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SAT Verbal: A Detailed Overview

The SAT Verbal (officially the “Reading and Writing”) tests vocabulary, reading comprehension, graph/table analysis, grammar and punctuation rules, and rhetorical strategies.

Each question is based on its own short paragraph: only 80-100 words for reading and 55-70 words for writing. But don't be fooled by their short length—even very short passages can be tricky.

Vocabulary explicitly makes up 20% of the test and plays a major role in additional questions. 

How is it Structured?

  • Two Modules: The verbal section is divided into Module 1 and Module 2, with a 10 minute break in between. For each module, you have 32 minutes to complete 27 questions.
  • Adaptive Testing: The verbal section is adaptive. Module 1 is moderate difficulty. If you do well (typically around 16-19 right), you will get a significantly harder Module 2. If you don’t do as well, you will get an easy Module 2. Keep in mind, to get a high score, you MUST get the harder Module 2.
  • Questions Ordered by Topic: In each module, questions are grouped together by the College Board's broad categories. For descriptions of the categories, see our What is the Content section below. The categories usually appear in the same order on each test:

Reading

  1. Words in Context
  2. Text Structure and Purpose / Cross-Text Connections
  3. Central Ideas and Details
  4. Command of Evidence
  5. Inferences

Writing

  1. Standard English Conventions
  2. Transitions
  3. Rhetorical Synthesis

 

How is it Scored?

Well, the College Board has not released its scoring algorithms. Here are some pretty good conclusions we can make based on statements from the College Board and the Bluebook tests themselves:

  • Questions aren’t worth the same: Different questions will have different weights, based on difficulty level, how many skills they test, and how "guessable" they are.
  • Guess: On all questions, there's no penalty for guessing: if you're not sure of the answer, it's better to guess than leave the response blank.
  • Module 1 Questions Count More: Don’t mess up in module 1!
  • Experimental Questions: There are two questions in each module that will not be scored—the test writers are still developing these questions. Unfortunately, there is no way to know which questions are unscored, so you still have to try hard on every question.

With this new scoring system, it is entirely possible that you and your friend could get the same number of questions wrong but receive radically different scores.

What Does it Test?

The College Board uses broad categories, sometimes with confusing names. On Resolve Prep, we divide our questions into more specific problem types so you can recognize, learn, and practice specialized strategies for each.

Craft and Structure

(about 28% of Questions)

  • Words in Context: Use the context of the passage to pick the appropriate vocabulary word.
    • Resolve Prep: “Most Nearly Means” and “Words in Context”
  • Text Structure and Purpose: Determine how sentences work together in a text to form an argument.
    • Resolve Prep: “Function of Sentence,” “Main Purpose,” and “Structure of Text”
  • Cross-Text Connections: Draw connections between two related texts. Note there is only one of these questions on the entire test. It may appear in either Module 1 or Module 2.
    • Resolve Prep: “Text 1/2”

Information and Ideas

(about 26% of Questions):

  • Central Ideas and Details: Recognize a main idea and connect details to it.
    • Resolve Prep: “Main Idea” and “Specific Detail”
  • Command of Evidence: Use textual evidence or data to either support or (more rarely) weaken a given claim. Many of these questions require using data in a graph, chart, or table.
    • Resolve Prep: “Choose Support” and “Weaken Argument”
  • Inferences: Make reasonable inferences based on the logic of an argument.
    • Resolve Prep: “Complete Text”

Standard English Conventions

(about 26% of Questions):

  • Boundaries: Make sure sentences are complete and that inessential clauses use correct punctuation
    • Resolve Prep: “Independent Clause Punctuation,” "Dashes," "Semicolons," "Commas," and more
  • Form, Structure, and Sense: Follow other grammar rules for verb forms and more.
    • Resolve Prep: “Subject Verb Agreement,” “Verb Tense,” “Infinitive and Other Verb Forms,” “Apostrophes,” and “Misplaced Modifiers”

Expression of Ideas

(about 20% of Questions):

  • Transitions: Choose the best transition word or phrase to connect ideas in a text.
    • Resolve Prep: “Transition Words”
  • Rhetorical Synthesis: Choose the sentence that best Integrates information to acheive a specific goal.
    • Resolve Prep: “Notes to Goal” 

How Do I Get Started?

We cover this in our “Getting Started” guide. But start by taking a diagnostic test so you can see the scope of the task ahead of you. If you take a Bluebook test, don’t review the specific questions, so that you can retake the test later.

For the verbal, you will need to decide early on whether you will make learning vocabulary a part of your prep. We have a guide to help you here.

When you tackle the verbal, you probably want to build up your skillset, starting with the easiest problem types. Generally, that means starting with the writing questions (Standard English Conventions and Expression of Ideas) and then working your way to the reading questions (Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas).

Once you feel like you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you should start taking practice tests. Every time you get a question wrong, review it, learn the underlying concept, and then try to apply your knowledge to additional practice problem. You should always save the Bluebook Tests for the end of the process, so start off with the eight tests on Resolve Prep and then transition over to the Official Bluebook tests.

Best of luck on your test prep journey!