Reading · 4 min read
How to eliminate SAT inference answers
Published October 29, 2026
The useful idea
An inference must be supported by the passage, even when the passage never states it in exactly the same words. Prefer the conclusion the evidence permits; reject a stronger claim that needs information you were not given.
Worked example
A neighborhood library began closing at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays instead of 5 p.m. Tuesday evening visits rose. Several new visitors said their work schedules had previously prevented them from coming. Weekend visits stayed about the same. What is a reasonable inference?
A tempting wrong move
“All residents who work during the day now visit the library on Tuesdays.”
The work-schedule detail points toward the right idea, but “all residents” is much stronger than “several new visitors.” The passage does not count every worker or say they all visit.
- Underline the evidence: several new Tuesday visitors named their work schedules as a former obstacle.
- Keep the group as small as the evidence allows. The later closing time made visits possible for some people who work during the day.
- Check the alternatives against the text. Weekend visits did not collapse, and nothing says hours changed on every weekday.
A rule to reuse
For each choice, ask: Which sentence supports this exact claim? Pay special attention to scope words such as some, most, all, always, and only.
Try the idea
A passage says two of six tested seedlings survived in shade. Can you infer that all seedlings of that species die in shade?
Show the reasoning
No. Two survived, directly contradicting “all die.” You can say the tested shade group had lower survival only if the passage supplies a comparison group.