Okayama Public High School Entrance Examination - English cheat sheet

In Okayama-style listening sections, each passage is read twice; the first reading is for the gist (who, where, what), the second for numbers, times, and names to fill in.

Question stems often start with 質問 (question) and ask about the reason (なぜ) or the next action (このあと何をしますか); listen for words like から (because) and それから (after that).

Numbers and times are the most common trap: 15 (fifteen) vs 50 (fifty), 13 vs 30, and 7:15 vs 7:50 are frequently contrasted; write digits as you hear them.

Discount and change words: 〜割引 (discount), 半額 (half price), おつり (change), 合計 (total); the answer usually requires one simple calculation.

Direction and place markers: まっすぐ (straight), 右/左 (right/left), 2つ目の角 (second corner), 向かい (opposite), 隣 (next to); draw a quick map with arrows.

Negatives flip meaning: cannot (〜できない), not need to (〜しなくてもいい), must not (〜してはいけない); note which one is used before choosing an answer.

For picture/map selection items, eliminate options during the first reading; the second reading confirms the remaining one, saving time.

Short dialogue items usually test implied meaning: the correct choice restates what a speaker feels or intends, not the exact words used.

Pronoun reference (it, they, this) points to the nearest suitable noun phrase earlier in the same or previous sentence; check number and meaning.

Signal words show the logic: but/however (contrast), so/therefore (result), because/since (reason), for example (illustration).

In dialogue ordering items, match each reply to the question type: a why-question needs a because-reply, a yes/no question needs agreement or refusal.

Time and sequence markers (first, then, after that, finally) determine the order of events; underline them before answering.

When a question asks what the speaker will do next, the answer is usually the last suggestion accepted, not the first one mentioned.

Vocabulary in short passages can be solved by context: substitute each option into the sentence and check that the surrounding logic still holds.

For longer passages, read the question first, then scan for the paragraph containing the keyword; the answer is usually in one or two sentences, not spread across the text.

Main-idea questions are answered by the opening sentence and the concluding sentence; a choice that covers only one detail is a distractor.

Information-retrieval tasks (timetables, posters, notices, menus) require cross-checking two or more conditions at once, such as day, time, price, and age.

Condition words decide the answer: 無料 (free), 〜以上 (or more), 〜以下 (or less), 平日 (weekdays), 予約が必要 (reservation required).

Watch for exceptions printed in small notes (※): they often cancel the obvious answer, e.g. closed on the day mentioned in the question.

True/false and matching items: locate the exact line supporting each option; an option with no supporting line is false even if it sounds plausible.

Charts and tables: compare the highest and lowest values and the trend between two years; the question usually asks about change, not absolute numbers.

Tense agreement: a past-time adverb (yesterday, last week) forces past tense; present perfect (have/has + past participle) is used for experience or continuation to now.

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes -s in the present tense; words like everyone, each, and news are treated as singular.

Participles: -ing describes the thing causing a feeling (interesting, exciting); -ed describes the person feeling it (interested, excited).

Infinitives and gerunds: want/hope/decide + to do; enjoy/finish/stop + doing; look forward to + doing (to is a preposition here).

Comparatives: as ... as, -er than, the -est, and more/most for long adjectives; never use both -er and more together.

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

Prepositions in fixed phrases: be good at, be interested in, be afraid of, depend on, arrive at/in, listen to; memorise the whole phrase, not the single word.

Word-order items: build the sentence around the verb, then place the subject before it and objects/adverbs after; Japanese word order (SOV) does not transfer to English (SVO).

Adverb position rule: frequency adverbs (always, usually, often) go before the main verb but after be; never split a verb phrase.

When two words seem possible, check collocation: make a decision, take a picture, do homework, have breakfast; only one fits naturally.

Transformation often requires changing voice or clause type: active to passive (be + past participle), direct to indirect (say that / ask if).

Question formation: invert subject and auxiliary; for a wh-question keep the auxiliary before the subject (Where did you go?).

Completion items must keep the same tense and number as the given part; check the verb form after inserting your answer.

Punctuation and capitalisation are part of the answer in written transformation tasks; a correct word in the wrong case may lose the point.

Okayama writing prompts usually specify a topic, a length (e.g. 25–35 words), and sometimes a required structure (opinion + reason + example); satisfy all three conditions.

A reliable paragraph shape: topic sentence stating the opinion, one or two supporting sentences with a reason, and a closing sentence.

Use linking words to show structure: First, Second, Also, However, For example, Therefore; they raise coherence scores with little risk.

Keep sentences short and grammatically controlled; one clear complex sentence is safer than several long ones with tense errors.

Answer the exact question: if it asks what you want to do in the future, do not write only about a past experience.

Count your words after drafting; being far under the limit loses content points, and far over risks errors and running out of time.

Re-read once for the three most common slips: third-person -s, past-tense endings, and plural -s.

Integrated tasks require transferring information from a passage or audio into a written answer; the answer must use the source facts, not general knowledge.

When writing after reading, reuse key terms from the passage but paraphrase the sentence structure; copying whole sentences is usually not credited.

Listen-and-answer items: take notes in a fixed layout (who / what / when / where / why) so the answer can be assembled after the second reading.

If the prompt sets a condition (write in English, use 10–20 words, include one reason), check every condition before finishing.

Cross-check numbers and names between the audio and the written prompt; a mismatch signals a distractor.

Summary tasks: keep the main idea and one supporting detail; drop examples unless the prompt asks for them.

Grammar accuracy counts in integrated writing too; apply the same tense and agreement checks as in guided composition.

The Okayama English paper typically combines listening, reading, grammar, and writing; allocate time so the writing section is never left to the last two minutes.

Listening is played at fixed speed; read the answer choices during the pause before each passage to predict the content.

Mark difficult items and return later; one hard question should not consume time needed for the writing section.

For multiple-choice reading, eliminate two options first; the remaining choice is usually decided by one keyword in the passage.

Spelling counts in written answers; common exam words (receive, believe, environment, experience) should be checked letter by letter.

Leave a short margin of time to transfer answers and confirm no question is blank; an unanswered item scores zero.