UExcel Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? → Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
2. What is a lurking variable? → An unmeasured variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables
3. Which division of the autonomic nervous system increases heart rate and dilates bronchioles in a 'fight-or-flight' response? → Sympathetic division
4. A DNA virus is which of the following? → Calicivirus
5. What is cognitive dissonance? → The discomfort felt when holding two conflicting beliefs or acting against one's beliefs
6. What is the difference between denotation and connotation? → Denotation is the dictionary definition; connotation is the associated emotional meaning
7. What is the term for the tendency to attribute others' behavior to their character rather than the situation? → Fundamental attribution error
8. What does IQ stand for and how is it calculated? → Intelligence Quotient; mental age divided by chronological age, multiplied by 100
9. During depolarization of a neuron, which ion rapidly moves INTO the cell? → Sodium (Na+)
10. Which of the following is an example of a conflict of interest? → A purchasing officer selects their spouse's company for a contract without disclosure
11. Which of the diseases and germs listed below are mismatched? → Lyme disease – Yersinia pestis
12. What does coherence in writing refer to? → The logical flow and connection between ideas and sentences
13. What is parallelism in writing? → Using the same grammatical structure for elements in a series
14. Price-fixing between competitors is considered unethical and illegal because it: → Eliminates fair market competition and harms consumers by artificially inflating prices
15. Which term describes the lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors of their society? → Socialization
16. A corporate code of ethics primarily serves to: → Guide employee behavior and establish organizational values
17. Which of the following statements about Staphylococcus aureus is false? → Staphylococcus aureus does not make coagulase
18. Which of the following is an example of a primary source? → The original text of a historical speech
19. Which of the diseases and germs on this list are mismatched? → Yersinia enterocolitica – Diptheria
20. Which stage of sleep is most associated with vivid dreaming? → REM sleep
21. Which of the structures below contains enzyme and antibiotic resistance genes? → Plasmid
22. The citric acid cycle includes: → All of the above
23. A bribe differs from a legitimate business gift because: → A bribe is intended to improperly influence a business decision
24. Which bone is NOT part of the axial skeleton? → Scapula
25. What is a Type I error in hypothesis testing? → Rejecting a true null hypothesis
26. Which of the following best describes a social norm? → A shared expectation or informal rule that guides behavior within a group or society
27. During the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle, rising estrogen levels stimulate: → Endometrial lining rebuild
28. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement? → The committee has reached a decision.
29. In shock, impaired tissue perfusion leads to cellular injury primarily through: → Hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism resulting in lactic acidosis and cell death
30. The DSM-5 is used by mental health professionals to: → Classify and diagnose mental disorders