IST Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is the purpose of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in an industrial workplace? → To provide step-by-step instructions ensuring tasks are performed consistently and safely
2. Which three-dimensional shape will you get if you rotate a rectangle around one of its sides? → Cylinder
3. A ratio of defective parts is 1:50. In a batch of 1,500 parts, how many are expected to be defective? → 30
4. Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), how many sections does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain? → 16
5. An order requires 3/4 of a roll of wire. If the full roll is 200 feet, how many feet are needed? → 150 ft
6. What does 'FIFO' stand for in industrial inventory and production management? → First In, First Out
7. Which OSHA standard covers the use of personal protective equipment in general industry? → 29 CFR 1910.132
8. A rectangular floor is 20 feet long and 15 feet wide. What is its area? → 300 sq ft
9. What does a red safety tag on a machine indicate? → Machine is locked out / out of service
10. In blueprint reading, what does the abbreviation 'OD' stand for? → Outer Diameter
11. A blueprint scale is 1 inch = 4 feet. If a wall measures 3.5 inches on the blueprint, how long is the actual wall? → 14 ft
12. What must an employer provide before requiring an employee to use a respirator in the workplace? → A medical evaluation of the employee
13. What does placing a dimension in parentheses — such as (2.500) — indicate on a blueprint? → The dimension is a reference only and is not used to control manufacturing
14. What is the standard frequency of AC power in the United States? → 60 Hz
15. What does a centerline (alternating long and short dashes) indicate in a technical drawing? → The axis of symmetry or center of a hole, cylinder, or symmetric feature
16. Which type of pliers is specifically designed to hold, cut, and crimp wire? → Lineman's pliers
17. What does the term 'kerf' refer to when cutting material? → The width of material removed by a cutting tool
18. Which problem-solving approach involves creating a diagram that organizes potential causes into categories such as Machine, Method, Material, and Manpower? → Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram
19. What do dashed lines represent in a technical drawing? → Edges or features hidden behind a visible surface
20. If Gear A has 20 teeth and Gear B has 40 teeth, how many rotations will Gear A make when Gear B makes one rotation? → 2 rotations
21. What does the notation 'TYP' (typical) mean when used with a dimension on a blueprint? → The same dimension applies to all identical or similar features on the drawing
22. According to the passage, what is one benefit of automated systems in manufacturing? → They increase production speed and consistency
23. A worker notices a recurring defect every 50th part produced. What type of issue does this most likely suggest? → A periodic or cyclical machine problem
24. What does AC stand for in electrical systems? → Alternating Current
25. What is the purpose of a ground wire in an electrical circuit? → To provide a safe path for fault current
26. If a cube is painted on all six faces and then cut into smaller cubes, how many of the smaller cubes will have paint on exactly two faces? → 12
27. What happens to the effort force required to lift a load if the length of the lever arm is increased? → It decreases
28. What is the purpose of a control chart in industrial quality control? → To monitor process variation over time and detect trends
29. What does the acronym 'PPE' stand for in an industrial workplace? → Personal Protective Equipment
30. In a wheel and axle system, what happens to the force applied if the radius of the wheel is larger than the radius of the axle? → The force is multiplied