Competitive English Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Competitive English facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which pronoun change is correct when converting: "I lost my umbrella," she said. → She said that she had lost her umbrella.
2. Choose the SYNONYM of 'AMBIGUOUS'. → Vague
3. She said, 'I have finished my homework.' — Identify the correct indirect speech. → She said that she had finished her homework.
4. Mike asked me, "Did you see the Cricket match on the television last night?" → Mike asked me whether I had see the Cricket match on television the earlier night
5. Choose the SYNONYM of 'SPURIOUS'. → Fake
6. Select the correctly written sentence. → Between you and me, this is wrong.
7. Convert to indirect speech: "We won the championship last year," the captain announced. → The captain announced that they had won the championship the previous year.
8. Choose the correct meaning of 'VERBOSE'. → Using more words than needed
9. He said, 'I need not attend the meeting.' — Which is the correct indirect speech? → He said that he need not attend the meeting.
10. Did the sun rise in the East, the young child asked her mother? → The little girl asked her mother if the sun rose in the East
11. Which sentence correctly converts a mixed conditional to indirect speech: "If I were rich, I would travel the world," he said. → He said that if he were rich, he would travel the world.
12. She said, 'I may go to the party.' — Identify the correct indirect speech. → She said that she might go to the party.
13. The term 'FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE' in a passage refers to: → Language that uses figures of speech like metaphors and similes, not meant literally
14. Which sentence uses the word 'AFFECT' correctly? → The drug will affect her sleep.
15. Which sentence is grammatically CORRECT? → He doesn't know the answer.
16. The authorities ______ an investigation into the financial misconduct at the firm. → launched
17. The phrase 'in lieu of' means: → Instead of
18. What does the idiom 'BITE THE BULLET' mean? → To endure a painful or difficult situation
19. She ______ a living by teaching English online to international students. → makes
20. Which sentence is CORRECT? → He is senior to me.
21. Choose the appropriate passive voice for the provided sentence. We carefully examined the plan. → The plan has been looked at carefully
22. The construction project was completed ______ schedule, impressing the investors. → ahead of
23. The word 'RESILIENT' most closely means: → Able to recover quickly from difficulties
24. Which word best fills the blank? 'The scientist's claim was _____, as it lacked supporting evidence.' → Dubious
25. What is the meaning of 'ALOOF'? → Not friendly or forthcoming; distant
26. Select the ANTONYM of 'LOQUACIOUS'. → Reserved
27. 'CAUSE AND EFFECT' in a passage describes: → The relationship between an event (cause) and the result it produces (effect)
28. What does 'SUMMARIZING' a passage mean? → Restating the main points briefly in your own words
29. What is the ANTONYM of 'METICULOUS'? → Careless
30. The word 'EPHEMERAL' most nearly means: → Short-lived