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 set of numbers is ordered from least to greatest? → −5, −1, 0, 3, 7
4. A line graph shows sales increasing from 200 units in January to 350 units in June. What is the percent increase? → 75%
5. Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence? → She studied hard, and she passed the test.
6. Mary was three times as old as Mark was five years ago. If Mark is 10 years old now, how old is Mary? → 20
7. What can be used in an evaluative essay when presenting a controversial viewpoint? → By presenting counterarguments.
8. Which of the following is a correct definition of 'probability'? → The likelihood that an event will occur
9. A cylinder has a radius of 5 cm and a height of 10 cm. Using π ≈ 3.14, what is its volume? → 785 cm³
10. A student rolls a standard number cube (1–6). What is the probability of rolling a number greater than 4? → 1/3
11. What causes ocean tides? → The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans
12. What does 'revising' mean in the writing process? → Rethinking and improving the content, organization, and clarity of writing
13. Which of the following points is included in the graph of f(x) = 2x - 2? → (3, 4)
14. 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
15. What is the purpose of using precise and specific vocabulary in writing? → To make writing clearer, more vivid, and more accurate
16. What is foreshadowing in a story? → Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story
17. What does 'figurative language' mean? → Language that uses imaginative expressions that go beyond literal meaning
18. What does it mean to 'summarize' a text? → To restate only the main ideas and key details in your own words
19. What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction? → Fiction is imaginative and made-up; nonfiction is based on real facts and events
20. Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement? → The group of scientists is conducting research.
21. Which property is illustrated by the equation 5 × (3 + 4) = 5 × 3 + 5 × 4? → Distributive property
22. Which of the following correctly describes the relationship in a parasitism? → One organism benefits at the expense of the other
23. A spinner has 8 equal sections: 3 red, 2 blue, 2 green, and 1 yellow. What is the probability of spinning blue? → 1/4
24. Which type of wave does NOT require a medium to travel through? → Electromagnetic waves
25. What process do plants use to make their own food? → Photosynthesis
26. What are the three main layers of Earth, from the outside in? → Crust, mantle, core
27. Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory element? → After the game, we ate pizza.
28. Which of the following best describes a food chain? → A sequence showing how energy passes from one organism to another
29. What does 'context clues' mean in reading? → Using the words and sentences around an unfamiliar word to determine its meaning
30. What is the difference between speed and velocity? → Speed describes how fast an object moves; velocity includes speed and direction