Basic Ability Test Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. A data entry clerk records customer names. Which of the following entries contains a likely transposition error compared to the source 'Fitzgerald, Maureen'? → Fitzgerlad, Maureen
2. If 8 workers can complete a job in 6 days, how many days will 12 workers take to finish the same job? → 4 days
3. If today is Tuesday, then tomorrow is Wednesday. Today is not Tuesday. What can you conclude? → Nothing can be concluded about tomorrow
4. A chart shows product returns: Week 1: 10, Week 2: 15, Week 3: 12, Week 4: 13. Which week had the highest number of returns? → Week 2
5. A vehicle travels at 60 mph for 2 hours, then at 45 mph for 1 hour. What is the total distance traveled? → 165 miles
6. A line graph shows temperature rising from 60°F on Monday to 80°F on Friday over 4 equal intervals. What is the average daily increase? → 5°F
7. According to the rules of syllogisms, which of the following combinations of premises is not permitted in a valid argument? → Two negative premises
8. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The new policy will _____ employees to work from home.' → enable
9. In a 3×3 grid, the sum of each row equals 15. The first row is 2, 7, 6 and the second row is 9, 5, 1. What must the third row sum to? → 15
10. What term does not belong on this list? → Archaic
11. Each term in a sequence is obtained by multiplying the previous term by 3 and subtracting 1: 2, 5, 14, 41, ___. What comes next? → 122
12. Shapes in a pattern increase in size by 50% each step. If step 1 has a shape with area 4, what is the area at step 3? → 9
13. In a sequence, every third letter of the alphabet is listed starting from C: C, F, I, L, ___. What comes next? → O
14. A contract states: 'Net 30 days from invoice date, 2% discount if paid within 10 days.' Which interpretation is correct? → Payment is due in 30 days; paying within 10 days earns a 2% discount
15. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Which letter lies between the 13th letter from the left and the 4th letter from the right? → R
16. Which tool is best suited for tightening a bolt in a confined space with limited clearance? → Socket wrench with extension
17. Select the sentence in which pronoun reference is clear. → The board approved the plan after they reviewed it.
18. Find the next number in: 3, 8, 15, 24, 35, ___? → 48
19. In a row of boys, if A, who is 10th from the left, and B, who is 9th from the right, swap spots, A becomes 15th from the left. How many boys are in the row? → 23
20. Three workers complete a job in 6 days. How many days would it take one worker to complete the same job alone? → 18
21. A store marks up a $40 item by 25%. What is the selling price? → $50
22. Which of the following codes is different from the rest? → TXK-9920-NR
23. A shipping label reads: Order #88472, Ship To: 3309 Birchwood Lane, Portland OR 97201. Which copy of this label contains an error? → Order #88472, 3390 Birchwood Lane, Portland OR 97201
24. If tracks on the "music app" cost $3 each half dozen, how much would it cost to purchase 24 songs? → 12$
25. A train travels 360 miles in 4 hours. At the same speed, how long will it take to travel 270 miles? → 3 hours
26. No contract is valid without a signature. This contract is valid. What follows? → This contract has a signature
27. Which sentence uses active voice? → The committee approved the budget.
28. The following sentence contains one error: 'The meeting is schedullled for Tuesday, March 14th at 2:00 PM in Conference Room B.' What is wrong? → 'schedullled' is misspelled
29. Which sentence uses the correct comparative form? → This route is more direct than the other.
30. Numbers in a row: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___. What comes next? → 13