Learn How to Answer SAT Craft and Structure Questions: Text Structure and Purpose and Cross Text Connections

There are three main types of questions you’ll see:

• Words in Context: These ask you to determine the meaning of a word or phrase based on context clues in the passage. For example, you might identify a synonym or antonym or a high-utility vocabulary word that fits logically.
• Text Structure and Purpose: These questions focus on the overall structure of the text. You might need to recognize whether ideas are presented in chronological order, compare and contrast, or show cause and effect. You also analyze the author’s rhetorical goals: to persuade, inform, or entertain.
• Cross-Text Connections: These require you to integrate information and synthesize ideas across two passages, often through paired passages questions where you compare similarity or contrast.

Craft and structure refer to the way an author builds a text, including how they choose words, organize sentences and paragraphs, and use different writing techniques. It is about understanding how these decisions affect the meaning, tone, and style of the text

On the Digital SAT, craft and structure questions test your ability to analyze how authors use language, style, and organization in a passage. These questions might ask about:

• The meaning of words and phrases in context
• The author’s purpose and point of view
• How ideas or information are structured and connected within the text
• The use of literary techniques like imagery or symbolism

The goal is to see how well you can understand the choices the author made and how those choices shape the message and effect of the passage

Craft and structure questions on the Digital SAT test your ability to analyze how authors use language, organization, and rhetorical techniques to build meaning in a text. These questions are important because they measure your reading comprehension skills and your ability to evaluate vocabulary in context and overall structure.

• Practice active reading: highlight main ideas, note expression of ideas, and track sentence structure.
• Use context clues to figure out tricky vocabulary in context.
• Pay attention to standard English conventions and written expression during your practice to improve clarity and precision.
• Try practice questions focusing on reading comprehension skills related to craft and structure.
• Take practice tests under timed conditions to build familiarity with question types and improve pacing for test day.

This content domain counts for about 28% of your Reading and Writing score. Mastering it not only helps you on the test but also prepares you for college-level reading and critical thinking. Understanding core conventions of standard English and how authors build texts helps you both interpret and analyze complex materials.

On the ACT, craft and structure is a major part of the reading section, making up about 25-30% of questions. You are asked to:

• Decide what words or phrases mean within the reading
• Analyze text structure and the author’s word choices
• Understand the author’s purpose, perspective, or point of view
• Interpret how sentences or paragraphs affect the overall meaning

These questions help you show your understanding of how texts are built and why authors write the way they do

To teach an author’s craft and structure, you can:

• Use short stories or articles as mentor texts to show different techniques.
• Focus on specific tricks authors use, like figurative language, sentence variety, or ways to build characters.
• Discuss word choices, organization, and point of view.
• Let students practice by writing their own short pieces using these techniques.
• Ask questions about why an author made certain choices in a text and how those choices affect the reader
• Keeping lessons interactive and breaking text into small parts helps students spot and understand the craft and structure more easily.