NYSTCE Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Roberta has a mild learning disability. Which of the following placements is most appropriate for her? → A regular classroom with consultation and support from the resource specialist
2. Which landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review in the United States? → Marbury v. Madison
3. Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in an ecosystem? → They break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients
4. When determining placement for a child with a classification of SED, which of the following factors should not be considered? → Music preferences
5. What does the term 'biodiversity' refer to in an ecological context? → The variety of life forms including species, genes, and ecosystems in a region
6. Which reading strategy involves making inferences based on prior knowledge and text clues? → Inferencing
7. Which of the following best describes a function that is onto (surjective)? → Every element in the codomain has at least one preimage
8. Which of the following is equivalent to log₂(32)? → 5
9. What is the function of the cell membrane? → To regulate what enters and exits the cell
10. Which of the following electron configurations represents a ground-state atom in its most stable form? → 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s²
11. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale has formal assessments for which of the following age groups? → Ages 4 to adult
12. Which instructional framework emphasizes teaching content-specific vocabulary before, during, and after reading? → Content-Area Literacy Instruction
13. A teacher adjusts the pace, depth, and materials of a lesson to meet the needs of advanced learners. This is an example of: → Differentiated instruction
14. Which level of protein structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain? → Tertiary structure
15. Which of the following best describes formative assessment? → Ongoing assessment used to monitor student progress and adjust instruction
16. The cost of assistive technology is often high and can present a challenge to parents. Which of the following funding sources might provide help? → State programs for children with special health needs
17. Which type of comprehension question asks students to recall information stated directly in the text? → Literal
18. Cooling down after rigorous exercise is important as abrupt cessation may result in blood pooling in the legs, consequently resulting in: → B and C
19. What are “ear” words? → Words in which every sound can be heard
20. Characteristics of an effective health education curriculum include: → All of the above
21. Which organelle is primarily responsible for detoxifying harmful substances in liver cells? → Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
22. Which property is demonstrated by the equation 3 × (4 + 5) = 3 × 4 + 3 × 5? → Distributive property
23. A teacher reads a poem aloud with expression, rhythm, and pacing. Which skill is being modeled? → Fluency
24. In a titration, 25.0 mL of 0.200 M NaOH is required to neutralize 20.0 mL of an unknown monoprotic acid. What is the molarity of the acid? → 0.250 M
25. Which of the following best describes the purpose of 'close reading' as an instructional strategy in ELA? → Students annotate a complex text across multiple readings to build deep comprehension
26. Alcohol consumption lowers blood glucose by: → Inhibits gluconeogenesis
27. Brandon also has difficulty copying work from the board or Smart Board. Mrs. Williams should try which of the following strategies? → Place Brandon at the front of the class so he can see the board more clearly.
28. Under IDEA, what does 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) mean for students with disabilities? → Students should be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
29. Mr. Jones is ordering books for a new classroom. What types of books will best meet the needs of his students? → A variety of fiction and non-fiction books on many topics and at many reading levels
30. Which social studies skill does a student demonstrate when they identify an author's credentials, publication date, and potential bias before using a source? → Source evaluation (lateral reading)