SAT Transitions

Digital SAT · Reading & Writing · Expression of Ideas

Transition questions appear on every digital SAT. Learn one simple method for answering them, watch it work on a real-style question, then try four on your own.

Step 1 · The question type

What the SAT is really testing.

A transition question gives you two sentences with a blank between them. It is not testing vocabulary. It is testing whether you can see how the two ideas are connected.

Sentence 1

An idea

→ ? →

Sentence 2

A related idea

The right transition names the relationship between them.

Step 2 · The four relationships

Almost every answer fits one of four families.

Same direction

Adding or comparing

furthermore · in addition · likewise · similarly

Change of direction

Contrast

however · nevertheless · by contrast · instead

Cause and effect

Result

therefore · consequently · as a result · thus

Zooming in

Example

for example · for instance · specifically

Step 3 · The method

Three steps, every time.

Cover the answer choices

Read the sentence before the blank and the sentence after it.

Name the relationship

Same direction, contrast, result or example? Decide before you look.

Choose the matching family

Eliminate every choice from the wrong family. Usually only one is left.

Step 4 · Watch the method work

A worked example.

A city replaced its diesel buses with electric models. _ air pollution along its major bus routes dropped noticeably the following year.

Sentence 1: the city makes a change Sentence 2: what happens because of it Relationship: cause → effect

Step 5 · Your turn

Try four SAT-style questions.

Score: 0 / 4

✓

Lesson complete

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Every SAT lesson with Kevin works like this: one clear method, real-style practice and instant feedback, built around the skills you need most.

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