Your FREE HSPT Flashcards 2026 – 200+ Cards

A word with nearly the same meaning as another (happy and joyful).

A word with the opposite meaning (happy and sad).

Name the relationship in the first pair as a sentence, then apply it to the second pair — same relationship, same direction.

Find the one word that does NOT belong with the others. Identify the shared category, then spot the outlier.

Foot. A glove covers a hand as a sock covers a foot.

Part to whole. (A petal is part of a flower.)

Tool to user. (A painter uses a brush.)

Not / the opposite (incomplete = not complete; unhappy = not happy).

Good or well (benevolent = well-meaning; benefit = a good result).

Bad or wrong (malevolent = wishing harm; malfunction = work badly).

Hear (audible, audience, auditorium).

Look or see (inspect, spectator, spectacle).

Say or speak (dictate, predict, contradict).

Carry (transport, portable, export).

Plentiful (more than enough).

Scarce (in short supply).

Kind / well-meaning.

Honest / frank / straightforward.

Hard-working and careful.

Thrifty; careful with money.

Sociable; enjoying company.

Extremely careful about details.

A beginner; someone new to a task.

Unclear or little-known.

Wise and careful; showing good judgment.

Unwilling; hesitant.

Boring and tiring because it is long or slow.

To confirm that something is true.

Very dry (an arid desert).

Shortness; using few words.

Saying much in few words; brief and clear.

Very happy or joyful.

Dejected / downcast.

Possible; able to be done.

Unfriendly; aggressive.

Certain to happen; unavoidable.

Sluggish; lacking energy.

Ordinary; dull; everyday.

Hopeful; expecting good outcomes.

Pessimistic (expecting the worst).

Calm and peaceful.

Charmingly old-fashioned.

Strict, thorough, and demanding.

Shallow; on the surface only.

Of little importance; minor.

Essential; absolutely necessary.

Cautious; on guard.

Very enthusiastic and devoted.

More than enough; plentiful.

Clear, logical, and well-organized.

To discourage someone from doing something.

Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.

Pointless; incapable of producing a result.

Modest; not proud or arrogant.

Fair; not favoring one side.

Feeling or showing great joy.

Sharp; eager or perceptive.

To express deep sorrow or regret.

Lacking experience or judgment; innocent.

Unaware; not noticing what is happening.

To continue firmly despite difficulty.

Based on reason or logic; sensible.

In short supply; hard to find.

Calm and peaceful.

Given two statements, decide if a conclusion is true, false, or uncertain — reasoning strictly from the statements.

A mammal — true. The two statements guarantee it.

Three of four question types (synonyms, antonyms, analogies) reward knowing the words.

Harmful (especially in a gradual, subtle way).

Alleviate (to make a bad situation better, not worse).

A lack or scarcity of something.

15. Arithmetic series — add 3 each step.

32. Geometric series — multiply by 2 each step.

13. Fibonacci — each term is the sum of the two before it (5 + 8).

25. Perfect squares — 1², 2², 3², 4², 5².

1. Divide by 3 each step (geometric).

60. Arithmetic — subtract 10 each step.

The difference between consecutive terms is constant (add or subtract the same amount).

The ratio between consecutive terms is constant (multiply or divide by the same number).

The differences between terms; if not constant, the ratios; then whether two patterns alternate.

17. Alternating pattern: ×2, then −1 (18 − 1 = 17).

64. Perfect cubes — 1³, 2³, 3³, 4³, 5³.

Compare quantities of figures (sides, areas, shaded parts), then choose the statement that orders them.

3 vs 4 vs 5 — pentagon > square > triangle.

Compute each numeric quantity, then order them (e.g. ½ of 20 vs ¼ of 40 vs ⅕ of 60).

10, 10, and 12 — so ⅕ of 60 is greatest; the first two are equal.

A word puzzle: translate the words into operations step by step (e.g. '3 more than half of 18' = 9 + 3 = 12).

12. Half of 18 is 9, and 3 more is 12.

No — it rewards reasoning and pattern-spotting. Computation is light.

34. Arithmetic — add 7 each step.

16. Geometric — divide by 2 each step.

19. The amount added grows by 1 each time (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5).

20. Divide 80 by 4.

24. The sum is 12, and twice 12 is 24.

52 questions in 30 minutes — under 35 seconds each; spot the pattern fast and move on.

25. Ten percent moves the decimal one place left.

162. Geometric — multiply by 3.

30. Arithmetic — subtract 5.

Equal — both are 18.

16. The amount added grows by 1 each step (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5).

19. 4 × 6 = 24, and 24 − 5 = 19.

The central point the whole passage supports — broader than any single detail, but never beyond what the text says.

Main idea = the overall point; detail = one specific fact the passage states.

A conclusion the passage implies but doesn't state. Pick the choice the text most directly supports.

Answer only from the passage — never from outside knowledge.

In the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

Pick the choice that covers the WHOLE passage, not just one paragraph.

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.

'but,' 'because,' 'for example' — they show whether the word is positive, negative, or defined nearby.

Read the question first, so you know what you're hunting for.

The author's attitude toward the subject (e.g. serious, humorous, critical, admiring).

Why the passage was written — usually to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe.

The highest point of tension or conflict — the turning point.

The final part of a story where the main conflict is resolved (the outcome).

Using an object or word to represent an abstract idea (a dove for peace).

A simile compares using 'like' or 'as'; a metaphor states the comparison directly without them.

A direct comparison that says one thing IS another ('time is money').

A comparison using 'like' or 'as' ('brave as a lion').

Giving human qualities to non-human things ('the wind whispered').

Deliberate exaggeration for effect ('I've told you a million times').

The narrator uses 'I' and 'we.'

The narrator uses 'he,' 'she,' and 'they' and is outside the story.

The time and place in which the story happens.

The main character of a story.

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

A hint early in a story about what will happen later.

An interruption of the chronological order to show an earlier event.

The central message or lesson about life it conveys.

A hint in the surrounding text that helps you figure out an unknown word's meaning.

A fact can be proven; an opinion expresses a belief or judgment.

To conclude something from evidence in the text rather than from a direct statement.

Choosing a conclusion that goes further than the passage supports or needs missing facts.

Excessive pride or self-confidence (a common literary theme).

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is meant.

A secondary plot that runs alongside the main story.

Repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words ('Peter Piper picked').

The feeling or atmosphere it creates in the reader.

Choosing the word closest in meaning to a target word.

Don't panic — every answer is in the text; you never need prior knowledge.

Comprehension (questions about passages) plus vocabulary (word meanings).

62 questions in 25 minutes — read efficiently and don't get stuck on one item.

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).

10. Divide first (12 ÷ 4 = 3), then add and subtract: 8 + 3 − 1 = 10.

22. Parentheses: 4; exponent: 16; then 2 × 3 = 6; 16 + 6 = 22.

Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 35% of 120 = 0.35 × 120 = 42.

42. (0.35 × 120.)

Find 30% of 150 (= 45) and subtract: 150 − 45 = $105. Or multiply by 0.70.

Change ÷ original × 100. Always divide by the starting value.

0.5 and 50%.

0.25 and 25%.

0.75 and 75%.

0.2 and 20%.

About 0.333 and 33.3%.

The average — add the values and divide by how many there are.

The middle value when the numbers are in order (it resists outliers).

The value that appears most often (a set can have one, several, or no modes).

15. In order: 8, 8, 15, 19, 22 — the middle value is 15.

The average of the two middle values.

length × width.

½ × base × height.

π × radius², i.e. π times r squared (pi r²).

π × diameter, or 2 × pi × radius.

2 × (length + width).

Always 180°.

180°.

360°.

Do the inverse operation to both sides (if x + 5 = 12, subtract 5: x = 7).

Cross-multiply, then solve (a/b = c/d means a × d = b × c).

7⁵. When dividing like bases, subtract the exponents.

Add the exponents: xᵐ × xⁿ = x to the (m + n). When multiplying like bases, add the powers.

Repeated multiplication — 4² = 4 × 4 = 16.

9, because 9 × 9 = 81. (√ means the number that squares to give 81.)

−2. On a number line, −2 is to the right of (greater than) −5.

12. A negative times a negative is positive.

−12. A negative times a positive is negative.

A whole number greater than 1 with exactly two factors: 1 and itself (2, 3, 5, 7, 11).

No. A prime must have exactly two factors; 1 has only one.

The largest number that divides two numbers evenly (GCF of 12 and 18 is 6).

The smallest number both numbers divide into (LCM of 4 and 6 is 12).

Find a common denominator, rewrite each fraction, then add the numerators.

Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators (½ × ⅔ = 2/6 = ⅓).

Multiply by the reciprocal — flip the second fraction and multiply.

7. Absolute value is the distance from zero, always non-negative.

6/10 = 3/5.

Distance ÷ time.

10. (0.20 × 50.)

76%. Divide 19 by 25 (= 0.76) and multiply by 100.

Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes (a value between 0 and 1).

No — none of the subtests permit a calculator (except approved accommodations).

64 questions in 45 minutes — the longest subtest, but the most time per question.

Confirm it is reasonable — re-read what was asked and estimate to see if the size makes sense.

75%. Divide 3 by 4 (= 0.75) and multiply by 100.

The largest value minus the smallest value.

40. Multiply and divide first (12 and 2): 50 − 12 + 2 = 40.

56. (Know your times tables cold for a no-calculator test.)

length × width × height.

A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Joining two complete sentences with only a comma — an error. Fix with a period, semicolon, or comma + conjunction.

To join two complete, related sentences without a conjunction, or to separate list items that contain commas.

A period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so).

Introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence.

A verb must match its subject in number — singular subject, singular verb; plural subject, plural verb.

Words between the subject and verb — match the verb to the TRUE subject, ignoring them.

The noun closest to it (the second subject).

'Its' is possessive (the dog wagged its tail); 'it's' means 'it is' or 'it has.'

'Their' = possessive; 'there' = a place; 'they're' = 'they are.'

'Your' is possessive; 'you're' means 'you are.'

'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result). Affect = Action, Effect = End result.

'Then' refers to time; 'than' is used for comparisons (taller than).

'Who' is the subject (who is calling?); 'whom' is the object (to whom did you speak?).

Using the same grammatical form for items in a series (to read, to write, to study).

When the subject receives the action ('the ball was thrown by Sam') rather than doing it.

Two complete sentences joined with no punctuation or conjunction. Fix by separating or joining them properly.

An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

Possession (the cat's toy) or a contraction (don't = do not).

Add only an apostrophe (the dogs' leashes).

Add apostrophe + s (the children's toys).

The comma before 'and' in a list (red, white, and blue).

Separate them with a comma when each modifies the noun equally (a cold, dreary day).

First word of a sentence, the pronoun 'I,' and proper nouns (specific names, places, days, months, holidays).

No — spring, summer, fall, and winter are common nouns.

Only when naming a region (the South); not as a direction (drive north).

I before E, except after C, or when sounded like 'ay' (neighbor, weigh).

One c, two s's (n-e-c-e-s-s-a-r-y).

The 'a' in the middle — sep-A-rate, not 'seperate.'

No 'a' — it's defin-I-tely, not 'definately.'

Double a final consonant after a short vowel in a stressed syllable (run → running).

Two negatives in one statement ('didn't see nothing') — incorrect; use 'didn't see anything.'

A pronoun must match its antecedent in number (a team = 'it,' not 'they').

Keeping the same tense across a sentence or passage unless the time genuinely changes.

An opening phrase that doesn't clearly modify the noun right after the comma ('Walking to school, the rain fell').

Choose the version that is clear, concise, and grammatically correct — not the wordiest.

The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually at the start.

Find the one that strays from the paragraph's topic — it breaks the unity.

Enclose the exact words spoken; the comma and period go inside the closing mark.

A word that joins equal parts — FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

A word like 'however' or 'therefore' that links sentences; use a semicolon before and a comma after.

'Good' is an adjective (a good book); 'well' is usually an adverb (she sings well).

'Fewer' for countable items (fewer cookies); 'less' for uncountable amounts (less sugar).

'Lay' needs an object (lay the book down); 'lie' does not (lie down to rest).

Used for wishes or hypotheticals ('If I were you…'), using 'were' instead of 'was.'

Punctuation, capitalization, usage/grammar, spelling, and composition.

Three sentences plus 'no mistakes' — pick the one with an error (or none).

The rules are finite — punctuation, agreement, and confusables come up again and again.

Use a conjunction or a relative clause so the result is clear and not choppy.

60 questions in 25 minutes — quick, rule-based decisions.