NSW Selective cheat sheet

Main idea = what the whole passage is about; detail questions ask only what one sentence states, so match scope before choosing.

Inference answers must be forced by the text; if an option needs an extra assumption the passage never supplies, it is wrong.

Tone words split into positive (approving, wry), neutral (objective, analytical) and negative (critical, sceptical); one word in the passage often fixes the tone.

Author's purpose verbs: inform, persuade, entertain, describe, warn, compare. Choose the verb that fits the whole text, not one paragraph.

Vocabulary-in-context: substitute each option into the sentence and keep only the one that preserves the sentence's logic.

Sequence questions: locate time or order markers (first, after, meanwhile, later) and build the chain before reading the options.

Fact versus opinion: statements with measurable or verifiable content are facts; value judgements (should, best, unfair) are opinions.

Figurative language: simile uses like/as, metaphor states one thing is another, personification gives human traits to objects.

Eliminate options that are true in general but not stated in the passage; outside knowledge is never a valid reason to pick an answer.

Percentage change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100; a 20% rise then a 20% fall leaves 96% of the original, not 100%.

Speed = distance ÷ time; for two legs of equal length, average speed = 2ab ÷ (a + b), the harmonic mean, not (a + b) ÷ 2.

Sum of the first n integers = n(n + 1) ÷ 2; number of handshakes among n people = n(n − 1) ÷ 2.

Triangle angle sum = 180°; exterior angle equals the sum of the two opposite interior angles; polygon interior sum = (n − 2) × 180°.

Area formulas: triangle ½bh, parallelogram bh, trapezium ½(a + b)h, circle πr²; volume of prism = cross-section area × length.

Ratio sharing: total parts = sum of ratio numbers; one part = total ÷ total parts; then multiply by each ratio number.

Working backwards: undo operations in reverse order (last operation first, inverse operation each step) to recover an unknown.

Divisibility: by 3 if digit sum is divisible by 3; by 4 if the last two digits form a multiple of 4; by 9 if digit sum is divisible by 9.

Probability of an event = favourable outcomes ÷ total equally likely outcomes; probabilities of all outcomes sum to 1.

Deduction: a conclusion follows only if every case satisfying the premises satisfies it; a single counterexample disproves it.

Contrapositive is logically equivalent to the original (if P then Q ⇔ if not Q then not P); the converse (if Q then P) is not equivalent.

Necessary versus sufficient: 'only if' introduces a necessary condition; 'if' introduces a sufficient condition.

Strengthen an argument by adding evidence for its assumption; weaken it by showing the assumption fails or an alternative cause exists.

Correlation is not causation: alternative explanations (reverse cause, third factor, coincidence) undermine causal claims.

Flaw types: hasty generalisation from too few cases, false dilemma with only two options, circular reasoning that assumes the conclusion, attacking the person rather than the argument.

Ordering puzzles: draw a line or grid, mark fixed positions first, then apply 'immediately before/after' and 'not adjacent' constraints.

Seating and grouping puzzles: count how many items are forced into a slot; if two arrangements both satisfy all clues, the answer is 'cannot be determined'.

Analogy and odd-one-out items: state the exact relationship in words (part to whole, function, degree) before comparing options.

Persuasive structure: hook, thesis stating your position, two or three body paragraphs each with one claim plus evidence, then a conclusion that restates and broadens.

Paragraph unity: topic sentence first, supporting detail next, closing link last; a sentence that does not serve the claim is deleted.

Show, don't tell: replace 'she was nervous' with concrete action, dialogue or sensory detail such as shaking hands or a dry mouth.

Sentence variety: alternate simple, compound and complex sentences; a complex sentence joins a dependent clause (because, although, while) to an independent clause.

Cohesion devices: pronouns, synonyms and connectives (however, therefore, in contrast) link sentences without repeating the same noun.

Punctuation rules: commas separate items and clauses, semicolons join two independent clauses, apostrophes mark possession or contraction but never plurals.

Narrative arc: orientation, complication, climax, resolution; a short story should start close to the action rather than with background.

Verb tense consistency: choose past or present at the start and hold it; only shift tense for a deliberate flashback or general truth.

Marking criteria for selective writing: ideas, structure, vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling; a clear plan beats a longer unplanned draft.