ISASP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which text structure presents events in the order they happened? → Chronological order
2. What type of question on the ISASP Reading test asks you to determine how a specific paragraph contributes to the overall text? → A text structure and development question
3. On the ISASP Writing assessment, what is meant by 'audience awareness'? → Adjusting tone, vocabulary, and content to suit the intended reader
4. Which of the following is required for a plant to produce glucose? → Carbon dioxide
5. In a pie chart showing percentages, what must all the sections add up to? → 100%
6. Which shapes have four right angles at all times? → Square and rectangle
7. Five-pound bags of oranges cost $3.00 a piece from a fruit stand. Every bag contains fifteen oranges. How much does an orange cost? → $0.20
8. What is the purpose of a text's 'supporting details'? → To back up and explain the central idea
9. What natural resource has historically made Iowa one of the most agriculturally productive states in the U.S.? → Rich, deep topsoil created by glacial deposits and prairie grasses
10. Which sentence correctly uses a comma with a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses? → She studied hard for the ISASP, so she felt confident on test day.
11. What does the Latin root 'bene-' mean in words like 'benefit,' 'benevolent,' and 'benefactor'? → Good or well
12. A carton holds a dozen eggs. How many eggs does the carton contain if it is one-third full? → 4
13. What does 'popular sovereignty' mean in U.S. democracy? → Government power comes from the consent of the governed (the people)
14. On the ISASP ELA test, what does the word 'connotation' mean? → The emotional association or implied meaning a word carries beyond its literal definition
15. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) was significant because it: → Roughly doubled the size of the United States by acquiring land from France
16. In a year, ABC Apparel sold 19,824 T-shirts. What is the monthly average of T-shirt sales for the company? → 1,652
17. Which river forms Iowa's eastern border with Illinois and Wisconsin? → The Mississippi River
18. What does it mean for ISASP to be a 'criterion-referenced' assessment? → Student scores are compared against set learning standards, not against other students
19. What was the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation (1863)? → It declared enslaved people in Confederate states to be free
20. What document established the framework of the United States federal government? → The U.S. Constitution
21. What is the best way to check your work after completing an ISASP writing response? → Reread for clarity, evidence quality, and grammar/conventions before submitting
22. When the ISASP asks students to 'cite textual evidence,' what are they expected to do? → Provide specific quotes or details from the text to support an answer
23. The Great Depression (1929–1939) was primarily caused by: → A combination of stock market crash, bank failures, and declining consumer spending
24. A student is researching the effects of pollution on Iowa rivers for a science report. Which source would be MOST credible? → A report published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
25. What does the prefix 'mis-' mean in words like 'misunderstand,' 'mislead,' and 'misspell'? → Wrongly or incorrectly
26. On the ISASP Reading test, what does 'central idea' of a text mean? → The main point or message the author conveys throughout the text
27. What does 'federalism' mean in the context of the U.S. government, as covered on the ISASP? → A system that divides power between the national government and state governments
28. What does the word 'elaborate' mean when used as a verb, as might be tested on the ISASP? → To explain or develop an idea in greater detail
29. What is the role of the Supreme Court in the U.S. government? → To interpret laws and determine if they comply with the Constitution
30. On the ISASP, what is the difference between an explicit detail and an implicit meaning? → Explicit details are stated directly; implicit meanings must be inferred from clues