CBST Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. In a workplace safety manual, the phrase 'employees must' is used throughout. What does this language indicate? → Mandatory requirements that must be followed
2. What role does continuing education play in Spatial Reasoning? → Keeping practitioners current with evolving best practices and new developments
3. Which sentence structure error occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma? → Comma splice
4. A passage contains the sentence: 'While some managers prefer digital reports, others find printed copies easier to review.' What is the author's purpose? → To present two different perspectives without taking a side
5. An employee earns $17.50 per hour and works 42 hours in a week. If overtime is paid at 1.5× for hours over 40, what is the gross pay? → $752.50
6. A budget report shows planned spending of $12,400 and actual spending of $13,755. What is the budget variance, and is it favorable or unfavorable? → $1,355 unfavorable
7. A refrigerator works by circulating a refrigerant. What happens when the refrigerant evaporates inside the refrigerator? → It absorbs heat, cooling the interior
8. If a writer wants to explain the reasons an event occurred and its results, which text structure is most appropriate? → Cause and effect
9. The CBST uses a norm group to establish score benchmarks. What population typically forms this norm group? → Job applicants in the U.S. workforce across various industries
10. Five shipments arrive weighing 34 lbs, 51 lbs, 28 lbs, 67 lbs, and 45 lbs. What is the average weight per shipment? → 45 lbs
11. Which study resource is generally least helpful for preparing for the Criteria Basic Skills Test? → General interest books on unrelated topics
12. Which sentence correctly uses a colon? → He had one goal: to finish the race.
13. What is the function of a 'bridge sentence' between paragraphs? → To smoothly connect the idea of one paragraph to the next
14. How can candidates best address areas of weakness identified during practice for the Criteria Basic Skills Test? → By seeking additional help or tutoring in those specific areas
15. How are test results typically communicated to candidates? → By email or online portals where scores are posted
16. A CBST score report shows a candidate's Verbal score is higher than their Math score. How should an employer interpret this? → The candidate may be stronger in language tasks than numerical tasks
17. A circuit has two 6-ohm resistors connected in parallel. What is the total resistance? → 3 ohms
18. What is the most important foundational concept in Spatial Reasoning? → Understanding core principles and their practical application in Spatial Reasoning
19. A candidate is preparing for the CBST math section. Which resource would be MOST useful? → A GED math practice workbook covering arithmetic and basic algebra
20. Which approach is most effective for problem-solving in Attention to Detail? → Systematic analysis followed by evidence-based decision making
21. Department A spent $96,000 out of total company spending of $480,000. What percentage of total spending does Department A represent? → 20%
22. Company policy requires records to be kept for 7 years. Records created in March 2019 may be destroyed no earlier than: → March 2026
23. When a CBST question asks for the 'best title' of a passage, what should you select? → A title that captures the overall main idea
24. Which of the following best describes the purpose of an introduction in a formal essay? → To provide background information and present the thesis
25. A manager needs to schedule 4 employees for an 8-hour shift with two 15-minute breaks each. What is the total paid break time for all employees? → 120 minutes
26. Water flows through a pipe that narrows from a 4-inch diameter to a 2-inch diameter. What happens to the water pressure in the narrower section? → It decreases
27. Which approach best helps a candidate improve CBST reading comprehension scores over two weeks? → Daily practice with short passages followed by answering comprehension questions
28. When filing documents alphabetically, which name would be filed LAST? → Carr, Thomas
29. A workplace document states: 'All employees are encouraged to report safety concerns, but reporting is not mandatory.' What is the key distinction being made? → Reporting is recommended but optional
30. What quality metrics are most important in Spatial Reasoning? → Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction