Fukuoka Entrance English cheat sheet

Predict the topic from the question and answer choices before the audio starts; this primes you to catch key nouns and numbers.

Listen for the question word first (who, what, when, where, why, how); the answer type determines which details to retain.

Numbers, times, and prices are often corrected mid-sentence (e.g., 'Actually, make it 3:30'); note the final value, not the first.

In dialogue tasks, the second speaker's response usually contains the answer; the first speaker sets up the context.

Signal words such as 'however', 'but', 'instead', and 'so' mark contrast or conclusion and often precede the correct option.

For map or layout questions, trace the route mentally from the entrance or a stated landmark; directions are given in sequence.

If you miss a detail, keep listening; do not let one gap cause you to miss the next two items. Mark and move on.

British and American pronunciations differ (e.g., 'schedule', 'tomato'); train your ear with both accents.

In longer passages, the first sentence and the last sentence often state the main idea; the middle provides supporting details.

Skim the questions before reading the passage; this tells you which paragraphs to read closely and which to scan.

Identify the topic sentence of each paragraph; it is usually the first or second sentence and states the paragraph's main point.

For 'what does the underlined word refer to' questions, read the sentence before and after the pronoun or phrase.

For inference questions, the answer must be supported by the text; reject choices that are true in general but not stated.

For main-idea questions, choose the option that covers the whole passage, not one detail from a single paragraph.

Transition words (however, therefore, for example, in contrast) show the logical relationship between ideas and often signal where an answer lies.

When a passage presents two views, note which view the author supports; the author's stance often appears in the final paragraph.

For vocabulary-in-context questions, substitute each option into the sentence and check whether the surrounding logic still holds.

Match the response to the function of the preceding line: invitation, request, apology, offer, or opinion.

For invitations, accept with 'I'd love to' or decline with 'I'm afraid I can't'; a bare 'No' is usually too direct.

For requests ('Could you...?'), a natural reply is 'Sure' or 'I'm sorry, but...'; do not answer with a question unless seeking clarification.

For apologies, respond with 'That's all right' or 'No problem'; 'You're welcome' answers thanks, not apologies.

For offers ('Shall I...?'), accept with 'Yes, please' or decline with 'No, thank you'; 'Yes, I do' is grammatically wrong here.

In situational English (store, station, restaurant), the clerk's line often contains a set phrase; learn common service expressions.

Watch for indirect questions ('Do you know where...?'); the reply should give the information, not repeat 'Yes, I know'.

Tag questions and echo questions often require agreement or confirmation; match the auxiliary verb in the response.

For tense questions, locate the time expression (yesterday, since 2010, by next week) and choose the tense it requires.

Subject-verb agreement: find the true subject, ignoring prepositional phrases; 'The list of items is' not 'are'.

For participle clauses, decide whether the subject does the action (active: -ing) or receives it (passive: -ed).

Relative pronouns: use 'who' for people, 'which' for things, 'whose' for possession, and 'that' in defining clauses.

For comparatives, use 'than' after comparative adjectives and 'the' before superlatives; 'as ... as' takes the base form.

Modal verbs: 'must' = strong obligation, 'have to' = external obligation, 'should' = advice, 'may' = permission or possibility.

For vocabulary in context, use collocation clues: 'make a decision', 'take a break', 'pay attention', 'do homework'.

Prepositions of time: 'in' for months/years, 'on' for days/dates, 'at' for clock times; 'by' means 'not later than'.

Answer the exact question: if it asks for your opinion plus two reasons, give exactly that structure.

Use a clear three-part structure: introduction (state position), body (one reason per paragraph with example), conclusion (restate).

For opinion essays, use signal phrases: 'I believe that...', 'First,...', 'For example,...', 'Therefore,...'.

Vary sentence length and openings; avoid starting every sentence with 'I' or 'Because'.

Check subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article use (a/an/the) in the final two minutes.

For picture-description tasks, use present continuous for actions in the picture and state location (in the background, on the left).

For letter or email tasks, include a greeting, purpose sentence, body, closing, and signature; match formal or casual register.

Paraphrase rather than copy phrases from the prompt; copied phrases earn no credit and may be penalized.

Keep to the word limit; being far under suggests underdevelopment, and being far over risks irrelevance and errors.

Read the question first to identify the target data (price, time, condition), then scan the table or chart for that column or axis.

In tables, check row and column headers and units (yen, minutes, percent); misreading units is a common error.

For bar or line graphs, note the axis labels and scale; a small visual difference may represent a large numerical gap.

For pie charts, percentages must sum to 100; use the largest and smallest slices to answer 'most/least' questions quickly.

For schedules and timetables, check day-of-week and holiday exceptions; the answer may require combining two conditions.

For notices and flyers, look for bold or capitalized conditions ('Students only', 'Advance booking required') that restrict eligibility.

When two sources are given, cross-reference: the answer often requires matching a name in one text with a value in another.

For 'which is NOT true' questions, verify each option against the source and eliminate the three that are supported.