SAT™ Reading Passage Types: What to Expect

The SAT Reading section features five passages, and they always follow a predictable order. Understanding the types of passages you’ll face is key to knowing what to expect and how to approach each one.

Contents

1. U.S. and World Literature (1 Passage)

This passage is a work of fiction from a U.S. or world author. It will focus on character, plot, and mood. Your job is to read for tone, infer characters’ feelings, and understand the narrative.

• Strategy: Pay close attention to dialogue and descriptive language.

2. History/Social Studies (2 Passages)

You’ll get two passages from this category. One will be a U.S. founding document or a text from the “Great Global Conversation” (e.g., a speech by a historical figure like Edmund Burke or a work by a social reformer). The other will be a more modern social science passage about a topic like economics, psychology, or sociology.

• Strategy for historical passages: The language can be dense. Focus on identifying the author’s main argument and the evidence they use to support it.
• Strategy for social science passages: These are often structured like scientific articles. Look for the main hypothesis, the evidence presented, and the conclusion.

3. Science (2 Passages)

You’ll also get two science passages. These will cover topics in biology, chemistry, physics, or Earth science. The passages will often describe an experiment or a study and its findings.

• Strategy: Don’t get bogged down in the jargon. Focus on the big picture: What was the research question? What was the result? What is the significance of the findings? Pay close attention to any charts or graphs.

No matter the passage type, the underlying skills are the same: find the main idea, understand words in context, and locate evidence for your answers. Panchi is the perfect tool to hone these skills. Our QBank allows you to practice with questions categorized by skill, so you can master the core competencies needed to excel on every passage type.