UX Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which metric measures the percentage of participants who successfully complete a given task? → Task completion rate
2. Which type of data is typically analyzed using statistical methods in UX research? → Quantitative data
3. What is the primary purpose of a heuristic evaluation in UX research? → To identify usability issues based on established usability principles
4. Which UX research methodology involves observing users in their natural environment to understand how they interact with a product? → Contextual Inquiry
5. What is the recommended placement for sensitive or personal questions within a UX survey? → Near the end after rapport is established
6. When should a UX researcher share the interview's consent form with the participant? → At the very beginning, before any questions are asked
7. When presenting synthesis findings to a non-research audience, which format is most effective? → A narrative report with supporting quotes, visuals, and clear 'so what' implications
8. What does 'sample representativeness' mean in quantitative UX research? → The sample accurately reflects the key characteristics of the target user population
9. During a heuristic evaluation, what is meant by the term "visibility of system status"? → The system should always keep users informed about what is happening
10. In accessibility research, what does 'focus order' refer to? → The sequence in which keyboard focus moves through interactive elements
11. Which set of guidelines serves as the primary international standard for web accessibility? → Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
12. What is the primary purpose of using a screener survey before a UX study? → To filter and recruit participants who meet specific study criteria
13. What does 'response rate' measure in survey research? → The percentage of invited participants who complete the survey
14. What distinguishes a 'finding' from a 'recommendation' in a research report? → A finding states what was observed; a recommendation proposes an action based on it
15. What is a 'research repository' in a UX team context? → A centralized, searchable archive of past research studies, findings, and raw data
16. Which UX research method involves asking users to organize content into logical groups? → Card Sorting
17. What does 'time on task' measure in a usability test? → How long a participant takes to complete a specific task
18. What does 'research democratization' mean in a UX context? → Enabling non-researchers across the organization to conduct and access research
19. What is rapport-building at the start of a user interview designed to achieve? → Make the participant feel at ease so they speak more openly
20. What is the purpose of a pre-test questionnaire in a usability study? → To collect demographic and experience background data
21. What is the primary purpose of a semi-structured interview in UX research? → To allow flexibility while covering key topics
22. In UX research, what is 'opportunity sizing'? → Estimating the business value or user impact of addressing a specific problem
23. Why is the System Usability Scale (SUS) widely used in usability testing? → It is a validated, quick 10-item questionnaire that produces a single usability score
24. What is the purpose of a 'discussion guide' in a focus group or interview study? → A researcher's flexible outline of topics and questions to guide the conversation
25. During an affinity mapping session, what should be written on each sticky note? → A single discrete observation, quote, or data point
26. What does a p-value below 0.05 indicate in quantitative UX research? → The result is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level
27. Which factor is most important when selecting a UX research method? → Whether the research question calls for attitudinal or behavioral data
28. What is a 'hallway usability test'? → A quick, informal test with whoever is conveniently available
29. What is an 'accessibility audit' in the context of UX research? → A systematic evaluation of a product against accessibility standards to identify barriers
30. Which technique involves translating raw interview quotes directly into short descriptive labels before grouping them into themes? → Verbatim coding / open coding