PSB HOAE cheat sheet

Synonym items: substitute each option into the sentence; only the choice that preserves the original meaning is correct, regardless of how familiar the word sounds.

Antonym items: the answer is the option opposite in meaning; two options that are synonyms of each other are both wrong.

Analogy format A : B :: C : ? - first state the bridge in a phrase ("A is a type of B"), then test each option against that same phrase.

Common analogy bridges: category (species→genus), function (tool→use), part→whole, cause→effect, degree (warm→hot), and worker→object of work.

Bridge direction matters: "pilot : plane" is operator→vehicle; an option reading vehicle→operator reverses the relation and is wrong.

Odd-one-out items: name the shared property of all but one option; the leftover option is the answer.

Word-part clues: Latin/Greek roots (bene- good, mal- bad, cred- believe, dict- say, spect- look) narrow meaning even for unfamiliar words.

Sentence-completion items: the blank's part of speech and any contrast signal (although, but, despite) determine whether the needed word is positive or negative.

Count the elements first (lines, dots, enclosed regions, sides); the sequence usually changes by a constant step such as +1 side per figure.

Rotation rules: track one feature clockwise/counterclockwise in fixed increments (45°, 90°); direction reversals signal a reflection, not a rotation.

Reflection rules: a mirror flips left-right across a vertical axis and top-bottom across a horizontal axis; a rotation preserves handedness, a reflection does not.

Alternating series: when odd and even positions follow different rules, analyze the two sub-sequences separately.

Superposition rules: figure 3 often equals figure 1 plus figure 2 with shared lines cancelled (XOR) or only shared lines kept (AND).

Progression types to test in order: size, position, number, shading/fill, orientation, then additive combination.

Matrix items (2×2 or 3×3): the rule is constant along rows or down columns; identify which direction holds before predicting the missing cell.

Paper-folding items: unfold in reverse order of the folds, mirroring the hole pattern across each fold line; the number of holes doubles per fold unless holes overlap.

Main-idea answer must cover the whole passage; an option true only of one paragraph is a detail, not the main idea.

Tone words are judged from the author's word choices, not the topic: "unfortunately" or "remarkably" signals attitude.

Inference answers must be forced by the text; a plausible real-world claim the passage never implies is out of scope.

"EXCEPT" and "NOT" questions: three options are supported by the text; the unsupported one is the answer, so verify each option against a line.

Passage order beats outside knowledge: if the text says a date or cause, use it even if general knowledge disagrees.

Specific-detail items: locate the keyword in the passage and read the sentence before and after it; answers often restate that sentence in synonyms.

Vocabulary-in-context: replace the word with each option inside the original sentence; only the option that keeps the sentence's logic fits.

Author's purpose options map to verbs: inform, persuade, entertain, or describe; match the verb to the passage's structure (facts vs. argument vs. narrative).

Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide left to right, add/subtract left to right.

Percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100; a 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease nets a 4% loss, not zero.

"Of" means multiply and "per" means divide: 15% of 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12.

Ratio/proportion: set up a/b = c/d and cross-multiply (ad = bc) to solve for the unknown.

Average = sum ÷ count; to find a missing value, use sum = average × count.

Distance = rate × time; for two workers or pipes, add rates (1/a + 1/b = 1/t) to find combined time.

Area formulas: rectangle lw, triangle ½bh, circle πr²; circumference = 2πr; volume of a rectangular solid = lwh.

Fraction/decimal conversions to memorize: 1/8 = 0.125, 1/4 = 0.25, 1/3 ≈ 0.333, 1/2 = 0.5, 2/3 ≈ 0.667, 3/4 = 0.75.

Cell basics: the nucleus holds DNA, mitochondria produce ATP, ribosomes build proteins, and the cell membrane controls what enters and exits.

Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂; it occurs in chloroplasts and stores energy, while respiration releases it.

Human body: the heart has four chambers; arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins return it; the lungs exchange O₂ and CO₂ in alveoli.

States of matter: solid (fixed shape and volume), liquid (fixed volume, variable shape), gas (variable shape and volume); heating increases particle motion.

Newton's laws: an object at rest stays at rest unless a net force acts (1st); F = ma (2nd); every action has an equal and opposite reaction (3rd).

Electricity and magnetism: like charges repel, opposite charges attract; current flows in a closed circuit, and insulators block current while conductors allow it.

Earth science: the water cycle steps are evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection; Earth's layers are crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.

Lab safety: wear goggles when heating or mixing chemicals, never taste or smell directly, and add acid to water (not water to acid) when diluting.

Alphabetical filing: compare letter by letter; "nothing comes before something," so "New York" precedes "Newark" because a space sorts before a letter.

Name order for filing: last name first, then first name, then middle initial; ignore titles such as Dr., Mr., or Jr. suffixes only when the rule specifies.

Numeric filing: sort by the full number, not the first digit - 109 comes before 92 because 1 < 9 in the hundreds place.

Chronological order: compare year, then month, then day; 03/15/2023 precedes 04/01/2023 and both precede 01/10/2024.

Cross-reference rule: "see" directs to the correct heading; "see also" points to related headings that may hold additional material.

Directory/table lookups: scan the sorted column for the target range, then read across the row to the requested field.

Ranking/ordering items: identify the stated criterion (date, size, alphabetical) before comparing options, since the same list can sort differently under each.

Coding/sorting errors to check: transposed digits, misspelled names filed under the phonetic spelling, and numbers filed as words (e.g., "Twenty-One").

Situational-judgment items: the best answer satisfies both the task and the workplace norm (safety, honesty, chain of command) without escalating unnecessarily.

Conflict with a coworker: address it directly and privately first; go to a supervisor when the issue persists or affects safety or quality.

Unclear instructions: ask the person who assigned the task for clarification before proceeding, rather than guessing or stalling.

Missed deadline: report the delay early with a revised estimate and a plan; hiding the problem is always the wrong option.

Safety overrides production: stop work and report a hazard even under schedule pressure; unsafe shortcuts are never the credited choice.

Ethics items: refuse dishonest acts (falsifying records, taking credit for others' work) and report them through the proper channel.

Customer complaints: listen, acknowledge, and resolve within your authority; escalate only what exceeds your role.

Teamwork and reliability: arrive on time, follow through on commitments, and communicate absences in advance to the supervisor.