SAT Reading & Writing: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Question Type

If you’re prepping for the SAT Reading & Writing section, you might notice that questions come in distinct categories, each targeting specific reading or writing skills. Understanding these categories—and the kinds of questions you’ll face—can really simplify your study strategy.

In this guide, we’ll break down every question type and skill tested on the SAT, along with the exact wording you’ll encounter on test day.

Information and Ideas and Craft and Structure fall under the reading section, testing students on their reading comprehension and reasoning. The other two domains, Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions, test students on grammar and rhetorics.

We compiled and analyzed dozens of questions from each skill type in order to best understand the patterns. Below, I’ll walk you through each skill area, show you typical wording you might see, and give you an example practice question to sharpen your understanding.

Let's dive in!

[Reading] Information and Ideas

Command of Evidence (Quantitative)

These questions blend reading with basic data interpretation. Often, you’ll see a table, graph, or chart, and need to connect the data it presents with what the text is arguing.

Phrasings sometimes include:

• “Which choice best describes data from the graph that support the researchers’ conclusion?”
• “Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?”

The correct answer here is D.

If you’re comfortable extracting evidence from data and linking it to an idea in the passage, you’ll be in great shape.

Command of Evidence (Textual)

Similar to the quantitative side, but strictly text-based. You’ll be asked which finding would most directly support or weaken a claim, hypothesis, or argument.

This might look like:

• “Which finding, if true, would most directly support [X]’s conclusion?”
• “Which quotation most effectively illustrates the claim?”

The correct answer here is A.

As you study, get used to pinpointing statements that clearly bolster or undermine the author’s main point.

Central Ideas and Details

Sometimes, you just need to identify the main idea of the text or understand key points.

You might see wording like:

• “Which choice best states the main idea of the text?”
• “According to the text, what is true about X?”

The correct answer here is C.

The challenge is often to pick the most complete, accurate summary or detail of what the passage says—so always confirm you’re not falling for an overly narrow or broad interpretation.

Inferences

Inference questions push you beyond what’s explicitly stated, asking you to complete ideas or draw logical conclusions.

The question comes in the following format: “Which choice most logically completes the text?”

The correct answer here is A.

The key is to look for subtle hints within the text, then deduce what follows naturally from that information.

[Reading] Craft and Structure

Words in Context

Here, the test wants to know if you can pick the right word or phrase to fit a sentence’s meaning and tone. This is where they test your vocab skills.

You might see:

• “Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?”
• “As used in the text, what does the word X most nearly mean?”

The correct answer here is B.

The trick is to consider the sentence’s overall context, not just a dictionary definition.

Text Structure and Purpose

These questions ask you why the text is organized as it is or what a particular sentence or paragraph achieves.

You might see prompts like:

• “Which choice best describes the main purpose of the text?”
• “What is the function of the underlined sentence in the passage as a whole?”

The correct answer here is D.

Think about how each part of the text interacts with its larger argument or narrative.

Cross-Text Connections

Sometimes you’ll get two passages that discuss a similar topic in different ways.

Common phrasings include:

• “Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to [X]’s claim in Text 1?”
• “Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely characterize the conclusion presented in Text 1?”
• “Based on the texts, what would the author of Text 2 most likely say about Text 1’s [concept]?”
• “Based on the texts, both [author] in Text 1 and [author] in Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement?”
  

The correct answer here is B.

You’ll need to compare or contrast viewpoints, or predict how one author would interpret another’s argument.

[Writing] Expression of Ideas

Transitions

In these questions, you’re basically an editor, choosing the most logical transition between two ideas.

The prompt will say: “Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?”

The correct answer here is D.

Watch for signals in surrounding sentences—are we continuing an idea, showing contrast, or introducing a conclusion?

Rhetorical Synthesis

This area tests how well you can integrate extra information (often from notes or brief research snippets) for a specific purpose, such as clarifying a concept or adding detail.

You could see: “The student wants to [Context.] Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?”

The correct answer here is B.

Make sure the chosen detail actually fulfills the stated purpose, whether it’s providing evidence, explaining a term, or persuading the reader.

[Writing] Standard English Conventions

Boundaries

This category involves sentence completeness and correct punctuation—basically ensuring you don’t have run-ons or fragments.

A typical question will say, “Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?”

The correct answer here is D.

Don’t forget to check for correct usage of commas, semicolons, and periods.

Form, Structure, and Sense

Here, you refine sentences so they’re coherent and grammatically sound.

You will see the exact same wording to Boundaries, like “Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?”

The correct answer here is C.

Even though the question might look the same, the focus can be on issues like verb tense, subject-verb agreement, or parallel structure.

So, How Should I Approach the the RW section?

One of the best ways to maximize your efficiency on the SAT Reading & Writing section is to approach the questions in a strategic order. Instead of tackling them as they appear, follow this sequence: Words in Context → Writing(grammar) → Reading Comprehension.

Start with the Words in Context questions. These appear as the first few questions and are quick wins—you either know the best word choice based on the surrounding context, or you don’t. Since they require minimal rereading and no deeper passage analysis, they’re the perfect place to gain momentum.

Next, move on to the Writing questions (Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions). These appear in the latter half of each module and focus on clear, objective rules—among some are sentence boundaries, verb tense, transitions, and synthesizing information. Unlike reading-based questions, they don’t require you to fully absorb the meaning of the passage, so you can get through them efficiently by focusing on structure and mechanics.

Finally, tackle the Reading questions, which require a more analytical approach. These take the most time because they involve identifying central ideas, understanding structure, making inferences, and evaluating arguments. By saving them for last, you ensure that you have enough mental energy to read carefully and critically, rather than rushing through them under time pressure.

Speaking of reading carefully, another key test-day habit is to read analytically from the start. This means actively thinking about the function of each part of the passage while you read—why the author includes certain details, how sentences connect, and what the text is trying to convey. The more you engage with the material in this way, the easier it becomes to anticipate the correct answers before even looking at the choices.

Next Steps

Mastering SAT Reading & Writing is about more than memorization—it’s about understanding why answers are correct. Now that you know exactly what’s tested, the next step is practice.

📌 Recommended Reads:

• 10 Common SAT Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• SAT Reading: The Science of Skimming vs. Deep Reading
• 7 Biggest Reading Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)

When you know the different skills—whether it’s connecting graphs to arguments or choosing the right transition phrase—you’re far more likely to stay focused and confident on test day. Recognizing common question wordings and understanding exactly what’s being tested can also help you spot mistakes in your practice sessions more quickly.

Once you start thinking like the Collegeboard does, you’ll see a real payoff in your Reading & Writing score. Good luck!