Stanford Achievement Test Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What does it mean to use 'voice' in writing? → The unique style and personality a writer brings to their work
2. Which of the following best describes an ecosystem? → A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment
3. What is the term for animals that eat only plants? → Herbivores
4. What is the likelihood of drawing a red marble at random from a box containing 12 red marbles and 8 blue marbles? → 50%
5. A student is writing a report about weather phenomena. Which word should they use to describe something that happens very suddenly and unexpectedly? → Abruptly
6. Which of the following is a renewable natural resource? → Solar energy
7. The manager needed to _________ the new policy to ensure all employees understood the changes. → disseminate
8. Choose the proper noun to complete the phrase "The dog chased the ball." → dog
9. What word(s) describe the phrase "The big red balloon floated away" as an adjective? → big
10. Identify the misspelled word in the following list. → Pronounciation
11. Read the sentence: 'Neither the teacher nor the students ______ satisfied with the new classroom layout.' Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? → was
12. What is habitat loss? → The destruction or degradation of the natural environment where animals live
13. Which writing technique uses vivid details to paint a picture in the reader's mind? → Descriptive writing
14. What is the role of supporting details in a body paragraph? → To prove or explain the topic sentence
15. Which of the following words is spelled correctly? → Mischievous
16. What does "XL" stand for in Roman numerals? → 40
17. A passage describes rain clouds forming, strong winds starting, and then heavy rain falling. What organizational structure is this? → Chronological order
18. A store sells apples for $0.45 each. Marcus buys 12 apples and pays with a $10 bill. How much change does he receive? → $4.60
19. Find the adverb in the following statement: "She ran quickly." → quickly
20. A student hears a passage about recycling and is asked what problem recycling helps solve. This question tests the ability to identify— → A problem-and-solution relationship
21. What is a primary source in research? → An original document or firsthand account, such as a diary or photograph
22. When a student listens and the narrator says 'for example,' the student should expect to hear— → A specific illustration of the previous idea
23. What does 'paraphrasing' mean? → Restating information in your own words
24. In a forest ecosystem, which of the following is an example of a producer? → An oak tree making its own food using sunlight.
25. What does the index of a book help you find? → Where specific topics or terms are discussed in the book
26. Which is an example of a simile? → Her smile was as bright as sunshine.
27. Which technique helps a writer brainstorm ideas before writing? → Mind mapping or webbing
28. If a baker can decorate 3 cakes in 45 minutes, how many hours will it take to decorate 18 cakes at the same rate? → 3 hours
29. What process do plants use to convert sunlight into food? → Photosynthesis
30. The play "Romeo and Juliet" was written by who? → William Shakespeare