SAT Reading and Writing Section - Overview

Decoding the Digital SAT: A Detailed Look at the Reading and Writing Section

Understanding the Key Skills Assessed

The Reading and Writing section of the Digital SAT evaluates your ability to comprehend complex texts, analyze their structure and purpose, and express your ideas effectively. While the sources may not provide a comprehensive syllabus, they offer valuable insights into the key skills assessed.

Topic	Subtopics	Estimated # of Questions	Time per Question (approx.)	Total Time (approx.)
Information and Ideas	Central ideas, supporting details, textual and quantitative information, inferences	28-32	1.5-2 minutes	42-64 minutes
Craft and Structure	Words in context, text structure and purpose, cross-text connections	12-14	1-1.5 minutes	12-21 minutes
Expression of Ideas	Transitions, rhetorical synthesis	4-6	1-2 minutes	4-12 minutes
Standard English Conventions	Form, structure, sense, boundaries	10-12	1-1.5 minutes	10-18 minutes
Total		54-60		78-90 minutes

1. Information and Ideas

• Central Ideas and Details: Identify the main idea of a passage and supporting details.
• Command of Evidence: Locate and interpret evidence to support conclusions.
• Textual and Quantitative Information: Understand information presented in various formats.
• Inferences: Draw logical conclusions based on the information provided.

2. Craft and Structure

• Words in Context: Determine the meaning of words and phrases based on context clues.
• Text Structure and Purpose: Analyze how passages are organized and understand the author's purpose.
• Cross-Text Connections: Compare, contrast, and synthesize information across multiple passages.

3. Expression of Ideas

• Transitions: Use appropriate transition words and phrases to connect ideas smoothly.
• Rhetorical Synthesis: Combine and analyze information from multiple sources to support an argument.

4. Standard English Conventions

• Form, Structure, and Sense: Apply grammatical rules to ensure sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct.
• Boundaries: Maintain focus within sentences and paragraphs, avoiding irrelevant information.

Illustrative Examples

• Information and Ideas: Identify the author's implicit assumptions based on the information presented.
• Craft and Structure: Determine the meaning of a word as it is used in a passage.
• Expression of Ideas: Choose the appropriate transition word to connect two sentences.
• Standard English Conventions: Identify and correct grammatical errors in a sentence.

Preparing for the Reading and Writing Section

While the sources may not provide extensive practice questions, they emphasize the importance of practice. Utilize the provided practice tests to familiarize yourself with question formats and difficulty levels. Additionally, focus on developing your reading comprehension skills, vocabulary, and writing ability.