AST Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is the best strategy when encountering an unfamiliar vocabulary word during a timed reading test? → Use surrounding context clues to determine the most likely meaning.
2. In a data table, the column labeled 'Dependent Variable' should contain: → The measured outcome values from the experiment
3. Which of the following is equivalent to cos(30°)? → √3/2
4. Which of these best describes an inference? → A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning
5. Which of the following represents the slope-intercept form of 6x - 2y = 10? → y = 3x - 5
6. A pie chart shows 40% for category A, 35% for B, and the rest for C. What percentage is C? → 25%
7. What is the x-intercept of the line 2x + 3y = 12? → (6, 0)
8. What correction is needed: 'The professor gave the assignment to the students whom had submitted late work.'? → Change 'whom' to 'who'
9. What causes the seasons on Earth? → The tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun
10. An author who uses the first-person pronoun 'I' throughout an essay is writing from which point of view? → First-person
11. What is the slope of a line perpendicular to y = 2x + 5? → −½
12. What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an argumentative essay? → To present the writer's central claim that will be supported throughout the essay
13. The physical and social environment in which a story takes place is its: → Setting
14. Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? → She likes swimming, running, and biking.
15. A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours. What is its average speed in miles per hour? → 60 mph
16. The equation x² + y² = 25 represents a circle with what radius? → 5
17. In fiction, a character who undergoes significant internal change is described as: → Dynamic
18. The data set {3, 7, 7, 9, 11} has a mean of 7.4. What is the range? → 8
19. A rectangle has a perimeter of 36 and a width of 6. What is its length? → 12
20. In the sentence 'Although she was tired, she continued working,' the word 'Although' introduces a: → Subordinate clause
21. What is the y-intercept of the line 5x + 2y = 14? → 7
22. A store sells a jacket originally priced at $120 at a 25% discount. What is the sale price? → $90
23. If a passage compares two historical events to show their similarities and differences, which text structure is being used? → Compare and contrast
24. When an author writes 'Admittedly, there are flaws in this approach,' the author is: → Acknowledging a counterargument to strengthen credibility
25. What is the vertex of the parabola y = x² - 6x + 5? → (3, -4)
26. The overall message or central insight about life conveyed by a literary work is its: → Theme
27. Choose the correct pronoun: '___ is going to the conference, him or her?' → Who
28. Which technique does an author use when saying 'The deadline crept closer like a predator stalking its prey'? → Simile
29. A 'straw man' fallacy occurs when someone: → Misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
30. A passage presents two opposing viewpoints on a policy. What is the author most likely trying to do? → Present a balanced analysis of the issue