Domain: Information and Ideas | Skill: Command of Evidence | Difficulty: Easy

Master the Art of Finding Evidence: Your Gateway to SAT Success

Ever feel like you’re playing detective on the SAT? That’s exactly what Command of Evidence questions ask you to do! These questions test your ability to find and use specific information from passages, tables, or graphs to support conclusions. At the Easy level, you’re building the foundation for one of the most important SAT skills – proving your answers with concrete evidence.

Think of Command of Evidence questions as “show your work” for reading comprehension. Instead of just understanding what a passage says, you need to pinpoint the exact piece of information that backs up a claim. The good news? Easy-level questions give you clear, straightforward evidence to work with – no detective magnifying glass required!

Command of Evidence Question Types

Typical Stem	What It Really Asks	Quick Strategy
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?	Find the specific number or fact that logically fits the context	Look for clue words in the passage that match table headers
Which finding, if true, would most directly support…	Identify evidence that strengthens a specific claim	Match the claim’s key terms to answer choices
Which finding would most effectively strengthen…	Choose evidence that makes an argument more convincing	Pick the choice that directly addresses potential weaknesses
Which finding, if true, would most effectively add…	Select information that enhances or extends a point	Choose details that provide new, relevant information

Real SAT-Style Example

Big technology conferences are known to draw interest, but some critics argue that the Redwood Tech Summit has become too expensive without attracting enough attendees. For instance, the 2020 Redwood Tech Summit cost $120 million and had only ________

Question: Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?

A) 1.20 million attendees.

B) 1.45 million attendees.

C) 850,000 attendees.

D) 1.10 million attendees. ✅

Why it’s correct: The passage sets up a criticism that the summit is “too expensive without attracting enough attendees.” The correct answer (1.10 million) must represent a relatively low attendance figure compared to the $120 million cost, supporting the critics’ argument.

Step-by-Step Strategy for Easy Command of Evidence Questions

1. Identify the claim or context clues – What is the passage trying to prove or illustrate?
2. Predict what kind of evidence would fit – Before looking at choices, think about what type of information would logically complete the statement
3. Match your prediction to the choices – Look for the option that best aligns with the passage’s tone and purpose
4. Verify the logical connection – Make sure your choice actually supports the claim being made
5. Double-check for consistency – Ensure your answer doesn’t contradict other information in the passage

Applying the Strategy to Our Example

Step 1: Identify the claim or context clues

The key claim is that critics argue the summit is “too expensive without attracting enough attendees.” This tells us we need a number that shows disappointingly low attendance relative to the $120 million cost.

Step 2: Predict what kind of evidence would fit

Since critics are complaining about low attendance for such high cost, we should look for a relatively lower number among the choices. The evidence needs to support the criticism, not contradict it.

Step 3: Match your prediction to the choices

Looking at our options:

• 1.20 million (middle range)

• 1.45 million (highest)

• 850,000 (lowest)

• 1.10 million (lower-middle range)

The 1.10 million fits as a disappointingly modest turnout without being the absolute lowest.

Step 4: Verify the logical connection

Does 1.10 million attendees support the critics’ argument? Yes! For a $120 million investment, 1.10 million attendees could be seen as insufficient return on investment, supporting the “too expensive” criticism.

Step 5: Double-check for consistency

The answer maintains consistency with the passage’s critical tone. It doesn’t contradict the premise that the conference is expensive, and it provides concrete evidence for the critics’ complaint.

Ready to Try It on Real Questions?

Now that you’ve learned the strategy, it’s time to practice with actual SAT questions! Head over to mytestprep.ai and navigate to your personalized practice:

• From the dashboard, choose Information and Ideas → Command of Evidence → Easy
• Start with Tutor Mode to get instant feedback from our Co-Pilot AI tutor as you work through questions
• Once you’re comfortable, switch to Timed Mode to build your speed and confidence
• The Co-Pilot AI tutor provides real-time hints and explanations, helping you understand not just the right answer, but why it’s right

Key Takeaways

• • Command of Evidence questions are about finding specific proof for claims
• • Always identify what the passage is trying to prove before looking at answer choices
• • At the Easy level, the evidence will clearly support or complete the given statement
• • Practice the 5-step strategy until it becomes second nature
• • Daily micro-workouts with real-world texts build your evidence-finding muscles
• • Use mytestprep.ai’s Co-Pilot feature for personalized guidance on every question

Remember, mastering Command of Evidence at the Easy level sets you up for success with more challenging questions later. Every expert evidence-finder started exactly where you are now!