CLAST Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. If 4x − 2y = 10 and y = 3, what is x? → 4
2. Solve the system: x + y = 7 and x − y = 3 → x = 5, y = 2
3. A passage states: 'Rain forests produce oxygen, support biodiversity, and regulate climate.' The structure of this sentence is an example of: → Parallel structure listing multiple functions
4. What is the circumference of a circle with diameter 10 cm? (Use π ≈ 3.14) → 31.4 cm
5. Which of the following is a run-on sentence? → She studied she passed.
6. Which of the following best describes an 'inference' in reading comprehension on the CLAST? → A conclusion drawn from implied information
7. In the sentence 'The senator's speech was filled with bombastic claims,' 'bombastic' most likely means: → High-sounding but unsubstantiated
8. Simplify: 5² + 3 × 4 − 6 ÷ 2 → 34
9. A CLAST passage about climate change uses mostly emotional language and personal stories rather than data. This approach is BEST described as: → Pathos (emotional appeal)
10. Which approach is MOST appropriate when beginning a CLAST essay introduction? → Use a broad, engaging hook followed by narrowing context and a thesis
11. A reader encounters the phrase 'on the other hand' in a passage. This phrase indicates the author is about to present: → A contrasting idea
12. In which sentence is the word 'sanction' used to mean 'to give official approval'? → The committee chose to sanction the new policy.
13. What does the following sample mean look like? 6, 4, 28, 21, 28, 28, 26, 28, 14, 9, 28 → 20
14. What is the area of a triangle with base 10 cm and height 6 cm? → 30 cm²
15. What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 6 and 8? → 24
16. Convert 5 feet to inches. → 60 inches
17. Which essay structure does the CLAST essay section primarily assess? → Five-paragraph expository or argumentative essay
18. Convert 0.045 to a fraction in lowest terms. → 9/200
19. In a CLAST passage, the author uses the phrase 'a double-edged sword' to describe social media. This phrase most likely means social media: → Has both benefits and drawbacks
20. Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' versus 'effect'? → The rain will affect our plans.
21. If a number is divisible by both 3 and 4, it must also be divisible by: → 12
22. What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular hexagon? → 120°
23. "Pam is going to work and Kay is going shopping," in the negative, means: → Pam is not going to work or Kay is not going shopping
24. A trapezoid has bases of 8 cm and 12 cm and a height of 5 cm. What is its area? → 50 cm²
25. In essay scoring, 'unity' refers to: → All sentences and paragraphs supporting the thesis
26. Which context clue type is used in: 'The arid, or extremely dry, climate made farming nearly impossible'? → Definition clue embedded in the sentence
27. The word 'tenacious' in 'She was tenacious in her pursuit of a medical degree' most closely means: → Persistent
28. Which pair of words are synonyms? → Loquacious / Talkative
29. "If Joe moves back east, then he will feel homesick" has the following logical equivalent: → Joe will get homesick, or he does not move back east
30. A CLAST passage discusses both sides of a debate about nuclear energy. What is the author's most likely purpose? → To inform readers by presenting multiple perspectives