EAP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of formal academic writing? → Contractions and colloquial expressions
2. In a research table, a p-value of 0.03 is reported alongside a result. What does this mean at the α = 0.05 significance level? → The result is statistically significant
3. Which sentence structure is most effective for signposting the transition between two main points in a presentation? → 'Having examined X, I would like to turn to Y, which builds on this by…'
4. Which frequency adverb functions as a hedging device in academic writing? → generally
5. Shikibu Murasaki, who wrote almost a thousand years ago, was one of the world’s _____ novelists. → earliest
6. What does the sentence 'The researcher's findings, while preliminary, suggest a promising avenue for future investigation' primarily convey? → The findings are early-stage but potentially worth pursuing.
7. Which sentence is grammatically correct and avoids a comma splice? → The sample size was small; therefore, the results may not be generalizable.
8. When a text uses enumeration signals such as 'first,' 'second,' and 'finally,' what is the author doing? → Listing items or steps in a structured sequence
9. Which construction demonstrates correct use of a conditional sentence in formal writing? → Should the hypothesis prove correct, the results would differ.
10. Which sentence correctly places a squinting modifier to avoid ambiguity? → Students who frequently practice grammar improve their writing.
11. When reading an academic graph, the y-axis does not start at zero. What concern does this raise? → Differences between values may appear exaggerated
12. What is the primary purpose of a 'signpost' phrase such as 'To summarize the key argument…' in an oral presentation? → To help the audience track the structure and follow along
13. Which of the following elements is essential for an effective presentation conclusion? → A brief summary of the main points and a final, memorable closing statement.
14. During a lecture, a professor shows a graph and says 'as you can see.' What should a listening student who cannot see the slide clearly do? → Note 'GRAPH — get later' and ask or find the slide after class
15. A student's essay has a thesis but each body paragraph discusses a different topic with no clear connection to the thesis. This problem is called: → Lack of unity
16. Which of the following situations requires a citation in academic writing? → Describing a specific experiment's methodology from a journal article
17. Which of the following is an example of a correctly formatted APA 7th edition in-text citation for a direct quote? → (Martinez, 2022, p. 14)
18. Read: 'The journalist remained impartial, presenting both sides without bias.' 'Impartial' means: → Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair
19. A line graph shows two variables over time, and the lines cross at one point. What does the crossing point indicate? → The two variables have equal values at that point in time
20. A synthesis that presents only sources supporting the writer's thesis while omitting contradictory evidence is an example of: → Confirmation bias in literature review
21. Jasmine is never late to meet her friends and sometimes arrives a few minutes early. Which best describes Jasmine? → Punctual
22. A student summarizes three pages of a source into two sentences and adds a citation. What should the citation indicate? → The full page range covered in the summary
23. Read: 'The data substantiate the hypothesis that diet influences cognitive performance.' 'Substantiate' means: → Provide evidence to support or prove
24. A student is drafting the conclusion for their argumentative essay. Which of the following should they AVOID including? → A new piece of evidence or a new sub-argument to support the thesis.
25. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure? → The study aims to identify, analyze, and report findings.
26. Which sentence correctly uses a fronted adverbial clause for emphasis in academic writing? → Although well-intentioned, the policy failed to achieve its objectives.
27. Which strategy is most effective for avoiding plagiarism during the note-taking stage? → Clearly label notes as direct quotes or paraphrases at the time of writing
28. A student writes a paper using only sources from one author and cites every use correctly. Is this plagiarism? → No, as long as all sources are properly cited
29. In academic writing, what does 'signposting' refer to? → Using language that guides the reader through the structure of the text
30. Which of the following is a key characteristic of effective EAP lecture notes for later academic writing? → They distinguish between the lecturer's claims and cited sources