HBS Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What effect does short, punchy sentences have in creative writing? → They create tension and urgency
2. If the average of five numbers is 14, what is their total? → 70
3. Which gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis? → Carbon dioxide
4. Which literary device is used in: 'The thunder roared angrily'? → personification
5. What is the median of the following set of numbers: 3, 7, 8, 12, 15? → 8
6. In logic, if all cats are mammals and all mammals are animals, what can we conclude? → All cats are animals
7. A metaphor differs from a simile because it: → directly states one thing is another
8. Which shape is the odd one out? → Circle
9. The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from which country? → France
10. A number is divided by 4, then 5 is added. The result is 13. What is the original number? → 32
11. What is the value of 144 ÷ 0.12? → 1200
12. What is 3/8 expressed as a decimal? → 0.375
13. If x + y = 20 and x − y = 6, what is the value of x? → 13
14. An 'unreliable narrator' is one who: → may not be giving an accurate account of events
15. In a passage, the word 'benevolent' most nearly means: → kind and generous
16. A car costs $18,000. After a 15% discount, how much does it cost? → $15,300
17. Find the missing word: "Tree is to Forest as _______ is to Ocean." → Fish
18. What comes next in the sequence: → Triangle
19. What is the purpose of a 'hook' at the beginning of a story? → To grab the reader's attention immediately
20. Which technique makes dialogue feel natural in creative writing? → Using contractions and interruptions
21. A rectangle has length 9 cm and width 5 cm. What is the length of its diagonal? → √106 cm
22. What is the ratio 45:60 in its simplest form? → 3:4
23. A rectangle has a perimeter of 56 cm. If its length is 18 cm, what is its width? → 10 cm
24. In creative writing, 'pacing' refers to: → the speed at which the story moves forward
25. Which of these is an example of onomatopoeia? → The bang of the door echoed.
26. What does 'democracy' literally mean? → rule by the people
27. Which country has the largest population in the world? → India
28. In a group of 30 students, 18 like maths and 15 like science. If every student likes at least one subject, how many like both? → 3
29. Which shape completes the grid? → Shape A
30. A shop sells pens for $1.25 each. How much do 8 pens cost? → $10.00