Grammar and reading terms · SAT Reading and Writing, ACT English, ACT Reading
Inference
Inference: A logical conclusion drawn from evidence in a text that is not stated directly.
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What it means
A valid inference is strongly supported by the text. On standardized tests, the correct inference is usually a small, careful step from what the passage says.
Avoid answers that go beyond the evidence or rely on outside knowledge.
Example
Passage: the researcher repeated the experiment three times after colleagues questioned her results. Inference: she wanted to confirm her findings were reliable.
On the exam
SAT Inferences questions ask for the most logical completion of a text; ACT Reading includes inference questions about passages.