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 of the following best sums up President Woodrow Wilson's approach to international affairs at the start of World War I? → Neutral
2. At the beginning of the 20th century, journalists who looked into wrongdoing in society and politics were called: → muckrakers
3. Martin Luther's ideas gained traction, resulting in the formation of: → Protestantism
4. When did the earliest Homo sapiens leave Africa? → 100,000 to 400,000 years ago
5. What purpose did the Bay of Pigs invasion want to achieve? → overthrow the communist government in Cuba
6. Which of the following elements played the biggest role in the urbanization of the early 20th century? → Industrialization in the North
7. What was a factor in the dependability of nomads? → wild plants and animals
8. Which document serves as the supreme law of the United States? → The U.S. Constitution
9. With the exception of, geography uses images captured by remote sensing equipment → calculating death rates
10. Which of the following was the foundation for a covenant community in colonial New England? → Mayflower Compact
11. What time period is known for its emphasis on classical Greek and Roman texts? → Italian Renaissance
12. What was the Justinian code of laws' main objective? → To create a society that preserved the Greek and Roman traditions
13. What did the mandate system serve to accomplish? → It was intended to prepare territories for future independence
14. Why do most people in Mexico and Peru practice Catholicism? → Religion was spread in these areas by Spanish missionaries and colonists
15. What similarities did the Crusades share with the Islamic Jihad? → They attempted to militarily spread the message of their religion
16. The following are shared beliefs between the Christian and Islamic faiths: → A monotheistic god
17. Religious disagreements sparked a territorial dispute in the 20th century between: → Arabs and Israelis
18. Which of the following statements about sources is most accurate? → A primary source is preferred but in some cases a secondary can be better
19. The term "hunter-gatherers" is also used to refer to → nomads
20. Which element had the biggest impact on the start of World War II? → Militarism in Germany
21. What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances in the U.S. government? → To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
22. What unique restriction applies to Virginia's Governor regarding consecutive terms? → The Governor cannot serve two consecutive terms in office
23. The following factors in the modern world make it simple to undertake international business: → instant communication
24. The earliest recorded permanent agricultural settlement was founded in: → Mesopotamia near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
25. Which of the following best describes the laborers on an estate in medieval Europe? → a sizable population of peasants living at the estate and working in the fields
26. Which immigrant group has had a significant impact on American foreign policy since the 1960s? → Cubans
27. Which organization advocated for high tariffs to drive up the cost of imported goods in the middle of the 1800s? → Northern factory owners and workers
28. What country's American engagement in led to the most significant anti-war protests? → Vietnam
29. As a result of the initial Great Awakening, → a renewal interest in religion
30. Who leads the executive branch of Virginia's state government? → The Governor