BS Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which molecule carries genetic information in most living organisms? → DNA
2. What is the formula for calculating the area of a circle? → A = πr²
3. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in a research paper? → To summarize existing knowledge and identify gaps in research
4. What determines the atomic number of an element? → The number of protons in the nucleus
5. What is an acid according to the Bronsted-Lowry definition? → A substance that donates a proton (H+) to another substance
6. What is a derivative in calculus? → A measure of how a function changes as its input changes (instantaneous rate of change)
7. What does the term 'validity' refer to in research design? → Whether the study measures what it is intended to measure
8. A wrench applies torque to a bolt. If the applied force is doubled and the lever arm is halved, how does the torque change? → It remains the same
9. What components of the following central nervous system are they? → Brain and spinal cord
10. Which type of cell division produces gametes (sex cells)? → Meiosis
11. Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor is: → Directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance
12. What is the term for an organism with two identical alleles for a gene? → Homozygous
13. In projectile motion, what primarily determines the horizontal range of a horizontally launched object (ignoring air resistance)? → The time the object is in the air
14. The ____ system consists of the liver and kidneys. → Excretory
15. Which human activity is the largest contributor to deforestation in the US? → Agricultural expansion and land clearing for farming
16. According to Coulomb's law, if one of two point charges is tripled while the distance between them remains the same, the electrostatic force: → Increases by a factor of 3
17. The tissue that ____ is the placenta. → supplies nutrients to a developing embryo
18. The work-energy theorem states that the net work done on an object equals: → The change in its kinetic energy
19. A huge rocky object circling the sun with craters on its surface and mostly composed of nickel and iron would fall into what category according to scientists? → Meteorite
20. Constructive interference between two waves occurs when: → Crests align with crests and troughs align with troughs
21. What is an integral in calculus? → The area under a curve, representing the accumulation of a quantity
22. What does the term 'genotype' refer to? → The genetic makeup of an organism
23. Which type of electromagnetic radiation carries the highest energy per photon? → Gamma rays
24. What is an operational definition in research? → A precise description of how a variable will be measured
25. What is gene expression? → The process by which a gene's information is used to produce a functional product
26. What are the building blocks of proteins? → Amino acids
27. Which of the following is a renewable energy source? → Solar energy
28. What is a probability in mathematics? → A number between 0 and 1 expressing the likelihood of an event occurring
29. Your friend's calorie consumption is less than what his Harris-Benedict equation predicted, according to the registered dietitian. Why does this matter? → Your friend's caloric balance is negative.
30. What is a confounding variable? → An uncontrolled variable that may influence the dependent variable