English Language
Core ideas
English questions test comprehension, vocabulary in context, and control of basic grammar. For comprehension, find the topic sentence, distinguish the main idea from examples, track pronouns and reference words, and infer meaning from surrounding sentences rather than from a single word. For vocabulary, learn collocations, common phrasal verbs, and false friends; use the sentence to decide meaning. Grammar review should cover subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions, comparatives, conditionals, and question formation. In written answers, keep sentences short and clear, and answer exactly what is asked.
Traps
Distractors often repeat words from the passage but distort the relationship between ideas. Watch for “not”, “except”, and “according to the passage”, which change the task. In grammar items, do not let a phrase between the subject and verb hide the true subject, and do not mix past and present tenses without a reason. False friends such as “actually” (in fact, not currently) and “eventually” (finally, not possibly) are common traps.
Worked example
Choose the correct verb: “The list of items ___ on the desk.” The subject is “list”, not “items”, so the singular verb “is” is correct: “The list of items is on the desk.” Rule of thumb: find the subject, remove prepositional phrases, then match the verb.