Érettségi Angol cheat sheet

Task types in the érettségi reading paper: matching headings to paragraphs, true/false/not stated, multiple choice, gap-filling from a list, and short-answer questions in Hungarian or English as instructed.

Scan for keywords first, then read closely: locate the sentence containing the keyword and read the two sentences before and after it, because the answer usually spans a three-sentence window.

True/False/Not stated rule: choose 'not stated' only when the text neither confirms nor denies the statement; a statement that is merely plausible from world knowledge is still 'not stated'.

Matching headings: reject an option that repeats a single word from the paragraph but misses its main idea; the correct heading paraphrases the topic sentence, usually the first or last sentence.

Gap-fill from a list: check grammar agreement (singular/plural, tense, preposition) after inserting the candidate, since one distractor usually fits the meaning but breaks the grammar.

Multiple choice distractors typically reuse exact words from the text in a wrong relationship; the correct option usually paraphrases rather than copies.

Time budget for a 60-minute reading paper with 3-4 tasks: about 12-15 minutes per task plus 5 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet.

Order-of-events and reference questions (what does 'this' refer to) require checking the preceding noun phrase for number and meaning agreement.

The listening paper is played twice with a pause between playings; write during the first listening and confirm or correct during the second.

Task formats: true/false with justification, short answers, table or form completion, and multiple choice; answers must be short, often one to four words.

Before the first playing, read the task and underline the question words (who, when, how much, why), because these determine what detail to listen for.

Numbers, dates, prices and times are frequent targets and are often corrected mid-text ('actually, make it half past seven'), so record the final version.

Spelling of names and places is usually dictated or spelled out; write the letters as heard rather than guessing a familiar spelling.

Distractors follow a pattern: a speaker mentions an option, then rejects or changes it; the correct answer is the option that survives to the end of the exchange.

Justification for true/false items must quote or closely paraphrase the text; a correct T/F mark without a valid justification normally earns no point.

If a word is missed, keep listening: the answer to the next item comes later, and stopping to reconstruct loses the following item too.

Gap-fill grammar items test tense choice: look for time markers (since, for, already, yesterday, by the time) to decide between present perfect, past simple and past perfect.

Conditionals: type 1 if + present simple, will; type 2 if + past simple, would; type 3 if + past perfect, would have + past participle; mixed conditionals combine past condition with present result.

Reported speech shifts tense back one step (present to past, past to past perfect) and adjusts pronouns, time and place words (now to then, here to there, tomorrow to the next day).

Passive formation: correct form of be + past participle; the agent is introduced by 'by' and is omitted when unknown or unimportant.

Word formation tasks use prefixes (un-, in-, dis-, re-, over-, under-) and suffixes (-ment, -ness, -tion, -ful, -less, -able, -ive); check the part of speech required by the sentence position.

Collocations and prepositions must be learned as chunks: depend on, interested in, good at, responsible for, look forward to + -ing, used to + infinitive versus be used to + -ing.

Articles: a/an for first mention of a countable singular, the for shared or previously mentioned referents, zero article for general plurals and abstract nouns.

Phrasal verbs appear in transformation items; learn the separable/inseparable distinction (turn it off but look after it) and the meaning shifts of get, take, put, come.

Two tasks are typical: a shorter guided letter or email (about 100-120 words) and a longer opinion, argument or narrative piece (about 180-250 words); follow the word range printed in the task.

Assessment criteria are communicative achievement (all content points covered), organisation (paragraphing, linking), range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar.

Cover every content point in the prompt: each required element carries points, and an omitted point costs more than a grammar slip.

Email conventions: greeting (Dear Anna / Dear Sir or Madam), opening reference, body paragraphs, closing formula (Best wishes / Yours faithfully) and signature.

Formal register uses no contractions, full forms, passive where natural, and single-word verbs; informal register allows contractions, phrasal verbs and direct address.

Linkers by function: addition (moreover, in addition), contrast (however, whereas), cause (owing to, since), result (therefore, consequently), example (for instance), conclusion (to sum up, all things considered).

Opinion essay structure: introduction with a clear thesis, two body paragraphs each with one argument plus example, a counter-argument paragraph, and a conclusion restating the position.

Leave 3-5 minutes to check subject-verb agreement, third-person -s, past tense forms, articles and spelling, which are the most frequent accuracy losses.

The oral exam has a guided conversation section based on a topic sheet and a picture or situation description, plus a short independent topic presentation.

Topic sheets cover areas such as family, school, work, holidays, environment, media and health; prepare a personal example and an opinion for each.

Picture description follows a fixed frame: what is in the picture (foreground/background), what is happening, then a personal link or opinion, which is what examiners reward.

Useful functional language: giving opinion (I'd say, as far as I'm concerned), agreeing and disagreeing, comparing (whereas, unlike, both), hypothesising (if I had the chance, I would).

Examiner questions often move from description to opinion to personal experience; answer with a statement plus a reason plus an example rather than a one-word reply.

Fluency strategy: paraphrase an unknown word (the thing you use for...) instead of switching to Hungarian or stopping.

Fillers that sound natural in English (well, let me think, actually) buy time without breaking communication; long silent pauses cost fluency marks.

Pronunciation targets: final -s and -ed endings, word stress in longer words (PHOtograph, phoTOgraphy), and sentence stress on the information word.