AIL DALI C1 cheat sheet

Skimming yields gist and text type in 30-60 seconds; scanning locates specific data such as dates, names, figures.

Main idea is normally stated in the first or last sentence of a paragraph; supporting details answer who, what, when, where, why, how.

Reference words (it, this, they, the former) point backward to the nearest compatible noun phrase; check number and gender agreement.

Signal words classify structure: however/although = contrast; therefore/thus = consequence; for example = illustration; in addition = addition.

Inference must be supported by textual evidence; a valid answer is implied by the text, never merely plausible in real life.

True/False/Not Given: False contradicts the text; Not Given is absent from the text even if it seems likely.

Vocabulary in context: test the candidate synonym by reinserting it into the sentence and checking grammar and meaning fit.

Distractors often reuse exact words from the passage while reversing or exaggerating the original claim.

Predict content from the question stems and options before audio starts; note expected word class (number, name, verb).

Answers follow the order of the recording in most task types; if two questions pass, abandon the missed item and track the next.

Paraphrase is the norm: the audio rarely repeats the option wording, so match meaning, not surface words.

Numbers, dates and prices are frequent traps: listen for corrections ("actually", "sorry, I meant") that override the first figure.

Distinguish similar-sounding pairs (thirteen/thirty, fifteen/fifty, can/can't) using stress and the final consonant.

Signposting phrases mark structure: "firstly", "on the other hand", "to sum up" announce new sections or a conclusion.

Spelling tasks: names are often spelled aloud; write letters as heard, then verify against known spelling patterns.

Do not leave blanks: an unanswered item scores zero, so commit a plausible answer before moving on.

Present perfect (have/has + past participle) links past to present; simple past is used with finished time markers (yesterday, in 2019).

Conditionals: 1st if + present, will; 2nd if + past, would; 3rd if + past perfect, would have + participle.

Reported speech shifts tense back one step and adjusts time/place words (today → that day, here → there).

Countable nouns take a/an and plural -s; uncountable nouns (information, advice, furniture, news) take no plural and no a/an.

Comparative/superlative: short adjectives add -er/-est; long adjectives take more/most; irregulars include good-better-best, bad-worse-worst.

Collocation is fixed partnership, not free choice: make a decision, do homework, take a photo, pay attention.

Prepositions of time: in + months/years, on + days/dates, at + clock times and fixed expressions (at night).

Modals express degrees of certainty: must (strong obligation/deduction), might (possibility), can't (impossibility).

Register control: formal writing avoids contractions, slang and phrasal verbs where a single formal verb exists.

Cohesion devices - however, moreover, consequently, in contrast - signal logical relations between sentences and paragraphs.

Paragraph architecture: topic sentence, supporting evidence, concluding or linking sentence.

Email conventions: greeting (Dear Mr X / Hi Anna), purpose statement in the first line, action request, sign-off (Yours sincerely with a name; Best regards as neutral).

Word-count tasks: plan 5 minutes, write 20, review 5; under-length responses lose content marks regardless of accuracy.

Punctuation rules: comma before coordinating conjunction joining two clauses; apostrophe for possession (the manager's report) and contractions.

Formal complaint/request formula: state the problem, give evidence, request a specific remedy, close politely.

Editing checklist: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, article use, spelling of homophones (their/there, its/it's).

Fluency strategies: paraphrase an unknown word ("the thing you use to...") rather than stopping; fillers buy planning time.

Turn-taking signals: "Could I just add...", "Sorry to interrupt", "What do you think?" manage the floor politely.

Stress carries meaning: content words are stressed, function words reduced; contrastive stress shifts the message (I said THIS one).

Connected speech features - linking, elision, assimilation - explain why "want to" sounds like "wanna" in fast speech.

Functional exponents: opinion (In my view), agreement (I couldn't agree more), polite disagreement (I see your point, but...).

Part 2 long turn: use the preparation minute for a keyword map, then cover all prompt points before the time signal.

Intonation: rising for yes/no questions and lists (except the last item), falling for wh-questions and finished statements.

Self-repair is positive: "Actually, what I mean is..." maintains coherence better than silence or restarting entirely.