- What is a synonym?
- A word with nearly the same meaning as another (happy and joyful).
- What is an antonym?
- A word with the opposite meaning (happy and sad).
- How do you solve an analogy?
- Name the relationship in the first pair as a sentence, then apply it to the second pair — same relationship, same direction.
- Verbal classification: what's the task?
- Find the one word that does NOT belong with the others. Identify the shared category, then spot the outlier.
- Analogy: Glove : Hand :: Sock : ?
- Foot. A glove covers a hand as a sock covers a foot.
- Analogy type — Petal : Flower
- Part to whole. (A petal is part of a flower.)
- Analogy type — Brush : Painter
- Tool to user. (A painter uses a brush.)
- Prefix 'in-' or 'un-' usually means?
- Not / the opposite (incomplete = not complete; unhappy = not happy).
- Prefix 'bene-' means?
- Good or well (benevolent = well-meaning; benefit = a good result).
- Prefix 'mal-' means?
- Bad or wrong (malevolent = wishing harm; malfunction = work badly).
- Root 'aud' means?
- Hear (audible, audience, auditorium).
- Root 'spect' means?
- Look or see (inspect, spectator, spectacle).
- Root 'dict' means?
- Say or speak (dictate, predict, contradict).
- Root 'port' means?
- Carry (transport, portable, export).
- Synonym of 'abundant'
- Plentiful (more than enough).
- Antonym of 'abundant'
- Scarce (in short supply).
- Synonym of 'benevolent'
- Kind / well-meaning.
- Synonym of 'candid'
- Honest / frank / straightforward.
- Meaning of 'diligent'
- Hard-working and careful.
- Meaning of 'frugal'
- Thrifty; careful with money.
- Meaning of 'gregarious'
- Sociable; enjoying company.
- Meaning of 'meticulous'
- Extremely careful about details.
- Meaning of 'novice'
- A beginner; someone new to a task.
- Meaning of 'obscure'
- Unclear or little-known.
- Meaning of 'prudent'
- Wise and careful; showing good judgment.
- Meaning of 'reluctant'
- Unwilling; hesitant.
- Meaning of 'tedious'
- Boring and tiring because it is long or slow.
- Meaning of 'verify'
- To confirm that something is true.
- Meaning of 'arid'
- Very dry (an arid desert).
- Meaning of 'brevity'
- Shortness; using few words.
- Meaning of 'concise'
- Saying much in few words; brief and clear.
- Meaning of 'elated'
- Very happy or joyful.
- Antonym of 'elated'
- Dejected / downcast.
- Meaning of 'feasible'
- Possible; able to be done.
- Meaning of 'hostile'
- Unfriendly; aggressive.
- Meaning of 'inevitable'
- Certain to happen; unavoidable.
- Meaning of 'lethargic'
- Sluggish; lacking energy.
- Meaning of 'mundane'
- Ordinary; dull; everyday.
- Meaning of 'optimistic'
- Hopeful; expecting good outcomes.
- Antonym of 'optimistic'
- Pessimistic (expecting the worst).
- Meaning of 'placid'
- Calm and peaceful.
- Meaning of 'quaint'
- Charmingly old-fashioned.
- Meaning of 'rigorous'
- Strict, thorough, and demanding.
- Meaning of 'superficial'
- Shallow; on the surface only.
- Meaning of 'trivial'
- Of little importance; minor.
- Meaning of 'vital'
- Essential; absolutely necessary.
- Meaning of 'wary'
- Cautious; on guard.
- Meaning of 'zealous'
- Very enthusiastic and devoted.
- Meaning of 'ample'
- More than enough; plentiful.
- Meaning of 'coherent'
- Clear, logical, and well-organized.
- Meaning of 'deter'
- To discourage someone from doing something.
- Meaning of 'eloquent'
- Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.
- Meaning of 'futile'
- Pointless; incapable of producing a result.
- Meaning of 'humble'
- Modest; not proud or arrogant.
- Meaning of 'impartial'
- Fair; not favoring one side.
- Meaning of 'jubilant'
- Feeling or showing great joy.
- Meaning of 'keen'
- Sharp; eager or perceptive.
- Meaning of 'lament'
- To express deep sorrow or regret.
- Meaning of 'naive'
- Lacking experience or judgment; innocent.
- Meaning of 'oblivious'
- Unaware; not noticing what is happening.
- Meaning of 'persist'
- To continue firmly despite difficulty.
- Meaning of 'rational'
- Based on reason or logic; sensible.
- Meaning of 'scarce'
- In short supply; hard to find.
- Meaning of 'tranquil'
- Calm and peaceful.
- HSPT Logic question — what's the task?
- Given two statements, decide if a conclusion is true, false, or uncertain — reasoning strictly from the statements.
- Logic: All cats are mammals. Felix is a cat. So Felix is…?
- A mammal — true. The two statements guarantee it.
- Why is vocabulary the biggest Verbal Skills lever?
- Three of four question types (synonyms, antonyms, analogies) reward knowing the words.
- Synonym of 'pernicious'
- Harmful (especially in a gradual, subtle way).
- Antonym of 'exacerbate'
- Alleviate (to make a bad situation better, not worse).
- Meaning of 'paucity'
- A lack or scarcity of something.
- Number series: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___
- 15. Arithmetic series — add 3 each step.
- Number series: 2, 4, 8, 16, ___
- 32. Geometric series — multiply by 2 each step.
- Number series: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___
- 13. Fibonacci — each term is the sum of the two before it (5 + 8).
- Number series: 1, 4, 9, 16, ___
- 25. Perfect squares — 1², 2², 3², 4², 5².
- Number series: 81, 27, 9, 3, ___
- 1. Divide by 3 each step (geometric).
- Number series: 100, 90, 80, 70, ___
- 60. Arithmetic — subtract 10 each step.
- How do you identify an arithmetic series?
- The difference between consecutive terms is constant (add or subtract the same amount).
- How do you identify a geometric series?
- The ratio between consecutive terms is constant (multiply or divide by the same number).
- First thing to check on a stubborn number series?
- The differences between terms; if not constant, the ratios; then whether two patterns alternate.
- Series: 3, 6, 5, 10, 9, 18, ___
- 17. Alternating pattern: ×2, then −1 (18 − 1 = 17).
- Series: 1, 8, 27, ___, 125
- 64. Perfect cubes — 1³, 2³, 3³, 4³, 5³.
- Geometric comparison — what's the task?
- Compare quantities of figures (sides, areas, shaded parts), then choose the statement that orders them.
- Sides: triangle vs square vs pentagon
- 3 vs 4 vs 5 — pentagon > square > triangle.
- Non-geometric comparison — what's the task?
- Compute each numeric quantity, then order them (e.g. ½ of 20 vs ¼ of 40 vs ⅕ of 60).
- Compare: ½ of 20, ¼ of 40, ⅕ of 60
- 10, 10, and 12 — so ⅕ of 60 is greatest; the first two are equal.
- Number manipulation — what's the task?
- A word puzzle: translate the words into operations step by step (e.g. '3 more than half of 18' = 9 + 3 = 12).
- What number is 3 more than half of 18?
- 12. Half of 18 is 9, and 3 more is 12.
- Does Quantitative Skills require heavy calculation?
- No — it rewards reasoning and pattern-spotting. Computation is light.
- Series: 6, 13, 20, 27, ___
- 34. Arithmetic — add 7 each step.
- Series: 256, 128, 64, 32, ___
- 16. Geometric — divide by 2 each step.
- Series: 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, ___
- 19. The amount added grows by 1 each time (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5).
- What number is ¼ of 80?
- 20. Divide 80 by 4.
- What is twice the sum of 7 and 5?
- 24. The sum is 12, and twice 12 is 24.
- Pacing on Quantitative Skills?
- 52 questions in 30 minutes — under 35 seconds each; spot the pattern fast and move on.
- What number is 10% of 250?
- 25. Ten percent moves the decimal one place left.
- Series: 2, 6, 18, 54, ___
- 162. Geometric — multiply by 3.
- Series: 50, 45, 40, 35, ___
- 30. Arithmetic — subtract 5.
- Which is larger: ⅔ of 30 or ¾ of 24?
- Equal — both are 18.
- Series: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, ___
- 16. The amount added grows by 1 each step (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5).
- What number is 5 less than the product of 4 and 6?
- 19. 4 × 6 = 24, and 24 − 5 = 19.
- What is the main idea of a passage?
- The central point the whole passage supports — broader than any single detail, but never beyond what the text says.
- Main idea vs detail question?
- Main idea = the overall point; detail = one specific fact the passage states.
- What is an inference?
- A conclusion the passage implies but doesn't state. Pick the choice the text most directly supports.
- Cardinal rule of HSPT Reading?
- Answer only from the passage — never from outside knowledge.
- Where is the main idea often found?
- In the first or last sentence of a paragraph.
- How to choose a 'best title'?
- Pick the choice that covers the WHOLE passage, not just one paragraph.
- Vocabulary in context — how to answer?
- Use the sentence's tone and logic to predict the meaning, then match a choice; a real definition can still be wrong if it doesn't fit.
- Signal words that hint a word's meaning?
- 'but,' 'because,' 'for example' — they show whether the word is positive, negative, or defined nearby.
- Best strategy before re-reading a passage?
- Read the question first, so you know what you're hunting for.
- What is the tone of a passage?
- The author's attitude toward the subject (e.g. serious, humorous, critical, admiring).
- What is the author's purpose?
- Why the passage was written — usually to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe.
- What is the climax of a story?
- The highest point of tension or conflict — the turning point.
- What is the denouement?
- The final part of a story where the main conflict is resolved (the outcome).
- What is symbolism?
- Using an object or word to represent an abstract idea (a dove for peace).
- Metaphor vs simile?
- A simile compares using 'like' or 'as'; a metaphor states the comparison directly without them.
- What is a metaphor?
- A direct comparison that says one thing IS another ('time is money').
- What is a simile?
- A comparison using 'like' or 'as' ('brave as a lion').
- What is personification?
- Giving human qualities to non-human things ('the wind whispered').
- What is hyperbole?
- Deliberate exaggeration for effect ('I've told you a million times').
- First-person point of view — how to spot it?
- The narrator uses 'I' and 'we.'
- Third-person point of view?
- The narrator uses 'he,' 'she,' and 'they' and is outside the story.
- What is the setting of a story?
- The time and place in which the story happens.
- What is a protagonist?
- The main character of a story.
- What is an antagonist?
- The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
- What is foreshadowing?
- A hint early in a story about what will happen later.
- What is a flashback?
- An interruption of the chronological order to show an earlier event.
- What is the theme of a story?
- The central message or lesson about life it conveys.
- What is a context clue?
- A hint in the surrounding text that helps you figure out an unknown word's meaning.
- Fact vs opinion?
- A fact can be proven; an opinion expresses a belief or judgment.
- What does 'infer' mean in critical reading?
- To conclude something from evidence in the text rather than from a direct statement.
- Trap to avoid on inference questions?
- Choosing a conclusion that goes further than the passage supports or needs missing facts.
- What is hubris?
- Excessive pride or self-confidence (a common literary theme).
- What is irony?
- A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is meant.
- What is a subplot?
- A secondary plot that runs alongside the main story.
- What is alliteration?
- Repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words ('Peter Piper picked').
- What is the mood of a passage?
- The feeling or atmosphere it creates in the reader.
- What is a synonym used for in vocabulary questions?
- Choosing the word closest in meaning to a target word.
- How to handle a passage on an unfamiliar topic?
- Don't panic — every answer is in the text; you never need prior knowledge.
- Reading subtest split?
- Comprehension (questions about passages) plus vocabulary (word meanings).
- Reading pacing?
- 62 questions in 25 minutes — read efficiently and don't get stuck on one item.
- What does PEMDAS stand for?
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).
- Evaluate: 8 + 12 ÷ 4 − 1
- 10. Divide first (12 ÷ 4 = 3), then add and subtract: 8 + 3 − 1 = 10.
- Evaluate: (9 − 5)² + 2 × 3
- 22. Parentheses: 4; exponent: 16; then 2 × 3 = 6; 16 + 6 = 22.
- How do you find a percent of a number?
- Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 35% of 120 = 0.35 × 120 = 42.
- What is 35% of 120?
- 42. (0.35 × 120.)
- How do you take a 30% discount on a $150 item?
- Find 30% of 150 (= 45) and subtract: 150 − 45 = $105. Or multiply by 0.70.
- Formula for percent change?
- Change ÷ original × 100. Always divide by the starting value.
- 1/2 as a decimal and percent?
- 0.5 and 50%.
- 1/4 as a decimal and percent?
- 0.25 and 25%.
- 3/4 as a decimal and percent?
- 0.75 and 75%.
- 1/5 as a decimal and percent?
- 0.2 and 20%.
- 1/3 as a decimal and percent?
- About 0.333 and 33.3%.
- What is the mean of a data set?
- The average — add the values and divide by how many there are.
- What is the median?
- The middle value when the numbers are in order (it resists outliers).
- What is the mode?
- The value that appears most often (a set can have one, several, or no modes).
- Median of 22, 8, 15, 8, 19?
- 15. In order: 8, 8, 15, 19, 22 — the middle value is 15.
- Median with an even count?
- The average of the two middle values.
- Area of a rectangle?
- length × width.
- Area of a triangle?
- ½ × base × height.
- Area of a circle?
- π × radius², i.e. π times r squared (pi r²).
- Circumference of a circle?
- π × diameter, or 2 × pi × radius.
- Perimeter of a rectangle?
- 2 × (length + width).
- Sum of a triangle's interior angles?
- Always 180°.
- Angles on a straight line add up to?
- 180°.
- Angles around a point add up to?
- 360°.
- How do you solve a one-step equation?
- Do the inverse operation to both sides (if x + 5 = 12, subtract 5: x = 7).
- How do you solve a proportion?
- Cross-multiply, then solve (a/b = c/d means a × d = b × c).
- Exponent rule: 7⁸ ÷ 7³ = ?
- 7⁵. When dividing like bases, subtract the exponents.
- Exponent rule: xᵐ × xⁿ = ?
- Add the exponents: xᵐ × xⁿ = x to the (m + n). When multiplying like bases, add the powers.
- What does an exponent mean? (4²)
- Repeated multiplication — 4² = 4 × 4 = 16.
- What is √81?
- 9, because 9 × 9 = 81. (√ means the number that squares to give 81.)
- Order of integers: which is greater, −5 or −2?
- −2. On a number line, −2 is to the right of (greater than) −5.
- Multiply two negatives: (−3)(−4) = ?
- 12. A negative times a negative is positive.
- Multiply a negative and a positive: (−3)(4) = ?
- −12. A negative times a positive is negative.
- What is a prime number?
- A whole number greater than 1 with exactly two factors: 1 and itself (2, 3, 5, 7, 11).
- Is 1 a prime number?
- No. A prime must have exactly two factors; 1 has only one.
- What is the greatest common factor (GCF)?
- The largest number that divides two numbers evenly (GCF of 12 and 18 is 6).
- What is the least common multiple (LCM)?
- The smallest number both numbers divide into (LCM of 4 and 6 is 12).
- How do you add fractions with different denominators?
- Find a common denominator, rewrite each fraction, then add the numerators.
- How do you multiply fractions?
- Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators (½ × ⅔ = 2/6 = ⅓).
- How do you divide fractions?
- Multiply by the reciprocal — flip the second fraction and multiply.
- What is the absolute value of −7?
- 7. Absolute value is the distance from zero, always non-negative.
- What is 0.6 as a fraction?
- 6/10 = 3/5.
- Average speed formula?
- Distance ÷ time.
- What is 20% of 50?
- 10. (0.20 × 50.)
- What percent of 25 is 19? (rounded)
- 76%. Divide 19 by 25 (= 0.76) and multiply by 100.
- Probability formula?
- Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes (a value between 0 and 1).
- Is a calculator allowed on the HSPT?
- No — none of the subtests permit a calculator (except approved accommodations).
- Mathematics pacing?
- 64 questions in 45 minutes — the longest subtest, but the most time per question.
- How to check a word-problem answer?
- Confirm it is reasonable — re-read what was asked and estimate to see if the size makes sense.
- Convert 3/4 to a percent.
- 75%. Divide 3 by 4 (= 0.75) and multiply by 100.
- What is the range of a data set?
- The largest value minus the smallest value.
- Evaluate: 50 − 6 × 2 + 8 ÷ 4
- 40. Multiply and divide first (12 and 2): 50 − 12 + 2 = 40.
- What is 7 × 8?
- 56. (Know your times tables cold for a no-calculator test.)
- Volume of a rectangular box?
- length × width × height.
- What is an independent clause?
- A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- What is a comma splice?
- Joining two complete sentences with only a comma — an error. Fix with a period, semicolon, or comma + conjunction.
- When do you use a semicolon?
- To join two complete, related sentences without a conjunction, or to separate list items that contain commas.
- What can join two complete sentences?
- A period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so).
- What does a colon do?
- Introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
- What is subject-verb agreement?
- A verb must match its subject in number — singular subject, singular verb; plural subject, plural verb.
- Subject-verb agreement trap?
- Words between the subject and verb — match the verb to the TRUE subject, ignoring them.
- With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with…?
- The noun closest to it (the second subject).
- Its vs it's?
- 'Its' is possessive (the dog wagged its tail); 'it's' means 'it is' or 'it has.'
- Their, there, they're?
- 'Their' = possessive; 'there' = a place; 'they're' = 'they are.'
- Your vs you're?
- 'Your' is possessive; 'you're' means 'you are.'
- Affect vs effect?
- 'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result). Affect = Action, Effect = End result.
- Then vs than?
- 'Then' refers to time; 'than' is used for comparisons (taller than).
- Who vs whom?
- 'Who' is the subject (who is calling?); 'whom' is the object (to whom did you speak?).
- What is parallel structure?
- Using the same grammatical form for items in a series (to read, to write, to study).
- What is the passive voice?
- When the subject receives the action ('the ball was thrown by Sam') rather than doing it.
- What is a run-on sentence?
- Two complete sentences joined with no punctuation or conjunction. Fix by separating or joining them properly.
- What is a sentence fragment?
- An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
- What does an apostrophe show?
- Possession (the cat's toy) or a contraction (don't = do not).
- Possessive of a plural noun ending in s?
- Add only an apostrophe (the dogs' leashes).
- Possessive of an irregular plural (children)?
- Add apostrophe + s (the children's toys).
- What is an Oxford (serial) comma?
- The comma before 'and' in a list (red, white, and blue).
- Commas with coordinate adjectives?
- Separate them with a comma when each modifies the noun equally (a cold, dreary day).
- When do you capitalize a word?
- First word of a sentence, the pronoun 'I,' and proper nouns (specific names, places, days, months, holidays).
- Do you capitalize seasons?
- No — spring, summer, fall, and winter are common nouns.
- Do you capitalize directions like 'north'?
- Only when naming a region (the South); not as a direction (drive north).
- 'I before E' spelling rule?
- I before E, except after C, or when sounded like 'ay' (neighbor, weigh).
- Spelling: 'necessary' — how many c's and s's?
- One c, two s's (n-e-c-e-s-s-a-r-y).
- Spelling: 'separate' — watch which letter?
- The 'a' in the middle — sep-A-rate, not 'seperate.'
- Spelling: 'definitely' — common error?
- No 'a' — it's defin-I-tely, not 'definately.'
- Doubling rule before '-ing'?
- Double a final consonant after a short vowel in a stressed syllable (run → running).
- What is a double negative?
- Two negatives in one statement ('didn't see nothing') — incorrect; use 'didn't see anything.'
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- A pronoun must match its antecedent in number (a team = 'it,' not 'they').
- What is verb tense consistency?
- Keeping the same tense across a sentence or passage unless the time genuinely changes.
- What is a dangling modifier?
- An opening phrase that doesn't clearly modify the noun right after the comma ('Walking to school, the rain fell').
- Composition: how to pick the best sentence?
- Choose the version that is clear, concise, and grammatically correct — not the wordiest.
- What is a topic sentence?
- The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually at the start.
- Spotting the sentence that doesn't belong?
- Find the one that strays from the paragraph's topic — it breaks the unity.
- Quotation marks with a direct quote?
- Enclose the exact words spoken; the comma and period go inside the closing mark.
- What is a coordinating conjunction?
- A word that joins equal parts — FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
- What is a conjunctive adverb?
- A word like 'however' or 'therefore' that links sentences; use a semicolon before and a comma after.
- Good vs well?
- 'Good' is an adjective (a good book); 'well' is usually an adverb (she sings well).
- Fewer vs less?
- 'Fewer' for countable items (fewer cookies); 'less' for uncountable amounts (less sugar).
- Lay vs lie?
- 'Lay' needs an object (lay the book down); 'lie' does not (lie down to rest).
- What is the subjunctive mood?
- Used for wishes or hypotheticals ('If I were you…'), using 'were' instead of 'was.'
- Language subtest content?
- Punctuation, capitalization, usage/grammar, spelling, and composition.
- Common Language question format?
- Three sentences plus 'no mistakes' — pick the one with an error (or none).
- Why are Language points learnable?
- The rules are finite — punctuation, agreement, and confusables come up again and again.
- Combining two short sentences smoothly?
- Use a conjunction or a relative clause so the result is clear and not choppy.
- Language pacing?
- 60 questions in 25 minutes — quick, rule-based decisions.
