How do I tell thirteen and thirty apart?
Check numbers that sound alike against the context of the question.
2 min read · Updated 10/23/2026
The key idea
With pairs like thirteen/thirty and fourteen/forty, pay attention to the end of the word: -teen ends in a long /iːn/ with a clearly audible n, -ty in a short /ti/. Don't rely on stress: before a noun it can shift (FIFteen POUNDS).
First work out what the question asks for: an age, a price, a room number or a phone number? Then check the number you heard against that context.
The speaker may make a number clear by repeating it or by comparing it. Don't write down a number you didn't actually hear just because it “seems logical”.
See an example
Example: The group has thirty students, not thirteen.
The last part makes the answer clear by rejecting the number that sounds similar.
Question: Number of students: ___
Answer: 30. Because the number of students is what is asked for, there is no need to write the extra word students.
Now you try
Listening practice
Computer narration for practice. Listen first, then open the transcript.
Listen to the audio. Write A NUMBER in each gap.
- Number of places: ___
- Price for one session: £___
Write the two numbers down in the order you hear them, and be clear about what each one refers to.
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Show transcript
Show transcript
There are thirty places in the class. That is thirty, not thirteen. Each session costs thirteen pounds.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
- 30 — the number of places in the group.
- 13 — the price of one session.
Even if the numbers in your notes are right, swapping their places makes the answers wrong. That is why it is important to look at the headings number of places and price before listening.
How do I note down names and codes?
Official sources for this topic
IELTS · Listening