STEP English cheat sheet

Main-idea items require an answer covering the whole passage; an option that matches one detail is usually a distractor.

An inference is valid only when it follows from explicit text plus a logical step; personal opinion or outside knowledge is not sufficient.

In True/False/Not Given items, choose Not Given when the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the statement.

Vocabulary-in-context items: substitute each option into the sentence and check meaning and connotation against the surrounding clause.

Matching headings: compare the paragraph's topic sentence and repeated key terms with each heading, not a single matching word.

Skimming targets gist at roughly 400–600 words per minute; scanning locates a specific name, date, or number without reading every word.

Cohesive devices signal logic: however/although mark contrast, therefore/thus mark result, in addition marks continuation.

Reference items: a pronoun refers to the nearest compatible noun phrase; check number, gender, and logic before deciding.

Time allocation should follow passage length and question count, not a fixed number of minutes per passage.

Preview the questions before the audio begins to predict answer type: number, name, place, date, or reason.

Distractors often appear when a speaker mentions an option and then corrects it after actually, but, or on second thought.

Correct options usually paraphrase the audio rather than repeat its exact words; exact word matches are suspicious.

Signpost words (firstly, then, finally, however) reveal the structure of a talk and mark where the next answer will occur.

In form-completion tasks, spelling and the stated word limit are scored; write the exact word or phrase heard.

Number stress distinguishes thirteen (stress on -teen) from thirty (stress on first syllable); dates may be ordinal.

If an answer is missed, abandon it and rejoin the audio at the next signpost rather than mentally replaying the previous section.

In monologues the main idea is typically stated in the introduction and restated in the conclusion.

Task response requires addressing every part of the prompt; an off-topic or underlength response is capped regardless of language quality.

One central idea per paragraph: topic sentence, supporting evidence or example, explanation, then a link to the question.

Cohesion improves with varied referencing (pronouns, synonyms, this/these) rather than repeated Firstly/Secondly/Finally.

Lexical resource is judged on precision: accurate collocation (make a decision, heavy rain) outranks rare words used incorrectly.

Grammatical range means a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences with accurate high-frequency forms.

Formal register excludes contractions, slang, rhetorical questions, and conversational fillers.

Argument structure: claim, then evidence or example, then explanation of relevance, then link back to the prompt.

A 40-minute essay typically uses 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing, and 5 minutes checking.

Fluency is judged by pace and continuity; brief self-correction is acceptable, but long pauses to search for grammar lower the score.

In a long turn, one minute of preparation should produce 4–5 keyword notes, not full sentences to read aloud.

Answer the question first, then extend with a reason, example, or contrast so responses last several sentences.

Sentence stress falls on content words, not function words; intonation rises for lists and yes/no questions.

If a word is unknown, paraphrase by function or category ('a tool used for cutting') instead of stopping.

Narrative tasks require past simple for main events and past continuous for background actions.

Listen to the examiner's full question, including its tense and focus, before responding.

Filler phrases such as 'That's an interesting question' buy thinking time but become penalized if overused.