Language Proficiency Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which sentence contains a split infinitive? → He wanted to boldly explore the cave.
2. What is the correct plural possessive form of 'children'? → children's
3. In English vocabulary, what is a 'prefix'? → A word part added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning
4. A passage's 'tone' in reading comprehension refers to: → The author's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject
5. Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly? → The boss's office is on the third floor.
6. The principle that speakers should say neither more nor less than is required for the current conversational purpose is called Grice's maxim of: → Quantity
7. A passage's final paragraph begins: 'In light of the evidence presented, one can only conclude...' This phrase signals: → The author is about to state their main conclusion
8. The word 'tenacious' means: → Holding firmly to a purpose; persistent
9. The process of one sound becoming more like a neighboring sound is called: → Assimilation
10. A speaker flouts Grice's maxim of Quality by saying 'Oh sure, he's a real genius' about someone who just made a mistake. This is an example of: → Irony
11. What is the purpose of 'True/False/Not Given' questions on the IELTS Reading test? → To determine if information matches, contradicts, or is absent from the text
12. The word 'exacerbate' most nearly means: → To make worse or more severe
13. On TOEFL iBT, the Academic Discussion task requires you to write at least how many words in 10 minutes? → 100 words
14. When a speaker's voice trails off at the end of statements, it typically signals: → Completion of a thought or declarative statement
15. A speaker says: 'While I appreciate your enthusiasm, we need to table this discussion until the next meeting.' What does 'table' mean in this context? → Postpone it for later
16. What is a 'run-on sentence'? → Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction
17. Which concept refers to the implied meaning that goes beyond the literal words spoken? → Implicature
18. Which format is most commonly used to assess listening comprehension in a standardized language test? → Multiple-choice questions based on audio passages
19. What does it mean to 'listen critically'? → Evaluating the reliability, logic, and evidence of what is being said
20. What does 'pragmatic' mean? → Dealing with practical matters rather than theory
21. What literary device is used in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees'? → Personification
22. Choose the correct pronoun: 'Between you and ___, this plan will not work.' → me
23. In a passage, a paragraph begins with: 'Not everyone agrees with this view. Critics point out that...' This paragraph most likely serves to: → Present a counterargument or opposing perspective
24. What is 'active listening'? → Fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to a speaker
25. Which transitional expression signals a CONCESSION — acknowledging an opposing point before continuing with the main argument? → Admittedly
26. What is 'note-taking' used for in language proficiency listening tests? → To capture key ideas and details quickly for use when answering questions
27. Which example correctly uses an em dash? → The answer—42—surprised everyone.
28. What is 'contextual vocabulary' as tested in reading comprehension sections? → The meaning of a word based on how it is used in the surrounding text
29. What is the purpose of a 'topic sentence' in a body paragraph? → To introduce the main idea of the paragraph
30. Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly? → He finished the report; however, his manager requested revisions.