SAT transitions questions: how to get them right every time
TutorAura guide · Updated
Transitions questions ask for the most logical word or phrase to connect two ideas: however, therefore, for example and so on. They're part of the Expression of Ideas domain of the Digital SAT Reading and Writing section. The key is to work out the relationship between the sentences before you look at the choices.
Key takeaways
- Read the sentence before and after the blank.
- Name the relationship: contrast, cause, example, addition or sequence.
- Predict a transition, then choose the matching option.
- Choices with the same meaning can't both be right, so eliminate them.
The three-step method
- Read both sides of the blank. Cover the choices.
- Name the relationship. Does the second idea contrast with the first, follow from it, give an example, add a similar point, or come next in time?
- Predict, then choose. Pick a transition yourself ("but", "so") and find the choice with the same meaning.
Relationships and word list
| Relationship | Transitions |
|---|---|
| Contrast | however, nevertheless, by contrast, in contrast, still, on the other hand |
| Cause and effect | therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, hence |
| Example | for example, for instance, specifically |
| Addition or similarity | moreover, furthermore, additionally, similarly, likewise |
| Sequence | first, then, subsequently, finally, later |
| Restatement or emphasis | in other words, that is, in fact, indeed |
Example
Early telescopes produced blurry images because their lenses bent different colours of light by different amounts. ______, astronomers began using curved mirrors, which reflect all colours the same way.
A) Similarly B) For example C) As a result D) Nevertheless
The second sentence describes what astronomers did because of the problem in the first: a cause-and-effect relationship. The answer is C. "Nevertheless" would signal a contrast, which doesn't fit.
Common traps
- Reading only the sentence with the blank: the relationship is between two sentences.
- Choosing a transition that sounds formal rather than one that fits the logic.
- Two choices that mean the same thing (therefore and consequently): if both fit, neither can be the single right answer, so look again at the relationship.
Practising
Practise in short timed sets and name the relationship aloud before choosing. Transitions mix well with grammar questions as the Reading and Writing questions that are quickest to improve. See all question types and try a free practice test.
A second example: contrast
Many people assume that deserts are lifeless. ______, the Sonoran Desert supports thousands of plant and animal species.
A) Therefore B) In contrast C) For instance D) Additionally
The second sentence contradicts the assumption in the first. That's a contrast, so the answer is B. "For instance" is tempting, because the Sonoran Desert is an example of a desert, but it's an example that disproves the assumption, not one that supports it. That's why naming the relationship matters more than spotting a surface link.
Transitions that are easy to confuse
- However vs therefore: "however" signals the second idea goes against the first; "therefore" signals it follows from it.
- For example vs in other words: an example gives a specific case; "in other words" restates the same idea more simply.
- Similarly vs moreover: "similarly" links two things that are alike; "moreover" adds another point supporting the same argument.
- Finally vs in conclusion: "finally" marks the last step in a sequence; "in conclusion" sums up an argument.
- Nevertheless vs consequently: "nevertheless" means "despite that"; "consequently" means "because of that".
Frequently asked questions
What if two answers seem to fit?
Reread both sentences and name the relationship more precisely. Is it a contrast or a concession? A cause or just a sequence in time? If two choices mean the same thing, neither is likely to be right.
Do I need to memorise transition words?
It helps to know the main groups (contrast, cause and effect, example, addition, sequence), but you don't need a long list. The skill is identifying the relationship between the two sentences.
How many transitions questions are on the SAT?
They're part of the Expression of Ideas domain, which makes up about 20% of Reading and Writing (8 to 12 questions in total, shared with rhetorical synthesis). Expect a handful of transitions questions near the end of each module.
Sources
- What Are Content Domains?. College Board.
- Reading and Writing Specifications. College Board.
- Digital SAT Sample Questions and Answer Explanations. College Board.
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