3. Command of Evidence (Quantitative)

Command of Evidence (Quantitative) questions embed a table, graph, or chart alongside a short passage and ask you to select the conclusion that is best supported by both the data and the text.

Sample passage with data:
"Researchers tested four fertilizer blends on plots of wheat. After twelve weeks, they measured average yield in kilograms per hectare."

Reading quantitative evidence correctly

• Do not calculate unless the question asks for a specific number. Focus on relative differences and trends.
• Match the data to the text. The correct answer must be consistent with both.
• Watch for answer choices that make the data say more than it does (e.g., 'proves that Blend B is always best' vs. 'Blend B produced the highest yield in this study').

Common question formats:

• 'Based on the table, which conclusion is most supported?'
• 'Which choice most accurately describes the data in the figure?'
• 'A student claims X. Which row of the table provides the most direct evidence for this claim?'

Worked example:
Q: Based on the table, which conclusion about fertilizer use is most supported?

• (A) All fertilizer blends doubled wheat yield compared to the control. [Wrong -- none doubled it]
• (B) Blend B produced the highest yield among the blends tested. [Correct -- 2,890 is the highest value]
• (C) Blend C outperformed Blend A. [Wrong -- 2,150 < 2,340]
• (D) Using no fertilizer always produces the lowest possible yield. [Wrong -- 'always' goes beyond the data]

Choice (B) is correct because the table clearly shows Blend B's yield (2,890) exceeds every other value.

⚠️ Common mistake: picking an answer with an absolute word like 'always,' 'never,' or 'proves' -- data from a single study cannot support those extremes.

💡 Tip: Read the table's title and column headers before the passage. Knowing what was measured makes the passage easier to connect to the data.