SAT Command of Evidence (Quantitative)
Use data from a table or graph to complete or support a claim in a short text.
Also known as: SAT table questions, data in reading and writing.
Key ideas
- Start with the text's claim: the data must support that exact claim.
- Check every number in a choice against the table.
- Accurate data that doesn't relate to the claim is still wrong.
Claim first, data second
Read the text and identify what it is trying to show (for example, method A works better in dry soil than wet soil). Then compare the right cells. Many wrong choices describe the table accurately but answer a different question.
Comparisons
Claims often compare groups or years. Make sure the choice compares the same groups the claim does, in the same direction.
Worked examples
Example 1 · Matching the claim
A student claims solar output rose more than wind output between two years. Table: solar 20→35, wind 40→48.
- Step 1.Solar increased by 15; wind by 8.
Answer: Solar rose from 20 to 35 while wind rose from 40 to 48.
Example 2 · Accurate but irrelevant
Why is "Wind output was higher than solar in both years" wrong for that claim?
- Step 1.It's true, but it's about levels, not the size of the increase.
Answer: It doesn't address which source increased more.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a true statement that doesn't address the claim.
- Comparing the wrong rows or columns.
- Misreading the direction of a change.
Try it yourself
Original practice questions. Your answer is checked instantly.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?