Most students miss Central Ideas questions not because they misread, but because they pick something too specific. The SAT rewards the answer that covers the whole passage, not just a memorable detail. As you read, track the author's main point across every paragraph. Wrong answers are usually accurate statements pulled from one part of the text. If it doesn't hold up across the whole passage, move on. Practice asking: "What is every paragraph contributing to?" If an answer only fits one section, it's too narrow. Eliminate those first.

Numbers feel authoritative, which is exactly why the SAT uses them to trip you up. Command of Quantitative Evidence questions give you a graph or table and ask which option correctly uses that data to support a point. The key: go back to the data every time. Don't rely on what sounds reasonable. Wrong answers often cite accurate numbers but draw conclusions the data doesn't actually support. Pro Tip: Focus on what the numbers directly show. Watch for answer choices that misread scale, confuse totals with rates, or generalize beyond the data's scope.

Most wrong answers on Command of Textual Evidence questions are technically true. They just aren't supported by the passage. That's the key distinction. The SAT doesn't reward smart guesses. Command of Textual Evidence questions reward students who know how to find proof fast. These questions ask you to find evidence that directly supports a claim, or to identify what the text actually says rather than what seems reasonable. Stick to what's on the page. Avoid answer choices that require outside knowledge or logical inference beyond the text. If you can't point to the exact lines, it's not the answer.

Here's a common mistake: confusing "likely true" with "must be true." SAT inference questions reward caution. The right answer is usually the most conservative, best-supported option available. Focus on what the author directly implies, not what seems reasonable in general. Watch for extreme wording in answer choices (words like "always," "never," "all"). These are rarely correct. Stick close to the text, treat unsupported assumptions as wrong, and the correct answer usually becomes obvious. The correct answer will always be grounded in specific evidence from the text. If you find yourself reasoning from outside knowledge or making a logical leap the passage doesn't support, you've gone too far. Eliminate answers that are too strong, too broad, or unsupported.