ECL Test cheat sheet

Skim all headings and the first sentence of each paragraph before reading closely; the topic sentence usually states the paragraph's main point.

Question order normally follows passage order, so locate the answer for question 3 after the answer for question 2 and before question 4.

Decision rule for True/False/Not Given: False when the passage states the opposite; Not Given when the passage neither confirms nor denies it.

Main-idea options must cover the whole text; an option that is true but covers only one paragraph is a distractor.

For vocabulary-in-context items, insert each option into the original sentence and reject any that breaks grammar or logic.

Contrast and cause linkers (however, although, therefore, despite) usually introduce the clause that carries the answer.

Cohesive devices such as this, they or it refer to the nearest preceding noun phrase that agrees in number.

Allocate roughly one minute per item and never leave a blank: unanswered items score the same as wrong ones.

Use the pause before each recording to read the questions and predict the answer type: a number, a name, a place or a time.

In dialogues the answer is often split between speakers, so both voices must be tracked, not only the one who asks questions.

Correction pattern: a speaker names an option and then revises it ('not Tuesday, actually Wednesday'); the second mention is the answer.

Numbers: -teen is stressed on the second syllable and -ty on the first; write digits to avoid spelling errors.

Names and addresses are frequently spelled aloud; transcribe letters in the order heard rather than guessing the word.

Gap-fill answers must be grammatical in the gap and must respect the stated limit, for example NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

The recording is played a fixed number of times without rewind, so abandon a missed item immediately and rejoin at the next question.

Answers in a monologue normally appear in the same order as the questions, which allows you to track your position in the text.

Formal letters and reports exclude contractions, exclamation marks and slang; informal emails to friends admit all three.

Closing formula follows the salutation: Dear Mr Smith / Yours sincerely; Dear Sir or Madam / Yours faithfully.

Task achievement is scored per prompt bullet, so every bullet needs at least one developed sentence or the score is capped.

Length must stay within about ten per cent of the required word count; substantial under-length loses content marks.

Each paragraph carries one controlling idea, stated in a topic sentence and supported by one or two specific details.

Vary cohesive devices (however, whereas, moreover, as a result); repeating one connector signals a limited range.

The most frequent accuracy errors are subject-verb agreement, articles before countable nouns, and irregular plurals.

Reserve the final minutes for an editing pass covering tense consistency, third-person -s, spelling of common function words and punctuation.

Answer plus extension: give the direct response, then add a reason or example, because single-word replies score low on range.

Gain planning time with neutral fillers (Well, let me think) rather than with silence or a switch to the first language.

When a word is missing, describe it ('the thing you use to open a bottle') instead of stopping; paraphrase preserves fluency.

Role-play tasks are scored on communicative function: make the request, complaint, apology or suggestion explicitly.

Self-correction is tolerated; pauses longer than a few seconds and abandoned sentences damage the fluency rating.

Word stress distinguishes word families (PHOtograph, phoTOgraphy), so misplaced stress can obscure meaning.

In picture or prompt-based tasks, describe what is visible first, then speculate with might be, seems to, looks as if.

Requests for repetition ('Could you repeat that, please?') are part of interaction and are not penalised.