Reading
The Reading section measures the ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate written passages. Questions draw on short and longer texts across subject areas and do not require outside knowledge.
Key Ideas and Details
Many questions ask for the main idea, supporting details, or logical inferences. The main idea is the central point a passage makes, while details support it. Inferences go slightly beyond the text but must be grounded in evidence the passage provides.
Craft and Structure
Other questions focus on how a text is built: the meaning of a word in context, the author's purpose or tone, and the function of a particular sentence. Transition words such as 'for example' or 'however' signal how ideas relate, helping readers follow the structure of an argument.
Integration and Evaluation
Some items ask readers to evaluate an argument, distinguish fact from opinion, or compare information. A careful reader weighs the evidence a writer offers and judges whether conclusions follow from it, without importing personal assumptions.