All SAT GuidesPractice Command of Evidence questions
Study Guide
Command of Evidence
Evidence questions ask you to identify which piece of textual evidence best supports a given claim, or to evaluate how well data supports a conclusion. These come in two types: textual and quantitative.
Key Rules
- Textual evidence questions: find the quote or sentences that DIRECTLY support the specific claim in the question.
- Quantitative evidence questions: the data (chart, table, graph) must logically support the conclusion.
- The evidence must be SPECIFIC to the claim — a vague or related quote is wrong.
- Never choose evidence that introduces new information not connected to the stated claim.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing evidence that is relevant to the topic but doesn't directly support the specific claim.
- Confusing correlation with causation in data questions.
- Selecting a quote that paraphrases the claim instead of providing evidence FOR it.
- Choosing data that is in the right ballpark but doesn't match the specific comparison asked about.
SAT Strategy Tips
- →Underline the EXACT claim the question wants you to support, then find which option addresses it most directly.
- →For data questions: identify what the claim says, then check which data point reflects exactly that.
- →Eliminate options that describe related but different information.
- →The best evidence often contains specific numbers, names, or direct statements about the claim.
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