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SAT Reading and Writing skill page

SAT Quantitative Evidence Practice

Translate the claim into a measurable comparison, then choose the data that matches it exactly.

Practice quantitative evidence in Dolphin SAT Try examples
12-18 min practice time 3 examples on page Information and Ideas
Practice time 12-18 min
On-page examples 3 examples
Best for Information and Ideas

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Practice examples

Try a few SAT-style questions

Example 1 Easy

A company claims demand increased from May to June. Sales were 120 units in May and 180 units in June. Which statement best supports the claim?

  1. Sales increased by 60 units.
  2. Sales decreased by 60 units.
  3. May sales were 180 units.
  4. June sales were 120 units.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: Sales increased by 60 units.

The numerical change from 120 to 180 is an increase of 60 units, directly supporting the claim.

Example 2 Medium

Plants receiving a fertilizer averaged 18 centimeters, while control plants averaged 14 centimeters. Which claim is best supported?

  1. The treated plants were 4 centimeters taller on average.
  2. Every treated plant was exactly 18 centimeters tall.
  3. The control plants did not grow.
  4. The fertilizer doubled average height.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: The treated plants were 4 centimeters taller on average.

The averages differ by 18 - 14 = 4 centimeters. The data does not describe every individual plant.

Example 3 Hard

An author claims participation doubled between week 4 and week 8. A table shows 40 participants in week 4 and 60 in week 8. How does the table affect the claim?

  1. It supports the claim because participation increased.
  2. It weakens the claim because participation rose by 50%, not 100%.
  3. It proves participation fell.
  4. It cannot be used to compare the weeks.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: It weakens the claim because participation rose by 50%, not 100%.

Doubling 40 would produce 80. An increase to 60 is 20/40 = 50%, so the author's numerical claim is too strong.

Quick drills

Practice this skill from more angles

Drill 1

Identify the numerical comparison required by a claim

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 2

Read the correct row, column, category, and unit

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 3

Choose data that directly supports or weakens the claim

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 4

Avoid overstating what a table or graph demonstrates

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Reading the nearest number instead of the right number

Match the row, column, category, time period, and unit named in the claim before calculating.

Confusing a difference with a percent change

A raw increase and a percentage increase answer different questions and use different calculations.

Overgeneralizing from an average

A group average does not prove that every individual in the group had that value.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

  1. Underline the exact measurable claim.
  2. Locate the relevant categories and units in the data.
  3. Calculate only the comparison needed to test the claim.
  4. Choose wording that matches the strength and scope of the numbers.
Practice quantitative evidence in Dolphin SAT

Related practice

Build the surrounding skills

SAT Command of Evidence PracticeSAT Data Analysis PracticeSAT Statistical Claims PracticeSAT Reading and Writing skill hub

Skill cluster

Keep practicing SAT Reading and Writing

SAT Reading and Writing skill hub SAT Punctuation PracticeSAT Transitions PracticeSAT Command of Evidence PracticeSAT Words in Context PracticeSAT Subject-Verb Agreement PracticeSAT Sentence Boundaries PracticeSAT Rhetorical Synthesis PracticeSAT Central Ideas PracticeSAT Modifiers PracticeSAT Apostrophes and Possessives PracticeSAT Text Structure PracticeSAT Inference Questions PracticeSAT Pronoun Antecedent PracticeSAT Verb Tense PracticeSAT Commas PracticeSAT Semicolons and Colons PracticeSAT Parallel Structure PracticeSAT Logical Transitions PracticeSAT Boundaries Between Clauses PracticeSAT Main Idea PracticeSAT Evidence Support PracticeSAT Vocabulary in Context PracticeSAT Cross-Text Connections Practice SAT Math Practice Pages Dolphin SAT study guides SAT score guides by college

FAQ

Questions about SAT Quantitative Evidence Practice

What is quantitative evidence on the SAT?

It is numerical information from a table, graph, chart, or research result used to evaluate a claim in a passage.

Do quantitative evidence questions require advanced math?

Usually no. They focus more on reading data precisely and matching it to a claim than on difficult calculations.

How is this different from textual Command of Evidence?

Textual evidence uses sentences and passage details. Quantitative evidence requires interpreting numerical data and comparisons.