and you write “the Meeting”. The correct answer is “Meeting” only.

Band Score Comparison Table

Band	What Examiner Wants
6	Can follow the main points but makes some errors – misses some answers, writes wrong word types or mishears numbers. Handwriting may be unclear at times.
7	Generally accurate with most answers. Predicts word types correctly and captures most answers in order. Minor spelling mistakes or extra words may occur.
8	Almost all answers correct. Uses prediction effectively, maintains speed, and rarely misses a gap. Spelling is accurate and follows table format.
9	Flawless performance. Predicts every gap type, catches all signposts, writes quickly with perfect legibility. No errors in spelling or word limits.

Sample Answers

Band 7: Table: "Accommodation Options" – Row 2: Cottage, column Price per week: "£450" (correct) but wrote "450 pounds" instead of "£450". Missed one answer in Row 4 because of distraction. Band 8: Table: "Library Opening Hours" – Row 1: Monday-Friday – 9 am – 8 pm (correct). Row 2: Saturday – 10 am – 5 pm (correct). Wrote "10am" without space, but it's accepted. Slight hesitation on one date but recovered quickly. Band 9: Table: "Course Registration" – Row 3: Materials fee – £35 (correct). Row 4: Room number – 304 (correct). Predicted all word types, wrote in capitals without errors, and finished with time to spare.

Common Mistakes

❌Writing too much. Adding extra words like “the” or “a” when only one word is allowed. Example: Write “Meal” not “the Meal”.

❌Losing focus after a missed answer. Many students freeze after missing one gap and miss the next two.

❌Not reading the table fully before listening. You miss important relationships between columns and guess wrong word types.

❌Ignoring spelling. Even if the pronunciation is clear, you must know how to spell the word (e.g., “accommodation” often misspelled).

❌Writing numbers incorrectly. Failing to add decimal points or currency symbols where shown in the table.

Top Tips

💡 Use the first 30 seconds to draw a mental map of the table. Identify which gaps are easy (numbers) and which need special attention (spelling of names).

💡 If you hear a synonym of a table heading, connect it immediately. For example, if the table says “Price” and the speaker says “cost”, you know the answer is near.

💡 Practice with a timer. Do table completion exercises under exam conditions (only one play) to build your instinct for predicting and writing quickly.

Resources

Check out IELTS Active for practice tests and study materials focusing on Listening table completion. They offer timed exercises and answer keys to refine your strategy.

FAQ

Q: Can I write answers in lower case? A: Yes, IELTS accepts both upper and lower case, but using capital letters throughout can improve legibility and speed. Q: What if I miss an answer? Should I guess? A: Guess based on your prediction. For example, if you know it’s a number, write any number you heard. A guess might be right; an empty space definitely loses a mark. Q: How can I improve my prediction skills? A: Practice by looking at tables from past IELTS papers and writing down what you expect to hear for each gap before listening. Then compare after listening. Q: Are table completion questions always in order? A: Yes, answers appear in the same order as the rows and columns (usually left to right, top to bottom). This helps you track where you are. Q: Should I write the answer exactly as I hear it? A: Yes, but follow the table format. If the table shows “£” you should include the symbol. If the table shows no symbol, don’t add one.

Key Takeaways

✅Predict the word type and format for every gap before the recording starts.

✅Use signposting language to guide your attention to the correct table cell.

✅Write quickly using abbreviations and capitals, then check spelling after the section ends.

✅Never stop after missing an answer – keep moving through the table.

✅Practice regularly with real IELTS listening tests to build speed and accuracy.

Related Posts:

[IELTS Listening Map Labelling: Step-by-Step Strategy]

[How to Improve Your IELTS Listening Score by 1 Band]