SAT Question Tips

How do I answer ‘Rhetorical synthesis’ questions?

Tally on which answers use the most relevant notes given and best fulfil the question’s requirement, and try not to limit all the different points when comparing the different answers.

In a ‘Transistions’ question, how do identify which transition to best use?

In the sentences in between the blank space(missing transition), read them both, especially the succeeding sentence. Examples include contrasts(Opposing words such as ‘however’, and ‘likewise’), examples(‘for instance’ and ‘for example’), transitioning from vague to specific(‘specifically’), or simplifying or summarizing preceding information(‘in other words’).

How do I know when to use past participle tense?

Do it when you need to indicate a completed action in the past, usually in conjunction with an auxiliary verb like "have," "has," or "had" to form perfect tenses

How do I figure out which words best fits the sentence’s context, when I don’t know any of the words?

Check the sentence’s premise, and get the nuances and subject that the sentence that’s being talked, and see if they are being compared, supported, exemplified or caused. Try to look for sentences or phrases that would best match the correct answer.

How do I identify the main idea and relationships of them both texts at a ‘cross-text question’?

Observe both texts and see how they both relate towards each other; are they supporting, contradicting, challenging, complementing each other?

During cross-text questions, if one answer essentially restates the specific text that was asked for, is it the correct answer?

If one answer pretty much restates the main point of the text, then it’s most likely wrong, as the question is asking for how would the text respond, not what what the text is saying.

What are some methods towards finding the main ideas of a text in a ‘Text structure and Purpose’ question?

After picking out the answers’ and the text’s main point to read and pick out specific words towards the sentence’s context, as the correct answer will most likely match said context. Look for any synonyms or exact words!

Where could the main idea of the text most likely be located in ‘Text structure and purpose’ question?

Try looking at the first and last sentences of the question! It could most likely be located there(Only do this if you are running out of time).

In ‘Cross-text connection’ questions, how do I know if the author of text 2 is disputing with or acknowledging the first text?

If words such as “propose”, “disagree” and “argue” are used, it most likely sounds like the second text’s author is disagreeing with the first text’s author.

How can I identify which answer is most accurate in a ‘Cross-text connections’ question?

Read the text specified in the question, and underline and understand which part of the text is mentioned in the correct answer’s main point, down to the specific words used.

If all the answers appear to be very similar in a question, how do I identify the most accurate one?

After looking at the answers, check accordingly with the text, and see how much of the answer’s main points, or matching words within the text are most present. The main point that’s most present in the text is most likely the correct one, down to the words. Looking for synonyms in the text helps massively here.

How do I know which punctuations I can automatically strike out?

If there are two punctuation options that have the same effect, immediately strike them out. The pairs include a full stop and a semicolon(. and ;), two dashes and two commas(2 of - and 2 of ,) and one colon and one dash(: and -).

How can I strike out the most obviously wrong answers in a ‘Command of quantitative evidence’ question?

Compare what the answers say about the data to the actual graph/table! If the answer misreads the data, it’s automatically wrong.

What is the main purpose of a dash?

Dashes are used for a pause before introducing an emphatic and additional point.

In any question, do choose the answer if it only has part of its main point implemented in the text?

If the main point of the answer is only briefly mentioned, or if the answer’s main points are only partially mentioned in the whole text, then the whole answer is completely wrong.

In a ‘Command of quantitative evidence’ question, how do I know if data sets have a ‘substantial difference’ with each other?

If the required data the answer connects to has minimal(Concurrent numbers), or no difference when compared towards the other required data, then it’s not substantial.

In an ‘inference’ question, what could be a useful method towards efficiently completing the text?

Try to look at the sentence or two before the blank. The preceding context of those sentences can be clues towards filling in the blank. Alternatively, try to use some clues from the text and some common logic to piece together the most reasonable answer towards the blank.

In a ‘boundaries’ question, when do I use two commas in a sentence?

Only use two commas if you are adding extra information that isn’t essential towards the sentence’s main idea, almost like a parenthetical explanation, or if the sentence requires an emphasis on the subject itself. (Note the same effect can be used with two dashes)

What is the main purpose of a colon?

Colons are used to introduce a list, a quotation, or a clarifying element.

What’s the difference between ‘moreover’, ‘similarly’, and ‘additionally’?

Despite their high similarity, ‘moreover’ is used towards branching into the same idea/topic(Adding or supporting preceding information), ‘similarly is used to show two things that are similar, and ‘additionally’ is used to leads into a different(But related) topic.

What’s an important rule when it comes to transition words and their punctuation?

A semicolon or a period is used after the first ‘sentence’, and a comma is almost always used to set of the transition word from the second ‘sentence’.

What is the most important thing to remember when answering a ‘Rhetorical synthesis question’?

If an answer completely misreads the notes, or contradicts the prompt asked for, it’s automatically wrong. Also, if the answer has oversimplified information, it’s also most likely wrong.

What’s the most important thing to note when I’m answering a ‘command of quantitative evidence’ question?

If the answer utilizes the data but doesn’t answer the question, or if the conclusion formed is too vague, it’s most likely wrong.

In a ‘Form, structure and sense’ question, how can I identify which tense the text is in?

Analyse and pay attention towards the verbs of the text, and in what tense they are.

How can an answer’s main idea help me find the correct answer?

Compare the words used in their main ideas with the main point in the text. If the words used are either contradictory, or too extreme compared to that of the text’s point, then it’s most likely wrong.