HISET Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which one of the following waves is an example of a type of wave known as an electromagnetic wave? → gamma wave
2. The Holocaust during World War II resulted in the systematic murder of approximately how many Jewish people? → 6 million
3. This map illustrates the relationship between → humans and environment
4. What is equivalent to 3x(2 + 5y)? → 6x + 15xy
5. Which of the following best explains why the ocean absorbs large amounts of solar heat without dramatic temperature changes? → Water has a high specific heat capacity
6. What is the purpose of the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections? → To serve as a body of elected representatives who formally cast votes for president
7. A right triangle has legs of length 9 and 12. What is the length of the hypotenuse? → 15
8. This passage best illustrates the role of archaeologists in → interpreting evidence
9. How many outfit combinations are possible with six shirts, three slacks, and five ties? → 90
10. A graveyard on a wet winter evening is a typical example of a dark and dismal backdrop that tends to inspire a ____ feeling in readers. → melancholic
11. What happens when an element moves from one physical state to another? → Its chemical state remains the same.
12. Which of the following BEST describes a niche in ecology? → The role and position of an organism in its ecosystem
13. Which document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the English king and is considered a foundation of democratic rights? → The Magna Carta
14. A segment of a line with two ends. → line segment
15. Which of the following associations with the word grave is NOT true? → Warmth
16. The formula h - 15 = 3.2t gives the height h in inches of a plant t weeks after planting. Which is the rate at which the plant's height is increasing? → 3.2 inches per week
17. Which continent is the world's largest by land area? → Asia
18. Which of the following is a factor of 450 and multiple of 25? → 75
19. Which of the following lists is in chronological order? → Revolutionary War, Great Depression, first moon landing
20. What type of energy is stored in the chemical bonds of food? → Chemical potential energy
21. What was the primary cause of the Great Depression that began in 1929? → The stock market crash of October 1929, followed by bank failures and falling demand
22. The map illustrates the impact on the United States of the → Missouri Compromise
23. A cyclist is currently making their way up a hill. When exactly does his potential energy reach its highest point? → at the very top of the hill
24. Which domain includes prokaryotic organisms that often live in extreme environments like hot springs and salt lakes? → Archaea
25. Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised. → Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then
26. Which body has sole authority to declare war under the US Constitution? → The U.S. Congress
27. What is the term for the process by which a cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells? → Mitosis
28. What type of cell division produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the normal chromosome number? → Meiosis
29. Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised. → after they reach a certain age
30. A circle has a radius of 6 cm. What is its area? (Use π ≈ 3.14) → 113.04 cm²