This is the companion piece to a post I wrote earlier on dSAT Math Topics. Questions in the Reading/Writing sections of the dSAT cover four broad topic areas: Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas.The entire Reading/Writing section is 64 minutes long with 54 multiple-choice questions.
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Modules
Two Reading/Writing modules:
Each module is 32 minutes long, with 27 questions (1:11 per question)
Organized by question type, with similar skills grouped together
Questions within each group are presented in order of increasing difficulty
Each question has its own short passage or pair of passages
Passages are between 20–150 words
Wide range of topics, including literary excerpts and poetry
May contain informational tables and graphs
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Information and Ideas
12-14 questions, 26% of the section
Use information stated or implied in the passage (may include tables and graphs) to evaluate ideas in the text and draw conclusions.
Tasks:
Determine main idea and central details
Interpret details supporting the main idea
Use evidence from the text, graphs, and tables to support or respond to a claim
Draw reasonable inferences based on the passage
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Craft and Structure
13-15 questions, 28% of the section
Focuses on vocabulary (words in context), text structure and purpose, and cross-text connections.
Tasks:
Determine the primary purpose of the text
Evaluate text structure rhetorically and how the author chose to organize information
Select the best word to complete the text (fill-in the blank)
Compare/contrast two related texts
Make supportable connections between two related texts
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Expression of Ideas
8-12 questions, 20% of the section
Focuses on improving effectiveness of written expression. Test takers are asked to scrutinize topic development, accuracy, logic, cohesion, transitions, and language to improve, refine, and enhance the effectiveness and impact of a text and achieve specific rhetorical goals.
Tasks:
Analyze bullet points and choose the one that best combines information to achieve a certain goal
Identify the flow and structure of a passage
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Standard English Conventions
11-15 questions, 26% of the section
Use editing skills and knowledge to make texts conform to standard conventions of written English, emphasizing proper word usage, sentence structure and form, grammar, and punctuation.
Tasks:
Identify correct punctuation to join and separate sentences and clauses
Find the best way to complete a sentence so that it follows conventions of standard written English (e.g. proper agreement, verb tense, etc.)
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