ICAS Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which of the following words is a proper noun? → London
2. What is the main source of energy for Earth? → Sun
3. Which sentence uses 'its' (without apostrophe) correctly? → The cat licked its paw very carefully.
4. Which word is a proper noun? → London
5. What does the term 'algorithm' refer to in digital technology? → A step-by-step process
6. In a digital computing context, what is the primary reason for using the binary system (base-2) to represent data? → It directly corresponds to the two-state (on/off) nature of electronic circuits.
7. Which sentence uses a simile? → They were studying
8. Which force pulls objects toward the Earth? → Gravity
9. In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly to show plural possession? → The students' projects were all displayed in the hall.
10. What is the primary purpose of a 'call to action' at the end of a persuasive text? → To tell the reader what specific action they should take next.
11. Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between the numbers in the sequence: 2, 6, 18, 54, ...? → Each number is 3 times the previous number.
12. Which sentence is written in the active voice? → Maria wrote the letter to her friend.
13. What is the next number in the sequence: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___? → 11
14. Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly? → The dog's tail is wagging happily.
15. What does 'predict' mean? → Guess the future
16. What part of speech is the word 'quickly'? → Adverb
17. Which sentence contains a simile? → The thunder roared like an angry lion.
18. Which device is used to input information into a computer? → Printer
19. What is half of 100? → 50
20. Computers process and store all information using a base-2 number system. What is the name of this system and which two digits does it use? → Binary, using 0 and 1
21. What happens when water is heated to 100°C? → It boils
22. Which organ pumps blood through the body? → Heart
23. In the sentence 'She wore a small old gray wool hat,' which is the correct order of adjective types used? → size, age, color, material
24. Which of the following sentences correctly uses the plural forms of 'roof' and 'echo'? → The loud echoes bounced off the roofs of the houses.
25. Which of the following words is an exception to the common "i before e, except after c" spelling rule? → Seize
26. Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence? → I wanted to go, so I bought a ticket.
27. Which of the following is a question? → Are you okay?
28. Which of the following sentences best demonstrates the narrative technique of 'showing, not telling'? → His shoulders slumped and he stared at the floor, avoiding everyone's eyes.
29. What is a web browser? → A web editor
30. Which of the following is a key characteristic of high-level programming languages compared to low-level languages? → They offer greater abstraction from the hardware, making them easier to read and write.