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SAT Reading and Writing skill page

SAT Command of Evidence Practice

Learn how to connect claims to the exact sentence, result, or detail that proves them.

Practice Command of Evidence in DolphinPractice questions
12-18 min practice time3 questions on pageInformation and Ideas
Practice time12-18 min
Question bank3 questions
Best forInformation and Ideas

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Dolphin question bank

Practice your skill

Question 1 of 3Easy
A passage says a city added bus-only lanes and average bus trip times dropped by 12%. Which evidence best supports the claim that the lanes improved travel times?
  1. The city added bus-only lanes.
  2. Average bus trip times dropped by 12%.
  3. Some riders preferred trains.
  4. The lanes were painted red.
Show answer and solution
Correct answerB. Average bus trip times dropped by 12%.

Solution walkthrough

  1. The claim is about improved travel times, so the evidence must show a change in travel time.
Question 2 of 3Medium
A study found that students who took weekly practice quizzes retained 20% more material after a month. Which claim is best supported?
  1. Practice quizzes can support long-term retention.
  2. Students dislike weekly quizzes.
  3. All tests should be replaced by quizzes.
  4. Monthly studying is better than weekly studying.
Show answer and solution
Correct answerA. Practice quizzes can support long-term retention.

Solution walkthrough

  1. The study links weekly quizzes to better retention after a month, so that claim is directly supported.
Question 3 of 3Hard
A novel is told through letters from several characters, and each letter leaves out information that another letter later reveals. Which claim is best supported?
  1. The novel uses multiple viewpoints to create uncertainty.
  2. The novel is written in a single narrator voice.
  3. The novel avoids conflict between characters.
  4. The novel explains every event immediately.
Show answer and solution
Correct answerA. The novel uses multiple viewpoints to create uncertainty.

Solution walkthrough

  1. The passage describes multiple letter writers and delayed information, which supports the idea of uncertainty through multiple viewpoints.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Picking true but irrelevant evidence

Evidence must support the specific claim in the question, not just repeat a true passage detail.

Overstating the passage

Avoid answers with extreme words if the evidence only supports a narrower claim.

Ignoring the author's wording

Match the scope and certainty of the evidence instead of strengthening the claim beyond what the passage says.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

  1. Underline the claim or task in the question.
  2. Find the specific sentence, finding, or passage detail that addresses that claim.
  3. Eliminate answers that are true but do not prove the claim.
  4. Choose the answer with the closest evidence-to-claim match.
Practice Command of Evidence in Dolphin

Related practice

Build the surrounding skills

SAT Quantitative Evidence PracticeSAT Words in Context PracticeSAT Transitions PracticeSAT Reading and Writing skill hub

Skill cluster

Keep practicing SAT Reading and Writing

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FAQ

Questions about SAT Command of Evidence Practice

What does Command of Evidence mean on the SAT?

It means using passage statements, research findings, or textual details to support a claim accurately.

Are evidence questions always about quotes?

No. Textual evidence can come from wording, comparisons, research findings, or a specific passage detail. Graph and table questions are covered on the quantitative evidence page.

How do I improve at evidence questions?

Practice naming the claim first, then choosing only the detail that directly proves that claim.