SAT Reading and Writing: Command of Evidence - Quantitative (Medium)
Master medium-difficulty data analysis by interpreting tables, graphs, and charts to support claims with precise quantitative evidence
By NUM8ERS Test Prep Team | Updated October 2025 | 29-minute read
Understanding Medium Quantitative Evidence Questions
What's Different at Medium Level: Medium Command of Evidence: Quantitative questions require you to analyze more complex data presentations and make nuanced interpretations. Unlike easy questions where a single data point proves the claim, medium questions often involve comparing multiple values, identifying trends, calculating differences, or recognizing patterns that aren't immediately obvious. You'll need to go beyond simple data lookup to perform analytical reasoning.
At this level, data may be presented in multiple formats (tables with numerous rows/columns, multi-line graphs, bar charts with subcategories), and you must determine which specific data points most effectively support or challenge a given claim. The correct answer requires careful analysis of relationships between variables, not just finding matching numbers.
🎯 What Makes Medium Questions Harder
Challenge 1: Complex Data Sets
Tables with 5+ rows/columns, graphs with multiple lines or bars, data requiring cross-referencing between categories. You must navigate complexity to find relevant information.
Example: A table showing test scores across 6 different schools over 4 years
Challenge 2: Trend Identification
Claims about "increasing," "decreasing," "consistent," or "fluctuating" patterns require you to analyze multiple data points and recognize overall trends, not just individual values.
Example: "Which data best illustrates a steady increase over time?"
Challenge 3: Comparative Analysis
Questions asking about "greatest difference," "most similar," or "relative ranking" require comparing multiple categories and potentially calculating differences or ratios.
Example: "Which pair of countries shows the largest gap in values?"
Challenge 4: Multi-Variable Analysis
Claims may involve relationships between two or more variables (e.g., "as X increases, Y decreases"), requiring you to examine multiple data points simultaneously.
Example: Analyzing correlation between temperature and precipitation
📊 Types of Data Presentations
At the medium level, you'll encounter these data formats:
📋 Complex Tables
Multiple rows and columns with numerous categories, requiring careful cross-referencing
📈 Multi-Line Graphs
Line graphs showing multiple data series, often requiring trend comparison
📊 Grouped Bar Charts
Bar charts with multiple categories or subcategories requiring comparative analysis
🔢 Mixed Data Formats
Combination of percentages, absolute numbers, and rates in the same presentation
Top Tips for Medium Quantitative Evidence Questions
🎯 The 6-Step Data Analysis Strategy
Step 1: Read the Claim Carefully and Identify Key Variables
Before looking at the data, understand exactly what the claim asserts. Identify the specific variables, time periods, categories, or relationships mentioned.
Example Claim:
"Between 2015 and 2020, Country A experienced a greater increase in renewable energy production than Country B."
Key variables to find:
- Country A's data for 2015 and 2020
- Country B's data for 2015 and 2020
- Calculate increases for both
- Compare which is greater
Step 2: Orient Yourself to the Data Presentation
Quickly scan the title, axes labels, legend, and units. Understand what each row, column, or data series represents before diving into specific values.
Quick orientation checklist:
- What is being measured? (units: %, thousands, millions, etc.)
- What categories/groups are compared?
- What time period is covered?
- Are there any footnotes or clarifications?
⏱️ This should take 5-10 seconds but prevents costly mistakes!
Step 3: Locate Relevant Data Points (Don't Get Distracted)
Medium questions include extra data to create complexity. Focus only on the rows, columns, or data series mentioned in the claim. Physically track with your finger or mark data points if needed.
Pro tip for tables:
Use one finger to track the row and another to track the column, sliding them to the intersection. This prevents reading the wrong cell in complex tables.
Step 4: Perform Necessary Calculations or Comparisons
Medium questions often require you to calculate differences, identify maximums/minimums, or rank values. Do this systematically, writing down intermediate results if helpful.
Common calculations needed:
Change over time: Final value − Initial value
Percent change: \(\frac{\text{Change}}{\text{Initial value}} \times 100\)
Average: \(\frac{\text{Sum of values}}{\text{Number of values}}\)
Difference between groups: Group A value − Group B value
Step 5: Evaluate Answer Choices Against the Data
Check each answer choice systematically. Don't assume the first plausible answer is correct—verify that it truly matches what the data shows.
For each choice, ask:
- Does this reference the correct variables from the claim?
- Do the numbers/categories mentioned actually appear in the data?
- Is the relationship described (higher, lower, equal) accurate?
- If it mentions a trend, do at least 3+ data points support it?
Step 6: Double-Check Units and Scale
Before finalizing your answer, verify you've read units correctly. Is it measuring thousands or millions? Percentages or absolute values? This is where many careless errors occur.
Common unit traps:
- Confusing "millions" with "thousands"
- Missing percentage signs (30% vs. 30)
- Overlooking "per capita" vs. "total"
- Ignoring axis scale breaks or logarithmic scales
⚠️ Critical Skills for Success
- Understand "increase" vs. "greatest increase": Claim about increase needs values going up; claim about greatest increase needs comparing multiple increases
- Distinguish correlation from causation: Data showing two variables changing together doesn't prove one causes the other
- Recognize what data CANNOT prove: Some claims make assertions beyond what the data shows (motivations, causes, future predictions)
- Look for consistent patterns: One data point doesn't prove a trend; you need multiple consistent points
- Watch for "except" or "all...except" phrasings: These reverse what you're looking for
- Don't bring outside knowledge: Answer based solely on the data presented, not what you think might be true
- Compare apples to apples: Make sure you're comparing the same units, time periods, and categories
- Trust precise numbers over approximations: The correct answer often uses exact data from the table/graph
Worked Example 1: Comparative Analysis
Passage and Table:
A researcher studied the growth of three different plant species under varying light conditions. The table shows the average height increase (in centimeters) for each species after 30 days of exposure to different daily light durations.
| Plant Species | 4 hours/day | 8 hours/day | 12 hours/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species A | 3.2 cm | 5.8 cm | 6.1 cm |
| Species B | 2.5 cm | 7.3 cm | 8.9 cm |
| Species C | 4.1 cm | 5.5 cm | 5.7 cm |
Claim: When comparing the growth difference between 4 hours and 12 hours of daily light exposure, Species B showed the greatest increase.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the claim?
A) Species B grew 8.9 cm with 12 hours of light, which was higher than Species A's 6.1 cm or Species C's 5.7 cm.
B) The increase from 4 hours to 12 hours was 6.4 cm for Species B, compared to 2.9 cm for Species A and 1.6 cm for Species C.
C) Species B showed growth under all light conditions, measuring 2.5 cm, 7.3 cm, and 8.9 cm respectively.
D) At 8 hours of daily light, Species B grew 7.3 cm, which exceeded both Species A and Species C.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Key Variables in the Claim
Claim breakdown: "When comparing the growth difference between 4 hours and 12 hours... Species B showed the greatest increase"
What I need to find:
- Calculate the difference (increase) for each species: 12 hours value − 4 hours value
- Compare all three increases
- Verify Species B has the largest increase
Step 2: Orient to the Table
Units: centimeters (cm)
Rows: Three plant species (A, B, C)
Columns: Three light conditions (4, 8, 12 hours/day)
I need to compare the first column (4 hours) with the last column (12 hours) for each species
Step 3: Locate Relevant Data and Calculate
Species A:
12 hours: 6.1 cm
4 hours: 3.2 cm
Increase: 6.1 − 3.2 = 2.9 cm
Species B:
12 hours: 8.9 cm
4 hours: 2.5 cm
Increase: 8.9 − 2.5 = 6.4 cm ← Largest!
Species C:
12 hours: 5.7 cm
4 hours: 4.1 cm
Increase: 5.7 − 4.1 = 1.6 cm
Comparison: 6.4 cm (B) > 2.9 cm (A) > 1.6 cm (C) ✓ Claim confirmed!
Step 4: Evaluate Answer Choices
Option A: Compares absolute values at 12 hours only
❌ Wrong comparison. This shows Species B had the highest value at 12 hours, but the claim is about the increase (difference between 4 and 12 hours), not the final value. This doesn't address the comparison of increases.
Option B: States increases: 6.4 cm (B) vs. 2.9 cm (A) vs. 1.6 cm (C)
✅ Perfect match! This directly addresses the claim by comparing the actual increases (4 hours → 12 hours) for all three species. It shows Species B's 6.4 cm increase is greater than A's 2.9 cm and C's 1.6 cm. These are the exact calculations needed to prove the claim.
Option C: Lists all three values for Species B
❌ Incomplete. While these are Species B's values, this choice doesn't calculate the increase or compare it to the other species. It just lists data points without doing the analysis the claim requires.
Option D: Compares values at 8 hours
❌ Wrong time period. The claim specifically compares 4 hours to 12 hours, not 8 hours. This is irrelevant data that doesn't support the claim about the increase between those two specific conditions.
Correct Answer: B
💡 Key Lesson: When a claim is about "increase," "change," or "difference," the correct answer must show the calculated change, not just the final values. Option A was a common trap—it gave relevant data but didn't perform the comparison the claim required. Always calculate what the claim asks for!
Worked Example 2: Trend Analysis
A climate researcher tracked annual precipitation levels in City X from 2015 to 2022. The following table shows the precipitation in millimeters for each year.
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation (mm) | 420 | 445 | 475 | 490 | 515 | 535 | 560 | 580 |
Claim: Between 2015 and 2022, City X experienced a consistent increase in annual precipitation, with the amount rising every year without any decline.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the claim?
A) Precipitation increased from 420 mm in 2015 to 580 mm in 2022, representing a total increase of 160 mm.
B) Each year from 2016 through 2022 showed precipitation levels higher than the previous year, with values progressing from 445 mm to 580 mm.
C) The average precipitation over the eight-year period was approximately 503 mm.
D) The largest year-to-year increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, when precipitation rose by 25 mm.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the Key Assertion
Claim: "consistent increase... rising every year without any decline"
What this means: Not just that 2022 > 2015, but that EACH year must be higher than the previous year. I need to verify year-over-year increases: 2016 > 2015, 2017 > 2016, 2018 > 2017, etc.
Step 2: Check for Consistent Year-Over-Year Increases
2015 → 2016: 420 → 445 ✓ (increase of 25)
2016 → 2017: 445 → 475 ✓ (increase of 30)
2017 → 2018: 475 → 490 ✓ (increase of 15)
2018 → 2019: 490 → 515 ✓ (increase of 25)
2019 → 2020: 515 → 535 ✓ (increase of 20)
2020 → 2021: 535 → 560 ✓ (increase of 25)
2021 → 2022: 560 → 580 ✓ (increase of 20)
Every year shows an increase—no declines! Claim is supported.
Step 3: Evaluate Answer Choices
Option A: Total increase from 420 to 580 mm
❌ Insufficient evidence. This shows the overall change (first to last year), but doesn't prove "consistent increase every year." The precipitation could have gone up and down in the middle years and still shown this total change. Doesn't address year-to-year consistency.
Option B: Each year showed higher levels than the previous year
✅ Directly proves the claim! This explicitly states that every year (2016-2022) was higher than the one before it, which is exactly what "rising every year without decline" means. The progression from 445 mm to 580 mm confirms we're looking at consecutive increases. This is the most direct support for consistent year-over-year growth.
Option C: Average was 503 mm
❌ Irrelevant statistic. An average tells you nothing about whether values increased consistently. You could have years above and below the average, with lots of ups and downs, and still get this average. Doesn't address the trend pattern.
Option D: Largest increase was 2020-2021
❌ Too narrow. While true, this only addresses one year-to-year change. The claim is about ALL years showing increases. This doesn't prove consistent rises across the entire period—it just highlights one specific increase.
Correct Answer: B
💡 Key Lesson: For claims about "consistent" or "every year" trends, you need evidence that checks ALL time periods, not just the endpoints. Option A showed overall change but didn't prove consistency. Option B explicitly confirmed that each individual year exceeded the previous one—the only way to prove a claim about continuous, uninterrupted growth.
Quick Example
A survey asked 500 high school students about their preferred method of studying: individual study, study groups, or tutoring. The results showed that 250 students preferred individual study, 180 preferred study groups, and 70 preferred tutoring.
Claim: Individual study was the most popular method, chosen by exactly half of the surveyed students.
A) Individual study was preferred by more students than study groups and tutoring combined.
B) Study groups were the second most popular option with 180 students.
C) Of the 500 students surveyed, 250 preferred individual study, representing 50% of respondents.
D) Tutoring was the least popular method with only 70 students choosing it.
Quick Analysis:
Claim has two parts: (1) Individual study was most popular AND (2) It was exactly half (50%)
Check the math:
250 out of 500 = \(\frac{250}{500} = \frac{1}{2} = 50\%\) ✓
250 > 180 > 70, so individual study is most popular ✓
Evaluate choices:
A) ❌ True (250 > 180+70=250... wait, they're equal!), but doesn't mention 50%
B) ❌ True but irrelevant—claim is about individual study
C) ✓ Addresses both parts: 250 students AND explicitly states 50%
D) ❌ True but irrelevant—claim is about individual study
Answer: C
Only option C provides both pieces of information the claim makes: the number (250) and the percentage (50%). Options B and D are factually correct but don't address the claim about individual study being most popular and comprising exactly half.
Key Takeaways
- Read the claim first: Understand what needs to be proven before looking at data
- Calculate what the claim requires: "Increase" claims need actual difference calculations, not just final values
- Check ALL relevant data points: "Consistent" or "every year" claims require verifying multiple data points
- Distinguish endpoints from trends: Showing first and last values doesn't prove what happened in between
- Match the claim's specificity: If claim mentions "50%," answer must state "50%" not just "half"
- Compare apples to apples: Verify you're comparing the same time periods, units, and categories
- Watch for "greatest," "most," "least": These require comparing all options to find the extreme
- Verify units and scale: Double-check you haven't confused thousands with millions, or percentages with absolutes
- Don't be distracted by correct but irrelevant data: Answer must address the specific claim, not just be factually true
- Trust precise numbers: The correct answer often includes exact data points from the table/graph
Study Strategy & Resources
📚 Build Core Skills
- Practice reading complex tables quickly
- Learn to calculate differences and percentages
- Develop trend identification skills
- Master comparative analysis techniques
- Build mental math speed for simple calculations
🎯 Daily Practice
- Complete 5-7 quantitative evidence questions daily
- Practice with various data formats
- Time yourself: 60-90 seconds per question
- Verify your calculations twice
- Use official College Board questions
💡 Develop Intuition
- Analyze data visualizations in news articles
- Practice identifying misleading statistics
- Study how data supports different claims
- Learn to spot unit and scale issues
- Recognize common data presentation formats
📖 Related Skills
- Command of Evidence: Textual
- Central Ideas and Details
- Cross-Text Connections
- SAT Math: Problem Solving and Data Analysis
🎓 NUM8ERS Quantitative Analysis Mastery
At NUM8ERS in Dubai, our SAT specialists have developed the "Data-to-Claim Verification System" specifically for medium-level quantitative evidence questions. We teach students to systematically break down claims into testable components, locate relevant data efficiently in complex presentations, perform necessary calculations accurately, and eliminate trap answers that provide correct but irrelevant information. Our approach emphasizes that data analysis questions reward methodical thinking—students who follow a consistent process outperform those who rely on intuition alone.
Our comprehensive training includes: Claim decomposition drills, rapid table/graph orientation exercises, calculation accuracy practice, comparative analysis strategies, unit and scale verification training, and timed data interpretation with detailed feedback. NUM8ERS students typically improve their quantitative evidence accuracy by 30-35 percentage points after completing our focused training. The breakthrough comes when students learn to identify exactly what calculation or comparison the claim requires—transforming seemingly complex data questions into systematic, mechanical problems with clear right answers.