Inferences
Drawing logical conclusions from what the text says or implies
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The text gives you the pieces. The question asks: what logically follows?
Why this matters
Inference questions feel tricky because the answer is never stated outright. But the SAT doesn't want creative thinking — it wants airtight logic. There are four specific reasoning patterns the test uses, and each one has a predictable structure. Once you recognize which pattern is in play, the correct inference becomes obvious.
The four patterns
Cause & Consequence
The text describes a situation or action. You predict the most logical result. Think: "If this happens, then what?"
›Observation & Explanation
The text presents a surprising finding or puzzle. You choose the explanation that best accounts for it — working backward from effect to cause.
›Contrast & Implication
Two ideas are set against each other. You identify what logically follows from the difference — not from either idea alone, but from the gap between them.
›Evidence Synthesis
Multiple pieces of evidence point toward one overarching conclusion. You combine the clues instead of relying on any single detail.
The biggest trap: choosing an answer that could be true over one that must be true. The SAT loves plausible-sounding options that go one step beyond what the text actually supports. Stick to what the evidence forces you to conclude — nothing more.