CLEP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during transcription? → RNA polymerase
2. A cell with many mitochondria that have extremely dense cristae would most likely be which cell type? → A highly active cardiac muscle cell requiring constant ATP
3. Which process produces NADH and pyruvate from glucose without oxygen? → Glycolysis
4. What is the significance of a Punnett square? → To predict genetic cross outcomes
5. What is the term for the variety of life forms within an ecosystem? → Biodiversity
6. Identify the run-on sentence. → The bell rang the students left the room.
7. In lake ecosystems, the euphotic zone is defined as the area where: → Photosynthesis can occur due to sufficient light penetration
8. Oviparity as a reproductive strategy is defined as: → Laying eggs that develop and hatch externally
9. An ecological pyramid of numbers can be inverted (wider at the top) when: → Parasites are counted and each host supports many parasites
10. Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination? → Cerebellum
11. Disruptive selection in a population tends to: → Favor both extreme phenotypes
12. How many carbon atoms enter the citric acid cycle per turn via acetyl-CoA, and how many leave as CO2? → 2 enter, 2 leave
13. Which complement pathway is activated by antibody-antigen complexes? → Classical pathway
14. What is the role of single-strand binding proteins (SSBPs) during DNA replication? → They stabilize the unwound single strands and prevent reannealing
15. The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I serves which function? → Proofreading to remove incorrectly incorporated nucleotides
16. Which structural feature allows the nuclear envelope to regulate the passage of molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm? → Nuclear pore complexes
17. Brown adipose tissue generates heat instead of ATP during cold exposure. Which protein is responsible for this thermogenesis? → Thermogenin (uncoupling protein 1, UCP1)
18. Choose the sentence with correct use of 'fewer' and 'less.' → There are fewer cars and less traffic today.
19. An enzyme's activity is reduced when a molecule binds a site other than the active site. This is called: → Noncompetitive inhibition
20. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone that absorbs UV radiation? → Stratosphere
21. The concept of 'fitness' in evolutionary biology specifically refers to: → Reproductive success relative to other individuals
22. A double-blind experimental design is used primarily to control for: → Both experimenter bias and participant expectation effects simultaneously
23. Which sentence uses 'who' correctly? → The student who studied passed.
24. Which of these is not a dynamic marking? → Andante
25. Which of the following best describes the primary tactic employed to promote the passage's core idea? → providing examples
26. Which type of symbiosis benefits one organism while harming the other? → Parasitism
27. Which of the subsequent is not a component of the marketing mix? → planning
28. What is Engrailed proteins? → Transcription factors
29. Which tissue in a plant seed stores nutrients to support early embryo growth? → Endosperm
30. Which sentence avoids wordiness best? → We must decide now.