SOL Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which Union general commanded the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg? → George Meade
2. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 required what? → Accurate labeling and ban on adulterated foods and drugs
3. Which document begins with 'We the People'? → The Constitution
4. What defines a "best practice" in professional settings? → A method or technique that has consistently shown superior results through evidence
5. The Treaty of Paris (1783) is the document that: → Ended the American Revolution and recognized U.S. independence
6. The Stamp Act Congress of 1765 communicated colonial opposition to Parliament using which principle? → No taxation without representation
7. Who negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War for the United States? → Franklin, Adams, Jay
8. Which question would a historian ask to analyze the significance of an event like the Emancipation Proclamation? → What short- and long-term effects did it have?
9. The Bill of Rights was ratified in: → 1791
10. Which 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine persuaded many colonists to support independence? → Common Sense
11. What is the primary purpose of data analysis in professional practice? → To transform raw data into actionable insights for decision-making
12. Which New Deal program insures bank deposits to reduce the risk of bank runs? → The FDIC
13. What was the main purpose of the Black Codes passed by Southern states immediately after the Civil War? → To restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans
14. What was the purpose of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862? → To fund a transcontinental railroad linking the East and the West Coast
15. The Securities and Exchange Commission (1934) was created to regulate what? → The stock market
16. How often should compliance procedures be reviewed and updated? → Regularly, and whenever regulations change or new risks are identified
17. Which president led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II? → Franklin D. Roosevelt
18. Which 1935 New Deal law created a system of retirement benefits? → Social Security Act
19. OSHA, created in 1970, regulates what? → Workplace safety and health
20. Which of the following is a primary source for studying Jamestown? → A letter written by a Jamestown colonist in 1610
21. What is the primary objective of Virginia & US History Test certification? → To validate professional competence in virginia & us history
22. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, connected the Hudson River to which body of water? → Lake Erie
23. Which action best shows responsible use of evidence in a history report? → Citing the sources used to support each claim
24. A map of early Virginia shows Jamestown located along which river? → James River
25. What is the first step in the risk management process? → Risk identification — recognizing potential threats and vulnerabilities
26. How should negative or difficult information be communicated to stakeholders? → Honestly and promptly, with proposed solutions or mitigation steps
27. What was one strategic purpose of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803? → To gain control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans for American trade
28. Who commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia? → Robert E. Lee
29. What characterizes a high-performing team? → Clear goals, mutual trust, open communication, and shared accountability
30. Comparing the economies of the Northern and Southern states before 1860 is an example of which skill? → Comparing and contrasting