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Old 13-Jan-2007, 16:00
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Default Using Capital Letters in IELTS

I just took the IELTS exam today. Although I think that the most answers I gave to the listening section were correct, something worries me a lot.
I know that you must write the first letter of some specific words like the name of countries in capital letters (e.g.; England) in the answer sheet, but I’m wondering that if you used capital letters for other words in this manner, it would be considered wrong? For example if is the answer is "red meat" or "fieldwork" and you write them as "Red Meat or Red meat" and " Fieldwork" will test markers consider them wrong answerers. I'm very worried about it because some of my answerers are written in this style and there was nothing about it in the instructions written in the exam booklet.
Does anyone know the answere?
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Old 13-Jan-2007, 22:32
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Default Re: Using Capital Letters in IELTS

capital letters should only be used for proper nouns. (oops and the beginning of sentences)The exception being in a heading when some capitals are acceptable. Whether or not they will frown upon it is something you will have to wait and see. Why did you feel the need to capitalise?

Last edited by curmudgeon; 13-Jan-2007 at 22:37. Reason: uncapitalsing
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Old 14-Jan-2007, 06:04
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Default Re: Using Capital Letters in IELTS

In exams, where they are looking for information, then there should be no problem.
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Old 17-Jan-2007, 16:45
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Default Re: Using Capital Letters in IELTS

Thanks every body for their replys. I asked the same question from the IELT center and they answred me as thr following:

"Dear Sir or Madam

You may use either upper or lower case on your answer sheet. You will
not be penalised for how you write an answer provided it is spelt
correctly.

You are not, in fact, required to use upper case for proper nouns,
although it is obviously good practice to get into this habit.

I hope that this answers your question sufficiently.

Regards

IELTS Exams Administrator
Cambridge ESOL
www.ielts.org"
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 19:17
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Default Re: Using Capital Letters in IELTS

I contacted Cambridge Test Center for the certain answer and as it may be the question of many others I put their answer here.

"Dear Sir or Madam

You may use either upper or lower case on your answer sheet. You will
not be penalised for how you write an answer provided it is spelt
correctly.

You are not, in fact, required to use upper case for proper nouns,
although it is obviously good practice to get into this habit.

I hope that this answers your question sufficiently.

Regards

IELTS Exams Administrator
Cambridge ESOL
www.ielts.org"
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