QCAA Korean (SEE) cheat sheet

Korean has three plain-tense distinctions that listening tasks test: plain (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅈ), tense/fortis (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ), and aspirated (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ). Tense consonants are unaspirated with a tight glottis; aspirated consonants release a puff of air.

Final-consonant (받침) neutralisation: before a consonant or at the end of a word, ㄱ/ㄲ/ㅋ → [ㄱ], ㄷ/ㅌ/ㅅ/ㅆ/ㅈ/ㅊ/ㅎ → [ㄷ], ㅂ/ㅍ → [ㅂ]. Listen for the unreleased stop, not the spelling.

Nasalisation rule: final ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ followed by initial ㄴ or ㅁ become [ㅇ], [ㄴ], [ㅁ] respectively (국물 → [궁물], 닫는 → [단는]).

Liquidisation: final ㄴ + initial ㄹ, or final ㄹ + initial ㄴ, both become [ㄹㄹ] (연락 → [열락], 신라 → [실라]).

Numbers: native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋 …) pair with counters and age; Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼 …) pair with money, dates, minutes, and phone numbers. Listen for the counter to decide which series is in play.

Speech levels signal the relationship: 합니다/하십시오 style marks formal public or transactional settings; 해요 style marks polite everyday interaction; 해/반말 marks intimacy or hierarchy downward.

Discourse markers carry the answer: 그런데 (however/topic shift), 그래서 (therefore), 사실은 (actually), 결국 (in the end) usually introduce the speaker's real point or a reversal of the earlier statement.

Time and sequencing signals: 먼저 (first), 그다음에 (after that), 마지막으로 (finally), -기 전에 (before), -(으)ㄴ 후에 (after). Ordering questions are answered by these markers, not by sentence order.

Topic marker 은/는 vs subject marker 이/가: 은/는 marks known or contrasted information (topic, old information); 이/가 marks new, focused information. In reading, 이/가 often introduces the answer to a wh-question.

Object marker 을/를 follows a consonant-final vs vowel-final noun respectively; 에 is a locative/time/direction particle, 에서 marks the location where an action occurs or a source.

Connective endings and their logical force: -지만 (but), -아서/어서 (cause or sequence), -(으)므로 (formal cause), -는데 (background or contrast), -(으)면서 (simultaneous).

Formal written register uses -(ㄴ/는)다 for declaratives and -겠- for supposition or intention; informal narrative uses -아/어요. Register shift in a passage often signals a quotation or a change of audience.

Passive and causative: passive -이/히/리/기- (보이다, 닫히다, 열리다, 끊기다) and causative -이/히/리/기/우/추- (보이다, 먹이다, 살리다). Identify whether the subject undergoes or performs the action.

Honorific infix -시- appears before the ending (가시다, 읽으시다); humble verbs replace the verb entirely (드시다/잡수시다 for eat, 계시다 for stay/be, 말씀하시다 for speak).

Inference items: the correct answer must be supported by an explicit sentence. Options that require outside knowledge or overstate (모든, 항상, 절대로) are typically wrong.

Vocabulary in context: hanja-derived nouns recur (경제 economy, 환경 environment, 문화 culture, 기술 technology). Use surrounding particles and the predicate to fix the sense rather than a single dictionary gloss.

Sentence endings by register: 합니다/ㅂ니다 (formal polite), 해요 (informal polite), 한다 (formal written plain), 해 (informal plain). A single piece must hold one consistent register unless quoting.

Reported speech: -다고 하다 (declarative), -냐고/-(으)라고 묻다 (question), -(으)라고 하다 (imperative), -자고 하다 (proposal). Contracted forms: 물어보다 → 물어봐요, 해 보다 → 해 봐요.

Cause and reason connectors for written argument: -기 때문에 (because, neutral), -(으)므로 (formal, written), -아서/어서 (cannot precede an imperative or proposal ending), -는 바람에 (negative result).

Contrast and concession: -지만 (but), -는데도 (even though), -에도 불구하고 (despite, formal written), -반면에 (on the other hand, contrast between two facts).

Paragraph cohesion: use 지만/그러나 for contrast, 따라서/그러므로 for conclusion, 예를 들어 for exemplification, 즉 for restatement. Each paragraph should carry one controlling idea with supporting detail.

Spacing (띄어쓰기): particles attach to the preceding word (학교에서, 책을), auxiliary verbs and auxiliary adjectives are spaced where possible (먹고 있다, 읽어 보다), and dependent nouns are spaced (할 수 있다, 갈 것이다).

Formal letter and email structure: greeting (안녕하십니까), self-introduction and purpose, body with a clear request or information, closing (감사합니다 / 답변 기다리겠습니다), name and date.

Editing checks: verify honorific agreement (subject honorific -시- plus humble verb), tense consistency (past -았/었-, future -(으)ㄹ 것이다), and number classifier agreement (한 개, 두 명, 세 권).

Formal polite (합니다/하십시오) is the default for presentations, interviews, and first meetings; informal polite (해요) suits conversation with acquaintances; plain (해) is restricted to close friends and subordinates.

Honorific address terms: -씨 attaches to a name or surname (김민수 씨), -님 attaches to titles and roles (선생님, 사장님, 고객님). Never use -씨 with a title or with a superior's bare name.

Topic-comment structure in speech: introduce the topic with 은/는, then supply new information with 이/가. Contrastive use (저는 … but he …) is marked by stressing 은/는.

Turn-taking and fillers: 저기요 (excuse me), 그런데 (by the way), 음/저 (hesitation), 잠깐만요 (just a moment), 다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? (could you say that again?).

Request and suggestion patterns: -(으)ㄹ 수 있을까요? (could you), -아/어 주시겠어요? (would you please), -(으)시겠어요? (would you like to), -는 게 좋겠어요 (it would be better to).

Pronunciation accuracy points: distinguish plain/tense/aspirated stops; apply liaison (받침 followed by a vowel-initial particle or ending moves to the next syllable: 한국어 → [한구거]).

Intonation: statements fall at the end; yes/no questions rise; wh-questions typically fall. A rise on a wh-question signals confirmation or surprise rather than a neutral question.

Fluency markers in assessment: appropriate use of connectives (-고, -서, -는데), avoidance of long mid-sentence pauses, and completion of honorific endings without self-correction.