Osaka Public High School Entrance Examination - English cheat sheet

In the listening section, each dialogue or monologue is usually played twice; use the first play to grasp the main idea and the second to confirm details.

Before the audio starts, read the question and answer choices to predict what information to listen for (numbers, times, places, reasons).

Listen for discourse markers such as 'however', 'so', 'because', and 'actually' to identify contrasts and cause-effect relationships.

When numbers, dates, or prices are mentioned, note them immediately; they are often tested and may be corrected later in the audio.

Pay attention to the speaker's tone and intonation; rising intonation often indicates a question or uncertainty, while stress highlights key information.

In multiple-choice questions, the correct answer is usually a paraphrase of what was said, not the exact words; eliminate choices that repeat words from the audio but distort the meaning.

For map or picture questions, orient yourself by listening for directional language (turn left, next to, across from) and starting points.

If you miss a detail, do not panic; continue listening because the answer to the next question may come soon, and the audio is not paused.

Skim the passage first to identify the topic and main idea, then read the questions to locate specific information.

For vocabulary-in-context questions, replace the word with each option and check whether the sentence still makes sense in the passage.

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

Pay attention to pronoun references (it, they, this) and resolve them to the correct noun to understand connections between sentences.

In longer passages, identify the function of each paragraph (introduction, example, counterargument, conclusion) to answer structure questions.

For true/false/not given questions, distinguish between 'false' (contradicted by the text) and 'not given' (not mentioned).

When asked about the author's purpose or tone, consider the overall message and the language used (e.g., persuasive, informative, humorous).

Time management: allocate about 1.5 minutes per question and return to difficult ones after completing easier ones.

Subject-verb agreement: singular subjects take singular verbs; watch out for intervening phrases (e.g., 'The box of apples is heavy').

Tense consistency: use the same tense throughout a sentence unless there is a clear time shift signaled by words like 'before', 'after', or 'now'.

Comparative and superlative forms: use -er/more for comparatives, -est/most for superlatives; irregular forms include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst.

Countable vs. uncountable nouns: use 'many' with countable, 'much' with uncountable; 'a few' vs. 'a little' follows the same rule.

Prepositions: learn common collocations (e.g., 'interested in', 'good at', 'depend on') because direct translation often fails.

Conditionals: first conditional (if + present, will + base) for real possibilities; second conditional (if + past, would + base) for unreal situations.

Passive voice: form with be + past participle; use when the doer is unknown or unimportant, or to focus on the action.

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

Identify the main subject and verb first; in Japanese English exams, the verb often comes near the end of the reordered segment.

Look for fixed expressions and collocations (e.g., 'look forward to', 'be used to', 'as soon as') that must stay together.

Pay attention to connectors and conjunctions (because, although, if, when) that signal clause boundaries and order.

For questions with a word that does not fit, eliminate it by checking which word is grammatically or semantically unnecessary.

Use punctuation clues: a comma often precedes a subordinate clause or follows an introductory phrase.

In indirect questions, use statement word order (e.g., 'Do you know where he is?' not 'where is he').

Check parallelism in lists or comparisons: items joined by 'and' or 'or' should have the same grammatical form.

After reordering, read the full sentence aloud in your head to check natural flow and meaning.

For short answers, use the same tense and person as the question, and avoid copying the entire question.

Answer in a complete sentence when required; for summary questions, write 1-2 sentences capturing the main idea and key supporting points.

When summarizing, omit examples and details; focus on the topic sentence and conclusion of the original passage.

Use your own words where possible; if you must use the original wording, keep quotations short and integrate them smoothly.

Check the word limit; answers that exceed the limit may be penalized, so be concise and precise.

For 'why' questions, start with 'Because' or 'To...' and provide a reason directly from the text.

For 'how' questions, describe a process or method using sequence words (first, then, finally).

Proofread for grammar and spelling; small errors can affect clarity and scoring.

Plan before writing: spend 2-3 minutes brainstorming and outlining your main points to ensure a logical structure.

Use a clear structure: introduction (state your opinion or topic), body (2-3 supporting reasons with examples), conclusion (restate and summarize).

For opinion essays, use phrases like 'I believe that', 'In my opinion', 'One reason is that', and 'For example' to organize ideas.

Vary sentence length and structure; combine short sentences with complex ones using conjunctions (although, while, because).

Use specific vocabulary and avoid repetition; synonyms and precise words improve your score.

Check subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article usage; these are common errors in timed writing.

For letters or emails, include a greeting, body, and closing; match the level of formality to the recipient.

Leave 2-3 minutes to proofread for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

In interview settings, greet the examiner, maintain eye contact, and speak clearly at a moderate pace.

For self-introduction questions, prepare a 30-60 second response covering name, school, interests, and a goal.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions to structure your answers.

If you don't understand a question, politely ask for clarification: 'Could you please repeat that?' or 'Do you mean...?'

For picture description tasks, describe from general to specific: overall scene, main subjects, actions, and details.

Use fillers sparingly; instead, pause briefly or use phrases like 'Well, let me think' to gain time.

For opinion questions, state your view, give one or two reasons, and conclude with a summary.

Practice common topics: school life, hobbies, future plans, and global issues; prepare key vocabulary for each.