The official list of things to circle on SAT ACT reading passages

Warning: while this may look like an awfully long list of things to circle, chances are that only a handful of these words/phrases will show up on any given passage. This is also not intended to be a exercise in memorization; rather, it is to get you thinking about the kinds of ways in which authors indicate to their readers the most important aspects of what theyre trying to say. Furthermore, the point of looking out for these things is not to turn your reading into a transition hunt at the expense of actually absorbing what youre reading. Just circling transitions mechanically and not thinking about what role they play in the passage at large will not get you very far and may in fact make things harder for you. However, if you actively consider them in relation to the point of the passage once youve established it, they will help you establish a general map of the key places in the argument. Major Transitions: Supporting: And So For In fact Indeed Of course Therefore/Thus Consequently As a result In addition Also Furthermore Moreover Likewise Similarly Contradicting: But Yet However (Al)though/Even though Despite While Whereas Nevertheless Rather Comparison/Contrast: In comparison In contrast Just asso Explanations: Because Since Explains The answer is Giving you the point: The point is The goal/aim is To sum up In other words After all In the end The (main) idea Important Information: Important Key Crucial Essential Fundamental It is true/not true It is clear/unclear Strong Language: Absolutely Unequivocally Exceptionally Extraordinarily Unquestionably Definitely Always Never Nothing Inevitably Fundamentally Unusual Punctuation: Question Marks Indicate rhetorical questions. Questions are prime targets for inference questions because information is often implied but not stated. Colons Explanations Dashes Explanations or supplementary (qualifying) information Semicolons Imply a relationship between two thoughts that is not necessarily spelled out likely spot for inference questions to deal with Words in quotes Used figuratively. The answer to at least one question will depend on your understanding of how a word in quotes is being used, even if the question doesnt ask about it directly. Often indicates skepticism. Italicized words Used to emphasize, underscore, call attention to, highlight