"No More Than Two Words and/or a Number" Explained
Quick answer: "No more than two words and/or a number" means your answer can be one word, two words, a number, or up to two words plus a number. Writing three words makes the answer wrong, even if the meaning is right. A hyphenated word such as "check-in" counts as one word, and a number written in digits counts as the number. The same rule applies in Listening and Reading.
Last updated: 29 October 2026. Facts checked: 29 October 2026
What does the instruction mean exactly?
In completion questions in Listening and Reading, IELTS tells you the maximum length of your answer. The ielts.org Reading format page gives "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER" as an example and says you will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit.
"And/or" means the number is optional and can be added to the words. Read in the usual way, these are all allowed:
| Answer shape | Example | Allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| One word | library | Yes |
| Two words | science museum | Yes |
| A number | 45 | Yes |
| One word and a number | 45 minutes | Yes |
| Two words and a number | 12 Green Street | Yes |
| Three words | the science museum | No, over the limit |
ielts.org does not publish a list of every combination, so the table shows the standard reading of the instruction. If you can give the answer in fewer words, do. Shorter is always safer.
What are the official counting rules?
- Over the limit means wrong. ielts.org says you lose the mark for writing more than the word limit.
- Hyphenated words count as one. The ielts.org Listening format page gives "check-in" as an example of a single word.
- Contractions are not tested. The ielts.org Reading format page says contracted words such as "they're" will not be tested, so you will not need to decide whether one counts as one word or two.
- Numbers in digits count as a number. Writing "15" rather than "fifteen" keeps it clearly in the "number" part of the limit.
- The limit can change. ielts.org advises reading the instructions carefully, because the number of words allowed can change from one set of questions to the next.
What other word limits will I see?
| Instruction | What you can write |
|---|---|
| ONE WORD ONLY | Exactly one word. No numbers. |
| ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER | One word, a number, or one word and a number. |
| A NUMBER | Only a number. |
| NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS | One or two words. A number written as a word counts as a word. |
| NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER | Up to three words, plus a number if needed. |
Worked examples: is this answer allowed?
All examples below are original. The instruction for each is NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
1. Sentence: "Guests must check out before ______." Text: "...rooms must be vacated by 11 in the morning."
"11 am" is a number plus one word, so it is allowed. "11 in the morning" is a number plus three words, so it is wrong.
2. Sentence: "The new centre will open in ______." Text: "...the doors will open to the public in early spring next year."
"early spring" (two words) is allowed. "early spring next year" (four words) is wrong.
3. Sentence: "The ______ is free for students." Text: "...a well-equipped gym is available at no cost to anyone with a student card."
"well-equipped gym" counts as two words (the hyphenated word is one), so it is allowed. "gym" alone is also allowed and safer.
4. Sentence: "Tickets cost ______ for adults." Text: "...adult tickets are twenty-five pounds."
"25 pounds" fits (a number plus one word). "twenty-five pounds" is two words (one hyphenated word plus "pounds"), which also fits. "£25" is a common choice, but see the grey areas below. Digits are the clearest option.
5. Sentence: "Visitors are advised to wear ______." Text: "...comfortable, waterproof walking boots are essential."
"walking boots" is allowed. "waterproof walking boots" is three words, so it is wrong, even though it is accurate.
Are there any grey areas?
Yes, a few. We could not find a clear official statement on these, so we will not guess:
- Currency symbols and units such as "£" or "km". Many candidates write "£25" and treat it as a number, but ielts.org does not say how symbols and units are counted.
- Dates such as "15 March" or "15/03". The public pages do not explain how dates are counted.
- Compound words written as two words such as "bus stop". These normally count as two words, because only hyphenated words are described as single words.
The safe approach is simple: use the fewest words that give the full meaning, and copy the format used in the question when one is shown.
Common mistakes with word limits
- Repeating words from the sentence. If the sentence already says "the", do not write "the" again in the gap.
- Adding articles. "a map" uses two words where "map" alone may be enough.
- Copying a whole phrase. Pick the key noun or noun phrase, not the full description.
- Forgetting grammar. The answer must fit the sentence. Check singular and plural.
- Spelling errors. A correct word misspelled is still wrong. See our spelling rules guide.
Practise now: Practise word limits on real-style questions: Academic Reading Test 1, General Training Reading Test 1 and Listening Test 1. Check each answer against the instruction before you move on.
Frequently asked questions
What does no more than two words and/or a number mean in IELTS?
It means your answer can be one or two words, a number, or up to two words plus a number. Three or more words make the answer wrong.
Does a number count as a word in IELTS?
Under an and/or a number instruction, a number written in digits counts as the number, not as one of the words. Under a words-only limit, a number written as a word counts as a word.
Is a hyphenated word one word or two?
One word. The ielts.org format pages give check-in as an example of a hyphenated word that counts as a single word.
What happens if I write more than the word limit?
You lose the mark for that question, even if the content is correct. ielts.org states this on its Listening and Reading format pages.
Do articles like a and the count as words?
Yes. Articles are words, so they count towards the limit. Leave them out if the sentence already includes them or if they push you over the limit.
Does the word limit rule apply in both Listening and Reading?
Yes. Both the Listening and Reading format pages on ielts.org use the same type of instruction and the same rule about losing the mark for exceeding the limit.