SAT Critical Reading

A comprehensive guide to mastering the SAT Critical Reading section, focusing on reading comprehension, vocabulary, inference, and test strategies.

Reading Comprehension FundamentalsVocabulary in ContextMaking Inferences
Analyzing Author’s Purpose and PerspectiveInterpreting Evidence and Supporting ClaimsComparing Multiple Texts
Applying Critical Reading to Everyday MediaBuilding Vocabulary for College and CareerEffective Note-Taking While Reading
Time Management on the Reading SectionEliminating Wrong Answer ChoicesActive Reading Techniques
Reading Comprehensio...Vocabulary in Contex...Making InferencesAnalyzing Author’s P...Interpreting Evidenc...Comparing Multiple T...Applying Critical Re...Building Vocabulary ...Effective Note-Takin...Time Management on t...Eliminating Wrong An...Active Reading Techn...
Advanced Topics

Interpreting Evidence and Supporting Claims

Evaluating Arguments

Many SAT questions ask you to identify which evidence supports a claim, or to evaluate the strength of arguments.

How to Approach Evidence Questions

  • Find the claim first—what is the author trying to prove?
  • Identify the evidence—facts, statistics, examples, or quotations.
  • Decide if the evidence is strong and relevant.

Practice Makes You Better

Critically evaluating arguments helps not just in tests, but also in debates, essays, and decision-making throughout life.

Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Watch out for evidence that sounds convincing but isn’t directly related.
  • Don’t confuse opinions with facts.

Examples

  • You identify that a claim about exercise is supported by a study showing improved health outcomes.

  • You notice that a quote used as ‘evidence’ is actually just someone’s opinion and doesn’t support the argument.

In a Nutshell

Judge the strength of arguments by analyzing the evidence presented.

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Comparing Multiple Texts