SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Syllabus

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing in SAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Reading

   6 topics

   • U.S. and World Literature Passages
   • History/Social Studies Passages
   • Science Passages
   • Command of Evidence
   • Words in Context
   • Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
2. 2

   Writing and Language

   6 topics

   • Expression of Ideas
   • Standard English Conventions
   • Words in Context
   • Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
   • Data Interpretation
   • Punctuation

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing flashcards for SAT

24 of 50 cards from the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. On the SAT Reading section, what are the four passage/content categories that every test always includes?

   One U.S. and World Literature passage, two History/Social Studies passages (one may be a founding document or Great Global Conversation text), and two Science passages.

2. What is a 'U.S. and World Literature' passage on the SAT, and what skills does it primarily test?

   An excerpt from a classic or contemporary novel or short story. It tests inference, character analysis, theme, tone, narrative point of view, and interpreting figurative/connotative language rather than factual recall.

3. What defines a 'History/Social Studies' passage on the SAT Reading section?

   A passage drawn from fields like economics, psychology, sociology, or political science, OR a U.S. founding document or a text from the 'Great Global Conversation' about civic life. It tests argument analysis and evidence.

4. What is a 'Great Global Conversation' text on the SAT?

   A historically or politically significant document (e.g., speeches by Lincoln or MLK, the Declaration of Independence, essays on freedom and civic life) used as one History/Social Studies passage to test analysis of foundational arguments.

5. What characterizes SAT 'Science' passages, and what special feature often accompanies them?

   They cover Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics and focus on hypotheses, experiments, data, and conclusions. They are frequently paired with a graphic (table, graph, chart) requiring data interpretation.

6. What is a 'paired passage' set on the SAT Reading section, and what extra skill does it require?

   Two related passages on the same topic presented together. Beyond single-passage skills, it requires comparing and contrasting the two authors' viewpoints, purposes, and relationships (agreement, rebuttal, extension).

7. Define the SAT skill 'Command of Evidence.'

   The ability to identify the specific portion of a text that best supports a given answer, conclusion, or claim, including interpreting quantitative data in graphics to support or undermine a claim.

8. Describe the two-part ('paired') Command of Evidence question format on the SAT.

   The first question asks about the passage's content; the immediately following question asks which lines (choices citing line numbers/quotes) provide the BEST evidence for that first answer. The two answers must be consistent with each other.

9. What is the recommended strategy for answering a paired Command of Evidence question set?

   Answer the two questions together: for each candidate answer to the first, check whether one of the evidence choices actually supports it. Eliminate any first-answer choice that has no matching textual evidence.

10. Define the SAT skill 'Words in Context.'

    Determining the meaning of a word or phrase based on how it is used in the surrounding passage—often a common word used with a less common, context-specific meaning—rather than its most familiar dictionary definition.

11. What is the best strategy for an SAT 'Words in Context' (vocabulary-in-context) question?

    Cover the word, read the sentence, and predict a replacement word from context; then choose the answer closest to your prediction. Beware the 'trap' answer that is a common meaning of the word but wrong in context.

12. On the SAT, what does 'Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science' require you to do?

    Apply reading skills within scientific and social-science contexts: examine hypotheses, interpret data, consider implications, and read/interpret graphics (tables, graphs) alongside the passage to draw or evaluate conclusions.

13. What is the SAT skill 'Analyzing the relationship between an informational graphic and a passage'?

    Determining how data in a table, graph, or chart connects to the text—whether it supports, illustrates, extends, or contradicts a claim—without the passage necessarily stating the data explicitly.

14. Distinguish between a question asking what a graphic shows versus what a graphic 'supports' in the passage.

    'Shows' asks you only to read data off the graphic accurately. 'Supports' asks which passage claim the data backs up (or weakens), requiring you to link the numbers to the text's argument.

15. What is the SAT Writing & Language sub-domain 'Expression of Ideas'?

    Questions about improving a passage's development, organization, and effective use of language—including relevance of sentences, logical sequence, transitions, precision/concision, and style/tone.

16. Under 'Expression of Ideas,' what does a 'development' question test?

    Whether content is relevant and sufficient: adding, revising, retaining, or deleting information (e.g., a supporting detail, a topic sentence, or a claim) to best accomplish the writer's stated purpose.

17. Under 'Expression of Ideas,' what does an 'organization' question test?

    Logical ordering and effective transitions: placing sentences/paragraphs in the best sequence and choosing the transition word (e.g., 'however,' 'therefore,' 'for example') that reflects the correct logical relationship.

18. For SAT 'effective language use' questions, what should you prefer regarding wordiness?

    Concision: choose the shortest grammatically correct option that preserves meaning. Eliminate redundancy (e.g., 'annual event that happens each year') and prefer precise, unambiguous word choice.

19. What is the SAT Writing & Language sub-domain 'Standard English Conventions'?

    Questions testing grammar, usage, and mechanics—sentence structure, verb agreement and tense, pronouns, modifiers, parallelism, and punctuation—according to standard written English rules.

20. State the SAT subject-verb agreement rule and its common trap.

    A verb must agree in number with its subject. The common trap is an interrupting phrase (prepositional phrase or clause) between subject and verb; ignore it. E.g., 'The box of nails IS (not are) heavy.'

21. What is the rule for pronoun-antecedent agreement on the SAT?

    A pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun it replaces, and the antecedent must be clear/unambiguous. E.g., a singular antecedent ('each student') takes a singular pronoun ('his or her'/'their' per current usage).

22. How do you fix a dangling or misplaced modifier on the SAT?

    Place the modifier next to the word it describes. An introductory modifying phrase must be immediately followed by the noun it modifies. E.g., 'Walking home, I saw the moon' (I, not the moon, is walking).

23. State the SAT rule for parallel structure.

    Items in a list, comparison, or coordinated series must share the same grammatical form. E.g., 'She likes running, swimming, and biking' (all gerunds), not 'running, swimming, and to bike.'

24. How do you correctly use the SAT 'pronoun case' rule for who vs. whom?

    Use 'who' as a subject (it does the action) and 'whom' as an object (it receives the action or follows a preposition). Test: substitute he/him—if 'he' fits use who, if 'him' fits use whom.

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