Domain: Craft and Structure | Skill: Text Structure and Purpose | Difficulty: Easy
Text Structure & Purpose – Easy Strategies & Practice
Welcome to your guide for mastering one of the most common question types on the SAT Reading and Writing section: Text Structure and Purpose. These questions ask you to think like an author. Instead of focusing on what a text says, you’ll analyze how it says it and why. Mastering this skill at the Easy level is a fantastic way to build a strong foundation and boost your confidence for the entire exam.
These questions test your ability to understand the role a specific sentence or the entire text plays. Are you looking at a main idea, a supporting example, a counterargument, or a conclusion? Let’s break it down.
What Are These Questions Really Asking?
Here’s a quick guide to the most common question stems you’ll encounter for this skill.
| Typical Stem | What It Really Asks | Quick Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? | What job is this specific sentence doing? (e.g., introducing a problem, providing evidence, stating a conclusion) | Read the sentence before and after the underlined part to understand its context and role. |
| Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | What is the author’s primary goal? (e.g., to explain, to persuade, to describe) | Summarize the entire text in one sentence. Your summary should match the correct answer. |
| Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | How is the text organized from beginning to end? | Look for transition words and shifts in topic. Does it present a problem then a solution? A claim then evidence? |
Real SAT-Style Example
Let’s look at a typical Easy-level question. Pay attention to how the sentences relate to each other.
Marine biologists have established that coral reefs are essential ecosystems that support vast networks of marine life. They remain uncertain, however, about how quickly these reefs can recover from major bleaching events, as recovery rates depend on complex environmental factors that are difficult to measure. Dr. Marina Chen and her research team recently explored whether satellite thermal imaging could be used to predict reef recovery patterns, but concluded that this technology alone cannot provide sufficient data to accurately forecast rehabilitation timeframes.
Question: Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
- A) It outlines the specific methodology used in Dr. Chen’s research study.
- B) It presents the main conclusions of Dr. Chen’s research team.
- C) It identifies the challenge that Dr. Chen’s team attempted but failed to resolve. ✅
- D) It describes how other scientists have responded to Dr. Chen’s research findings.
Explanation: The first sentence states a known fact. The underlined sentence, starting with “however,” introduces a problem or an area of uncertainty. The final sentence describes a specific attempt (Dr. Chen’s study) to address that very problem. Therefore, the underlined sentence’s job is to present the challenge that the research in the passage focuses on.
Your 4-Step Strategy for Text Structure & Purpose
For Easy questions, a simple and direct approach is all you need. Don’t overthink it!
- Read the Full Text: Even if the question focuses on one sentence, you need the context. Read the entire short passage to get the main idea.
- Define the Target’s Role: Look at the specific sentence or part the question asks about. Ask yourself: What is this sentence doing? Is it setting up a problem? Giving an example? Stating a result?
- Make a Prediction (In Your Own Words): Before looking at the options, formulate a simple answer in your head. For example: “This sentence explains the problem scientists are facing.”
- Match Your Prediction to the Choices: Read the answer choices and find the one that most closely matches the simple prediction you just made. Eliminate choices that are clearly wrong or describe a different part of the text.
Applying the Strategy to Our Example
Let’s walk through the example question using our 4-step strategy. This is exactly how you should approach it on test day.
Step 1: Read the Full Text
I’ve read the passage. It starts with a fact about coral reefs, then mentions a point of uncertainty (how they recover), and ends by describing one team’s attempt to study that uncertainty.
Step 2: Define the Target’s Role
The question asks about the underlined sentence. It begins with “They remain uncertain, however…” This signals a contrast or a problem. The sentence is explaining what scientists don’t know, which is the central challenge of the passage.
Step 3: Make a Prediction
My simple prediction is: “The underlined sentence states the main problem or question that the research is about.”
Step 4: Match Your Prediction to the Choices
- A) It outlines the specific methodology… No, the last sentence mentions the methodology (satellite imaging). This is incorrect.
- B) It presents the main conclusions… No, the last sentence gives the conclusion (technology alone is not enough). This is incorrect.
- C) It identifies the challenge that Dr. Chen’s team attempted but failed to resolve. This perfectly matches my prediction. The “uncertainty” is the challenge. The last sentence confirms Dr. Chen’s team tried to resolve it. This is a strong contender.
- D) It describes how other scientists have responded… No other scientists are mentioned. This is incorrect.
Conclusion: Choice (C) is the clear winner because it accurately describes the job of the underlined sentence in the context of the whole passage.
Ready to Try It on Real Questions?
The best way to build confidence is through focused practice. With mytestprep.ai, you can drill this specific skill until it’s effortless.
1 . Login using your account or signup on mytestprep.ai
2 . Click on Practice Sessions once you are on the dashboard. You will see the link on the left side navigation menu of the dashboard
3 . Click on Create New Session
4 . Start with Co-Pilot Mode on with hints and explanations—it’s like having a personal coach who explains exactly why each answer is right or wrong
5 . Select Reading as your subject
6 . Select Craft and Structure under Domain, Text Structure and Purpose as skill and Easy difficulty
7 . Select desired number of questions
8 . Start practicing. Happy Practicing!
Key Takeaways
- Think Like an Author: Text Structure and Purpose questions are about the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the writing, not just the ‘what’.
- Context is King: Always read the entire text to understand how the pieces fit together.
- Predict the Answer: Formulate the answer in your own simple words before looking at the choices. This helps you avoid tempting but incorrect options.
Look for Signal Words: Words like ‘however,’ ‘for instance,’ and ‘consequently’ are huge clues about a sentence’s function.
