Section Overview

In Section 1, you'll master the foundational approach that transforms SAT® Reading from an unpredictable guessing game into a straightforward process of systematic, objective analysis. Think of this section as your "law school" training—where you learn to think like a cross-examining attorney evaluating testimony in a courtroom.

What You'll Master

The Cross-Examiner's Mindset (Unit 1.1)
You'll abandon subjective interpretation in favor of objective analysis, learning to treat each answer choice as a "witness" that must tell "the truth and nothing but the truth" about the passage. You'll discover the Iron Law of SAT® Reading and understand why correct answers are predictable rather than mysterious.

The Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™ (Units 1.3-1.7)
You'll build a powerful arsenal of analytical tools—the Highlighter Test™, Clip Art Test™, Saturation Slider Test™, Negative Filter Test™, and Relevance Test™—that help you systematically "cross-examine" answer choices and expose the three deceptive witnesses while identifying the one truthful witness.

The Three Key Forms of Valid Testimony (Units 1.3-1.7)
You'll learn to recognize and evaluate the three predictable ways that correct answers can accurately testify about passage content:

• Summary Reformulation: How correct answers accurately condense passage information, moving from specific details to general statements while maintaining 100% accuracy

• Rhetorical Description: How correct answers accurately describe the logical relationships between different parts of a passage (cause/effect, contrast, examples, etc.)

• Valid Inference: How correct answers draw logically sound conclusions from passage evidence using single-step reasoning grounded in concrete textual support

Why This Approach Works

Rather than memorizing tactics for individual question types, you'll master the underlying principles that govern all SAT® Reading Textual Analysis questions. Whether you're facing an Inference Question, Main Purpose Question, Details Question, or any other Textual Analysis subtype, you'll apply the same systematic cross-examination process.

This approach works because it mirrors how the test is actually constructed. SAT® Reading isn't testing your creativity or interpretive skills—it's testing your ability to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate claims about textual evidence. Once you understand this fundamental reality, every question becomes an exercise in logical analysis rather than subjective guesswork.

Building Your Foundation

Each unit in this section builds systematically on the previous one:

• Unit 1.1 establishes the conceptual framework and Iron Law

• Units 1.3-1.4 apply the framework to the most common form of "testimony" (summary)

• Unit 1.5 extends the framework to the analysis of relationships between passage elements (rhetorical description)

• Unit 1.7 completes your training with the most challenging form of "testimony" (inference)

By the end of Section 1, you'll have transformed from a student who approaches SAT® Reading with uncertainty and frustration into a skilled cross-examiner who can systematically identify correct answers with confidence and precision.

Looking Ahead

Section 1 provides the foundation for everything that follows in this course. In Section 2, you'll apply these core principles to master the specific tactics for each individual Textual Analysis subtype. In Parts 3 and 4 of the course, you'll extend your analytical skills to Command of Evidence Questions and Standards of English Conventions.

But first, you must master the fundamentals. Welcome to your cross-examiner training.