WACE Hindi Second Language ATAR cheat sheet

Infer meaning from context: identify key words, tone, and register to deduce unfamiliar vocabulary; do not rely on word-for-word translation.

Recognise discourse markers (e.g., लेकिन, इसलिए, फिर भी, दूसरी ओर) to track argument structure and logical relationships in spoken and written texts.

Distinguish formal (आप) vs informal (तुम/तू) address; this signals social relationships and speaker intent in dialogues.

Identify text types: notice, advertisement, personal letter, news report, interview, speech-each has characteristic layout, formulaic phrases, and purpose.

For listening: anticipate content from question stems; note numbers, names, dates, and places as they are often tested details.

For viewing: interpret non-verbal cues (gestures, facial expressions, setting) alongside dialogue to understand character relationships and mood.

When answering inference questions, support conclusions with specific evidence from the text (quote or paraphrase).

Beware of false friends and literal translations: e.g., 'कल' can mean yesterday or tomorrow depending on tense context.

Use appropriate register: formal for essays, reports, and speeches; informal for personal messages and dialogues with peers.

Structure writing with clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion; use linking words (सबसे पहले, इसके अलावा, अंत में) to connect ideas.

For speaking: plan key points but avoid memorising a script; use fillers (मतलब, वैसे) naturally to maintain fluency.

Vary sentence types: simple, compound (using और, लेकिन, इसलिए), and complex (using जब, अगर, क्योंकि) to demonstrate grammatical range.

Apply correct word order: Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) is standard; place question words before the verb.

Use postpositions correctly (ne, ko, se, mein, par) and remember they follow the noun; avoid English preposition patterns.

For writing: use cohesive devices (pronouns, synonyms, repetition of key terms) to link sentences and paragraphs.

In speaking assessments, maintain eye contact and appropriate intonation; pronunciation of retroflex (ट, ड, ण) and dental (त, द, न) consonants affects clarity.

Hindi nouns have grammatical gender (masculine/feminine); adjectives and verbs agree with the noun in gender and number.

Verb conjugation changes according to tense, aspect, mood, and politeness level; e.g., करता हूँ (habitual present), कर रहा हूँ (progressive), करूँगा (future).

The ergative case: transitive verbs in perfective tenses require ne with the subject (e.g., मैंने खाना खाया).

Cultural greetings: नमस्ते is universal; प्रणाम is respectful for elders; सलाम is used in Muslim communities. Use appropriate greeting by context.

Festivals and customs: Diwali (lights), Holi (colours), Eid (prayers and feasting), and their associated vocabulary and social practices.

Family and social hierarchy: terms like आप, तुम, तू reflect respect and intimacy; kinship terms (चाचा, मामा, बुआ) specify relations precisely.

Food and dining etiquette: many Hindus are vegetarian; beef is avoided; offering food (खाना खाइए) is a common hospitality gesture.

Regional variation: Hindi spoken in different states has dialectal differences, but standard Hindi (Khari Boli) is used in formal education and media.