This Praxis General Science (5435) cheat sheet compresses the four ETS content categories into a printable rundown of the facts examiners test most, from F = ma to plate tectonics. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free 5435 toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
Praxis General Science (5435) exam at a glance
- Questions: About 135 selected-response, across 4 content categories
- Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes)
- Score scale: 100–200 scaled score; passing score set by each state (commonly ~141 — confirm yours)
- Cost: Approximately $130 (verify at ets.org/praxis); wait 28 days between retakes
What’s on the Praxis General Science (5435) cheat sheet
- Nature & Impact of Science and Engineering (~15%) — scientific method, independent vs. dependent variables, accuracy vs. precision, systematic vs. random error, and the engineering design loop.
- Physical Science (~37%) — the largest category — atomic number and periodic trends, ionic vs. covalent bonding, conservation of mass, F = ma, KE = ½mv², v = fλ, and Ohm's law V = IR.
- Life Science (~26%) — cell theory, photosynthesis vs. respiration, DNA base pairs, dominant vs. recessive alleles, mitosis vs. meiosis, natural selection, and ~10% energy transfer per trophic level.
- Earth & Space Science (~22%) — Earth's layers, plate boundaries, the rock cycle and law of superposition, the water cycle and greenhouse effect, and why the 23.5° axial tilt drives the seasons.
How to use it in your final week
- Lead with Physical Science — it's the biggest category (~37%, roughly 50 of 135 questions), so weak chemistry and physics cost the most points. Master the sheet's periodic trends, bonding rules, and F = ma / KE = ½mv² / v = fλ block first.
- Do one fast pass across all four categories every day so nothing goes stale — the 5435 rewards breadth, not depth, and the danger is forgetting the science you studied least in school.
- Reread the sheet the morning of the test to refresh the memory hooks: protons define the element, energy drops ~10% per trophic level, seasons come from the 23.5° axial tilt (not distance from the Sun).
- Pair each review pass with a short timed set — 135 questions in 150 minutes is about 66 seconds each — so your pacing is automatic before exam day.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your Praxis General Science (5435) practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
Praxis General Science (5435) cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the Praxis 5435 cheat sheet is 100% free to download as a PDF, with no sign-up and no email required. It sits alongside Career Employer's free 5435 practice test, study guide, and flashcards so your whole prep stack is free in one place.
It condenses the highest-yield science into one quick reference organized by ETS's four content categories: Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science. Think core formulas (F = ma, KE = ½mv², v = fλ), the periodic-table trends, the photosynthesis and respiration equations, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle.
There is no single national cut — the 5435 is reported on a 100–200 scaled score and each state or licensing agency sets its own passing score (many land near 141, but yours may differ). Use the cheat sheet to lock in the facts, then confirm the exact score your state requires at ets.org and drill until your practice results clear it comfortably.
No — the sheet is a review and cram layer, not a full curriculum for a 135-question, four-domain exam. Its job is to compress what you already studied into one fast-recall page; pair it with timed practice tests to build stamina across Physical, Life, and Earth and Space Science.
Click the download button or the preview card near the top of this page and the PDF opens instantly — no account, no paywall. Bookmark this page so it's one tap away during your final week and on the morning of your test.
References
- 1.ETS. “Praxis General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) — Test Overview.” ets.org/praxis, 2026. ↑
- 2.ETS. “The Praxis Study Companion: General Science.” ets.org/praxis, 2026. ↑
- 3.ETS. “Understanding Your Praxis Scores.” ets.org/praxis, 2026. ↑
- 4.ETS. “How to Register for a Praxis Test.” ets.org/praxis, 2026. ↑
Career Employer
Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.
All PostsCareer Employer’s Editorial Process
Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.