PSSA Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is characterization? → The way an author develops and reveals a character's personality and traits
2. What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength for waves traveling at the same speed? → Higher frequency means shorter wavelength
3. Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence? → She studied hard, and she passed the test.
4. Mary was three times as old as Mark was five years ago. If Mark is 10 years old now, how old is Mary? → 20
5. What can be used in an evaluative essay when presenting a controversial viewpoint? → By presenting counterarguments.
6. Which of the following is a correct definition of 'probability'? → The likelihood that an event will occur
7. A student rolls a standard number cube (1–6). What is the probability of rolling a number greater than 4? → 1/3
8. What causes ocean tides? → The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans
9. What does 'revising' mean in the writing process? → Rethinking and improving the content, organization, and clarity of writing
10. Which of the following points is included in the graph of f(x) = 2x - 2? → (3, 4)
11. A line plot shows the number of books read: × above 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. There are 3 X's above 3 and 2 X's above 5. What does this data tell us? → More students read 3 books than 5 books
12. What is the purpose of using precise and specific vocabulary in writing? → To make writing clearer, more vivid, and more accurate
13. What is foreshadowing in a story? → Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story
14. What does 'figurative language' mean? → Language that uses imaginative expressions that go beyond literal meaning
15. What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction? → Fiction is imaginative and made-up; nonfiction is based on real facts and events
16. Which of the following correctly describes the relationship in a parasitism? → One organism benefits at the expense of the other
17. A spinner has 8 equal sections: 3 red, 2 blue, 2 green, and 1 yellow. What is the probability of spinning blue? → 1/4
18. Which type of wave does NOT require a medium to travel through? → Electromagnetic waves
19. What process do plants use to make their own food? → Photosynthesis
20. What are the three main layers of Earth, from the outside in? → Crust, mantle, core
21. Which of the following best describes a food chain? → A sequence showing how energy passes from one organism to another
22. What does 'context clues' mean in reading? → Using the words and sentences around an unfamiliar word to determine its meaning
23. What is the difference between speed and velocity? → Speed describes how fast an object moves; velocity includes speed and direction
24. What is the setting of a story? → The time and place in which the story occurs
25. What does the term 'light-year' measure? → The distance light travels in one year
26. What is the primary cause of wind? → Differences in air pressure caused by uneven heating of Earth's surface
27. A frequency table shows: 1-10: 5 students, 11-20: 8 students, 21-30: 12 students, 31-40: 3 students. Which interval has the highest frequency? → 21–30
28. What is the correct use of a comma in a series? → Commas are placed after each item in the series, including before the conjunction
29. Which type of rock is formed when magma cools and solidifies? → Igneous rock
30. Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet'? → Mars