Why practise numbers separately?
An otherwise clear interpretation can change the message if $1,450 becomes $1,540, or Thursday becomes Tuesday. Practising these details in short sentences helps you isolate the problem before adding a full dialogue. These are original study exercises, not official or recalled NAATI questions.
NAATI assesses communication through deductions for errors. It does not publish a rule that every incorrect digit loses the same number of marks. Use the official assessment overview for the marking framework. The checklist below measures your practice accuracy; it is not an examiner rubric.
A 15-minute routine with a partner
- Ask a partner to read one source sentence at a natural pace while you take brief notes.
- Interpret it aloud without looking at the written answer. Record your first response.
- Compare the amount, unit, date, condition and negative with the source.
- Write one error category in your log: hearing, notation, conversion or delivery.
- Try a fresh sentence with a different number. Review the old example later.
When working alone, record the source sentences beforehand and shuffle the recordings so you are not just reciting the line you have read. Use short controlled drills first, then apply the same habit to unseen dialogue practice.
Drill 1: Amounts and payment intervals
| Source | Suggested interpretation | Detail to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| The rent is $475 a week, and the bond is $1,900. | Sewanya 475 dolar per minggu, dan uang jaminannya 1.900 dolar. | Weekly rent and a separate bond |
| Biayanya 85 dolar, tetapi Anda hanya perlu membayar 20 dolar hari ini. | The fee is 85 dollars, but you only need to pay 20 dollars today. | Full fee versus payment today |
| The balance is $1,250.50, payable by Friday. | Sisa yang harus dibayar adalah 1.250 dolar 50 sen, paling lambat hari Jumat. | Dollars, cents and deadline |
Be alert to English and Indonesian number separators. In these examples, English “1,250.50” and Indonesian “1.250,50” represent the same amount. Write digits in whatever consistent format you read reliably, then say the correct value and currency aloud.
Drill 2: Dates and times
| Source | Suggested interpretation | Detail to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| Your appointment is on 12 November at 9:15 am. | Janji temu Anda tanggal 12 November pukul 09.15. | Date and morning time |
| Silakan datang 15 menit sebelum janji temu pukul dua siang. | Please arrive 15 minutes before your 2 pm appointment. | Arrival instruction versus appointment time |
| The next payment is due on the third of December. | Pembayaran berikutnya jatuh tempo pada tanggal 3 Desember. | Payment deadline |
Do not add a year, a time zone or a weekday that the speaker did not give. For an arrival instruction, preserve both the interval and the appointment time instead of replacing the message with your own calculated arrival time.
Drill 3: Negatives and conditions
Source: “You do not need to pay today unless you want the express service.” Suggested Indonesian: “Anda tidak perlu membayar hari ini kecuali jika Anda menginginkan layanan ekspres.” Check that you preserved both the negative and its exception.
Source: “Jika dokumennya belum lengkap, permohonan Anda belum bisa diproses.” Suggested English: “If the documents are not yet complete, your application cannot be processed yet.” Rendering this as a final rejection would change the status.
Short notes might read “NO pay today / unless express” or “docs incomplete → cannot process yet.” Compare these with your personal shorthand system and keep the version you can read quickly.
A self-review log you can reuse
| Source detail | My first response | Next drill |
|---|---|---|
| Number and unit | Write what you actually said | Vary only the amount |
| Date or time | Record any change or omission | Contrast morning and afternoon |
| Negative or exception | Check whether it survived | Contrast must, may and must not |
| Status | Pending, approved or refused? | Vary the status in a new sentence |
Accurate alternatives to the model wording are acceptable. Review meaning rather than matching every word. Once the details are stable, move to two-dialogue practice and check whether you still preserve them while switching languages. Automated feedback can flag possible issues, but verify them against the source yourself.
Sources and update
Updated . Independent study material by Indonesian NAATI. Not affiliated with NAATI. Rules may change; check the official sources before booking.