🎯 What You'll Learn
• How to read and interpret charts, graphs, and tables
📊 What Is Quantitative Evidence?
Quantitative evidence comes from data presented in tables, graphs, charts, or statistics. SAT questions ask you to:
Interpret what the data shows
Connect the data to a claim in the passage
Identify which data supports or weakens a claim
Draw conclusions from the data
💡 Key Strategy
Always look at the labels , units , and trends in the data. Don't just read the numbers—understand what they mean in context.
⚡ 3-Step Quantitative Strategy
STEP 1
Read the Claim
What is the claim being made?
STEP 2
Examine the Data
Look at labels, units, and trends.
STEP 3
Match Data to Claim
Does the data support or contradict the claim?
🧪 Practice Questions
Study the data carefully and choose the best answer. Click "Show Answer" for explanations.
Passage: A study examined the effects of a new teaching method on student performance. The method was implemented in 10 schools, and test scores were measured before and after.
📊 Average Test Scores Before and After New Teaching Method
School Before After School A 72 85 School B 68 82 School C 75 88 School D 70 84 School E 65 80
Which claim is best supported by the data in the table?
A) The new teaching method had no effect on student test scores
B) The new teaching method improved test scores at all schools
C) School C had the highest scores before the method was implemented
D) The method only worked for schools that already had high scores
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: B
Every school shows an increase in test scores after the method was implemented. The scores improved across all schools regardless of starting point.
📌 Data: All schools improved (A: 72→85, B: 68→82, C: 75→88, D: 70→84, E: 65→80).
Passage: A company tracked customer satisfaction ratings over a 5-year period. The company introduced a new customer service program in year 3.
📊 Customer Satisfaction Ratings (1-10 Scale)
Year Rating Year 1 6.2 Year 2 6.5 Year 3 7.8 Year 4 8.1 Year 5 8.3
What conclusion is best supported by the data?
A) Customer satisfaction declined steadily over the 5 years
B) The customer service program caused ratings to decrease
C) Satisfaction increased significantly after the new program was introduced
D) The program had no impact on customer satisfaction
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: C
Ratings were stable in years 1-2 (6.2, 6.5) but jumped to 7.8 in year 3 after the program was introduced, then continued rising to 8.3.
📌 Data: Before program: 6.2, 6.5 → After program: 7.8, 8.1, 8.3.
Passage: A study tracked the number of hours spent on social media and reported anxiety levels among teenagers.
📊 Social Media Use vs. Anxiety Levels
Hours/Week % Reporting High Anxiety 0-5 hours 18% 6-10 hours 25% 11-15 hours 34% 16-20 hours 42% 21+ hours 51%
Which claim is best supported by the data?
A) Social media use has no connection to anxiety
B) Teenagers with low anxiety spend more time on social media
C) Social media reduces anxiety for most teenagers
D) Higher social media use is associated with higher anxiety levels
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: D
As social media use increases, the percentage of teenagers reporting high anxiety consistently rises (18% → 25% → 34% → 42% → 51%).
📌 Data: Clear positive correlation: more hours = higher anxiety percentage.
Passage: A city measured traffic congestion before and after implementing a new public transportation system.
📊 Average Commute Time (minutes)
Zone Before After Change Zone A (City Center) 45 32 -13 Zone B (Suburbs) 38 35 -3 Zone C (Industrial) 42 40 -2 Zone D (Residential) 35 34 -1
Based on the data, which statement is most accurate?
A) The new system had the greatest impact on commute times in the city center
B) The new system increased commute times in all zones
C) The suburbs saw the largest improvement
D) The system had no effect on residential areas
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: A
Zone A (City Center) had the largest decrease in commute time (45→32, a 13-minute reduction), while other zones had smaller changes.
📌 Data: Zone A: -13 min (largest drop). Zone B: -3 min. Zone C: -2 min. Zone D: -1 min.
Passage: A researcher studied the relationship between years of education and average annual income in five cities.
📊 Average Income by Education Level
City High School Bachelor's Master's City 1 $35,000 $52,000 $68,000 City 2 $32,000 $48,000 $62,000 City 3 $38,000 $55,000 $72,000 City 4 $30,000 $45,000 $58,000 City 5 $36,000 $53,000 $70,000
What conclusion is best supported by the data?
A) Income decreases as education level increases
B) Higher education levels are associated with higher income in all cities
C) Education has no effect on income
D) City 3 has the lowest average income
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: B
In every city, income increases with education level: High School < Bachelor's < Master's.
📌 Data: All cities show the same pattern: HS (lowest) → Bachelor's (middle) → Master's (highest).
Passage: A company tracked the number of customer complaints before and after implementing a new return policy.
📊 Monthly Customer Complaints
Month Complaints January (Before) 142 February (Before) 138 March (Before) 145 April (After) 89 May (After) 78 June (After) 72
What does the data suggest about the new return policy?
A) The new policy caused complaints to increase
B) The policy had no effect on complaints
C) The new policy was effective in reducing complaints
D) Complaints were already declining before the policy
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: C
Before the policy, complaints were stable around 140. After implementation, complaints dropped dramatically to 89, then 78, then 72.
📌 Data: Before: 142, 138, 145 → After: 89, 78, 72 (clear reduction).
Passage: A health organization studied the relationship between daily steps and overall health scores among adults.
📊 Daily Steps vs. Health Score (out of 100)
Steps/Day Average Health Score 0-2,000 62 2,001-5,000 68 5,001-8,000 76 8,001-10,000 82 10,000+ 87
Which statement is best supported by the data?
A) Taking more than 10,000 steps leads to a lower health score
B) The health score is not affected by daily steps
C) People who take 8,000-10,000 steps have the highest health score
D) Higher step counts are generally associated with higher health scores
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: D
As steps increase, health scores consistently improve: 62 → 68 → 76 → 82 → 87.
📌 Data: Positive correlation between steps and health score across all categories.
Passage: A study tracked the number of books read per year and vocabulary test scores among students.
📊 Books Read vs. Vocabulary Score (out of 100)
Books/Year Student A Student B Student C 0-5 68 65 70 6-12 75 78 73 13-20 82 85 80 21+ 89 92 88
Which claim is best supported by the data?
A) Students who read more books tend to have higher vocabulary scores
B) Student B has the lowest vocabulary scores overall
C) Reading fewer books leads to higher vocabulary scores
D) All students scored the same regardless of books read
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: A
For each student, scores increase with more books read. The pattern is consistent across all three students.
📌 Data: Student A: 68→75→82→89. Student B: 65→78→85→92. Student C: 70→73→80→88.
Passage: A city measured annual recycling rates (percentage of waste recycled) over time.
📊 Annual Recycling Rate (Percentage)
Year Recycling Rate 2015 22% 2016 25% 2017 28% 2018 35% 2019 42% 2020 48%
Based on the data, what can be concluded?
A) Recycling rates decreased every year
B) Recycling rates increased steadily, with a larger jump after 2018
C) Recycling rates were highest in 2017
D) The city stopped recycling after 2020
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: B
Rates increased each year. Before 2018: 22→25→28 (small increases). After 2018: 35→42→48 (larger jumps).
📌 Data: Consistent upward trend: 22% → 25% → 28% → 35% → 42% → 48%.
Passage: A researcher studied the relationship between temperature and ice cream sales at a beach store.
📊 Temperature vs. Ice Cream Sales
Temperature (°F) Daily Sales ($) 60-65 $220 66-70 $340 71-75 $480 76-80 $610 81-85 $780 86-90 $920
What is the best interpretation of the data?
A) Sales decrease as temperature rises
B) Temperature has no effect on ice cream sales
C) Sales are highest when temperatures are below 65°F
D) Higher temperatures are associated with higher ice cream sales
💡 Show Answer
✓ Answer: D
As temperature increases, sales consistently rise: $220 → $340 → $480 → $610 → $780 → $920.
📌 Data: Strong positive correlation: higher temperature = higher sales.
🎉 WELL DONE!
You've completed all 10 quantitative evidence questions. You now know how to interpret data and use it to support claims.