Armenia Foreign Language Unified Exam cheat sheet

Armenian listening exam tasks typically play each recording twice; the first pass is for gist, the second for specific details and numbers.

Question stems in listening sections are usually printed before the audio; use the pause to predict the topic and expected answer type (time, place, reason, number).

Distractors are common: a speaker often mentions one option first and then corrects or rejects it, so wait for the final statement before answering.

Signal words that mark the answer: but, however, actually, in fact, instead, the problem is - the correction after these usually carries the key information.

Numbers, dates, and prices are frequent targets; listen for hesitation and self-correction ('no, sorry, make it...'), which signals the true value.

Inference items ask what the speaker implies, not what is stated; the answer must be supported by tone or a stated fact, never by outside knowledge.

For matching or multiple-choice tasks, eliminate options contradicted by the audio; an option that is merely mentioned is not automatically correct.

Speaker-attitude items hinge on intonation and adjectives; positive/negative words about the topic usually determine the answer.

Skim the passage for the main idea first (title, first and last sentences of paragraphs), then scan for the specific information each question demands.

Question order generally follows passage order; if a question refers to a specific line or paragraph, the answer is located there, not elsewhere.

Vocabulary-in-context items are solved by substituting each option into the sentence and checking that the whole sentence still makes sense.

Main-idea answers must cover the entire passage; an option that is true but covers only one paragraph is a distractor.

For 'NOT mentioned' or 'EXCEPT' items, three options are verifiable in the text and one is absent; find the absent one.

Reference questions (what does 'it/this/they' refer to) are resolved by checking the nearest preceding noun phrase that agrees in number.

Inference answers must be logically forced by the text; if an option requires information not in the passage, it is wrong even if it is true in real life.

Time management rule: spend roughly one minute per mark; leave the hardest passage for last rather than stalling on one item.

Present perfect (have/has + past participle) is used for past actions with present relevance or no specified time; a definite past time (yesterday, in 2019) forces past simple.

Reported speech shifts tense back one step (present to past, past to past perfect) and changes time/place words: now becomes then, today becomes that day, here becomes there.

Conditionals: first (if + present, will + infinitive), second (if + past, would + infinitive), third (if + past perfect, would have + past participle).

Passive voice = correct form of be + past participle; the tense is carried by 'be', so 'was built', 'is being repaired', 'has been done'.

After prepositions and after most verbs followed by a gerund (enjoy, avoid, suggest, look forward to), use the -ing form, not the infinitive.

Articles: 'a/an' for first mention or a category member, 'the' for previously mentioned or unique items, zero article for general plurals and abstract nouns.

Relative pronouns: 'who' for people, 'which' for things, 'whose' for possession, 'where' for places; omit the relative pronoun only when it is the object.

Comparative/superlative: one-syllable adjectives take -er/-est; multi-syllable take more/most; irregulars include good-better-best, bad-worse-worst, far-further-furthest.

Collocation is tested more than raw meaning: make a decision, do homework, take an exam, pay attention, heavy rain, strong coffee.

Task achievement is scored separately from language: answer every bullet of the prompt, and keep the required word count (under-length answers lose marks).

A formal letter or essay uses a clear structure: introduction stating purpose, 2-3 body paragraphs each with one idea, and a conclusion.

Cohesion is marked: use linkers correctly (however, therefore, in addition, on the other hand) and avoid repeating the same connector in consecutive sentences.

Register rule: no contractions or slang in formal writing; use full forms and neutral vocabulary instead.

Paragraph rule: one central idea per paragraph, with a topic sentence first and supporting examples after it.

Grammar range is rewarded only when accurate; a complex sentence with an error scores lower than a correct simple one.

Punctuation conventions: comma after introductory phrases, no comma before 'that', capital letters for nationalities and languages (Armenian, English).

Plan for 3-5 minutes before writing: jot the main points and the linking words, then write, then reserve time to check tense consistency and spelling.

Fluency is rated on continuity and pace, not speed; short natural pauses are fine, but long silences and repeated restarts reduce the score.

Answer structure for opinion questions: state position, give one reason, add one example, then a brief conclusion.

Paraphrase instead of stopping: if a word is missing, describe it ('the thing you use to...') to keep the flow going.

Pronunciation targets: final consonant sounds, -ed endings (t/d/id), and word stress in long words (pho-TO-gra-pher, com-PU-ter).

Interactive tasks require a question back or a response to the examiner's statement; a monologue with no reaction loses interaction marks.

Grammar accuracy matters most in the first sentences of each answer, where examiners form an impression; keep those simple and correct.

Fillers in English (well, let me think, actually) are acceptable when brief; using them constantly signals limited range.

For picture or prompt-based tasks, cover all elements: who, what, where, when, and one personal comment linking it to your own experience.