Grammar and reading terms · SAT Reading and Writing, ACT English, ACT Reading
Command of evidence
Command of evidence: The skill of identifying which quotation or data best supports, illustrates or weakens a claim.
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What it means
Command of evidence questions give you a claim and ask which evidence supports it. The correct answer must directly address the specific claim.
Quantitative versions ask which data from a table or graph supports a statement, requiring careful reading of labels and values.
Example
Claim: the bird species migrates earlier in warmer years. Supporting evidence: data showing earlier arrival dates in years with higher spring temperatures.
On the exam
SAT Command of Evidence questions come in textual and quantitative forms; ACT Reading includes data and graphics questions.