Aichi Entrance English cheat sheet

Question order follows passage order: the answer to item 1 appears before the answer to item 2, so answer in sequence and return only to unsolved items.

Main-idea items: the correct option covers every paragraph; an option that is true only of one paragraph is a detail, not the main idea.

Pronoun items (it, they, this): replace the pronoun with each candidate noun phrase; the correct candidate matches in number and makes the sentence logical.

Information-retrieval items (posters, timetables, notices): list the stated conditions and eliminate any option that fails even one condition; satisfying most conditions is not enough.

Exact-word distractors repeat vocabulary from the passage but reverse a relation (cause/effect, before/after, pro/con); paraphrased options are more often correct.

Signal words: however/but introduce contrast, therefore/so introduce a conclusion, for example introduces a detail; the sentence after however often carries the writer's claim.

Inference items: the answer must be logically required by the text; an option that is merely possible in real life is not supported.

Numbers and dates: recompute from the passage each time; do not reuse a number from an earlier question when the passage changes the base value.

Unknown vocabulary: use affixes (un-, -less, -tion) and an appositive or definition nearby; the passage usually explains a difficult term in the same or next sentence.

Before each audio, read the question and underline the question word (who, what, when, where, why, how); the audio answers that word, not every detail.

Picture tasks: label each picture with one distinguishing feature (action, number, time); the correct picture differs from the others on the feature the audio changes.

If audio is played twice, use the first pass for the situation and speakers, the second pass for the decisive number or name.

Teen numbers (13-19) are stressed on the second syllable; tens (30-90) on the first; 15/50 and 13/30 are common listening contrasts.

Correction patterns: 'not A, B' or 'I said B, not A'; the corrected item is the answer, and the first-mentioned item is a distractor.

Table tasks: read row and column headings before listening; the audio order may not match table order, so write each number in its labeled cell.

Sequence tasks: first, then, after that, finally mark order; a later 'before that' reverses the order just given.

If one item is missed, mark a guess and re-orient at the next question number; carrying a missed item into the next audio causes a second error.

Guided composition: each content point in the prompt requires one sentence; omitting a content point costs more than a minor grammar slip.

Word-count rule: the stated lower bound is mandatory and the upper bound is a hard cap; count articles, prepositions, and full verb forms as words.

Avoid contractions when a word count is specified: 'I am' is unambiguously two words, while 'I'm' may be counted as one or two.

Sentence-level production: build around a subject and a finite verb; Japanese topic-comment order cannot be copied into English.

Opinion prompts: sentence 1 opinion, sentence 2 reason with because, sentence 3 example with for example; this covers content and coherence.

Reordering items: find the subject and verb first, then place the object, then place time and place; adverbs of frequency go before the main verb.

Error identification: check in this order - subject-verb agreement, tense, article, preposition, plural, parallel form.

Use only words you can spell; paraphrase a difficult word with a simpler phrase rather than risk a spelling error that obscures meaning.

Sentence completion: identify the grammatical slot first (subject, verb, object, conjunction, modifier), then choose the option that fits that slot.

Tense choice: yesterday/last/ago → past; since/for → present perfect; tomorrow/next → will or be going to; now/look → present progressive.

Subject-verb agreement: the verb agrees with the head noun, not a noun in an of-phrase; each, every, everyone, and nobody are singular.

Conditional type 1: if + present, will + base verb; type 2: if + past, would + base verb; do not use will in the if-clause.

Relative pronouns: who for people, which for things, that for both in defining clauses, whose for possession, where for places.

Prepositions of time: at + clock time, on + day/date, in + month/year; by + deadline, until + end point.

Uncountable nouns: information, advice, furniture, homework, news take a singular verb and no a/an or plural -s.

Collocation decides vocabulary: make a mistake, do homework, take a bath, have breakfast; the noun fixes the verb.

Parallel structure: items joined by and/or/but must share the same form (all -ing, all infinitives, or all nouns).

Match the function, not the words: a request needs a response about doing it, an offer about accepting or refusing, an apology about forgiving.

'Would you like ...?' accepts with 'Yes, please' and declines with 'No, thank you'; 'Yes, I like' is not a natural response.

'Would you mind ...?' accepts with 'Not at all' or 'Of course not' (meaning yes, I will do it); 'Yes, I mind' refuses.

'May I speak to Ken?' → 'Speaking' or 'This is Ken'; 'Who is calling?' is the caller-identification question.

Apology 'I'm sorry I'm late' → 'That's all right' or 'No problem'; 'You're welcome' answers thanks, not apology.

'May I ...?' grants with 'Yes, go ahead' or 'Sure'; refuses with 'I'm afraid not' or 'Sorry, ...'.

Shop/restaurant: 'Can I help you?' → 'I'm just looking'; 'Are you ready to order?' → 'Yes, I'll have ...'.

Directions: 'How do I get to ...?' expects 'Take the second right' or 'Go along this street'; 'How long' asks time or distance, not route.