NSW HSC Minimum Standard Reading cheat sheet

Main idea: the central point the whole text supports; often stated in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

Supporting detail: a fact, example or reason that directly backs the main idea; irrelevant details do not support it.

Inference: a conclusion drawn from clues in the text plus general knowledge, not stated word-for-word.

Vocabulary in context: the meaning of a word is fixed by the words around it; check the sentence before and after.

Author's purpose: inform (facts), persuade (opinion and emotion), entertain (story), or instruct (steps).

Fact vs opinion: a fact can be checked; an opinion uses judgement words such as best, should, beautiful, worst.

Text structure: cause–effect, compare–contrast, problem–solution, sequence; signal words (because, however, first) reveal it.

Locating information: scan for a key word or number, then read the whole sentence to confirm the answer fits the question.

Place value: each position is ten times the one to its right; 3 in 4,350 means 3 hundreds = 300.

Fraction, decimal, percent: 1/2 = 0.5 = 50%; divide the top by the bottom, then multiply by 100 for percent.

Percentage of a quantity: convert the percent to a decimal and multiply; 15% of 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12.

Perimeter vs area: perimeter is the distance around (add side lengths); area of a rectangle = length × width.

Average (mean): add all values and divide by how many values there are; the median is the middle value in order.

Unit conversion: 1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm, 1 kg = 1000 g, 1 L = 1000 mL; multiply to go to a smaller unit.

Time and money: 1 hour = 60 minutes; to find change, subtract the total cost from the amount paid.

Ratio and scale: a ratio compares parts; scale drawings multiply every length by the same factor.

Sentence completeness: every sentence needs a subject and a finite verb; a fragment lacks one of these.

Subject–verb agreement: a singular subject takes a singular verb (the list is), a plural subject takes a plural verb (the lists are).

Punctuation: a comma joins items in a list or an introductory phrase; a full stop or semicolon separates two complete sentences.

Paragraph unity: one main idea per paragraph, stated in a topic sentence and supported by detail.

Cohesion: use linking words (however, therefore, in addition, for example) to show the relationship between ideas.

Formal register: avoid slang and contractions in formal writing; choose precise verbs and nouns instead of vague ones.

Common confusions: their/there/they're, your/you're, its/it's, then/than, affect (verb) / effect (noun).

Editing checklist: check spelling, capital letters for proper nouns, verb tense consistency and clear pronoun reference.