RW5 Command of Evidence
Command of Evidence questions ask you to find support for a claim. In text-based versions, you pick the quotation or sentence that best backs up a point. In data versions, you read a graph or table and choose the option that the data actually supports, or that best completes an argument. The skill is matching a specific claim to specific evidence. One concrete tip: pin down exactly what the claim says, then test each choice by asking whether it directly proves that claim, not just something related. On this page you'll find a short lesson on evaluating textual and graphical evidence, plus free interactive practice with instant feedback so you can learn to spot the evidence that truly fits.
Lesson
Command of Evidence comes in two flavors: textual (which quotation/finding supports a claim) and quantitative (which data point from a graph or table backs an argument). Both test whether evidence actually proves the specific claim.
Quantitative (graph/table) questions
- Read the axes, units, and legend before the data. Most misses come from misreading what a number measures.
- The right answer both (a) reads the data correctly and (b) supports the claim. Wrong answers often do one but not the other.
- Beware choices that state a true number that's irrelevant to the claim.
Worked examples
How do you attack a data/graph evidence question?
- Read the CLAIM first and underline exactly what must be supported.
- Read the axis labels, units, and legend before you read any numbers.
- Check each choice twice: (1) does it read the data correctly, and (2) does it support THAT claim?
- Eliminate choices that state a true number but don't address the claim.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a choice that accurately quotes the data but supports a different claim than the one asked about.
- Misreading units or axis scales (thousands vs millions, percent vs count).
- Picking a quotation that's on the same topic but doesn't prove the specific point.
- Assuming correlation shown in a graph proves causation.
80 questions, 80 distinct question types · you answer 12 at a time and can keep going for as long as you like.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Command of Evidence on the SAT?
It's a Reading and Writing skill that tests whether you can support a claim with the right evidence. Text-based questions ask which quotation best backs up a point. Data-based questions give a chart or table and ask which choice the data supports, or which best completes an argument. Either way, you're matching a specific claim to evidence that directly supports it.
How do I answer evidence questions that use a graph or table?
First read the claim or argument you need to support. Then read the graph carefully: check the title, axis labels, and units so you know what the numbers mean. Find the choice that both accurately describes the data and supports the claim. Rule out options that misread the figure or state something true but irrelevant to the point being made.
How do I pick the best supporting quotation?
Nail down the exact claim first, in your own words. Then test each quotation by asking whether it directly proves that claim, not just mentions the same topic. Wrong choices often relate to the passage but don't support this specific point. The right answer connects clearly and directly. If a quote requires a leap in logic to fit, it's probably not the one.
Why do I keep missing Command of Evidence questions?
Usually because the claim and the evidence aren't matched precisely. Students pick an answer that's on-topic but doesn't actually support the stated claim, or they misread a chart's labels. Slow down, restate what needs supporting, and confirm the choice provides that exact support. For data questions, always check units and axes before trusting your read of the numbers.