PSAT 10

Craft and Structure questions test how authors use words, organize texts, and write for particular purposes and audiences. This domain includes vocabulary in context, text structure and purpose, rhetoric, and connections between two related texts.

Words in Context

These questions test your ability to determine word meanings from how words function within passages. The PSAT 10 does not test obscure vocabulary in isolation; it assesses whether you can use context clues to understand how common and academic words are used in specific situations. Many questions present a passage with a blank and ask which choice "completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase."

ContextClue	HowItWorks	Signals
Definition	Thepassagedefinesthetermthroughan	meaning definedas knownas dashes commas , , , ,
	explanatoryphrase appositive orparenthetical , ,
	information
Synonym	Anearbywordwithasimilarmeaningclarifiesthe	or thatis inotherwords , ,
	term
Antonym(contrast)	Anoppositeidearevealsmeaningthrough	however but unlike whereas , , ,
	opposition
Example	Examplesthatfollowawordilluminateitsmeaning	suchas forinstance including , ,
Generalcontext	Thetopic tone andlogicalflowofthesurrounding , ,	theoverallsituation
	sentencessuggestthemeaning

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And the sentences around it

Definition, synonym, contrast,

Put your own word in the

Test each choice in the original

example

sentence

sentence

Multiple-meaning words. The PSAT 10 frequently tests common words used in less familiar ways. "Gravity" can mean seriousness or importance, not just the physical force; "channel" can mean to direct or convey, not just a television station or a waterway. Context determines which meaning applies. Substitute your chosen definition into the sentence to confirm that it works grammatically and logically.

Connotation and denotation. Denotation is a word's literal dictionary definition; connotation is its emotional associations. "Thrifty," "economical," and "cheap" all denote careful spending, but "thrifty" suggests wisdom, "economical" is neutral, and "cheap" implies negative judgment. The PSAT 10 tests whether you understand why an author chose the precise word with the connotation that serves the author's purpose.

Diction	EffectonTone
Technical	Signalsexpertiseinafield
Emotional	Revealsattitudeandattemptstoinfluencereaders

Precision. Precise words convey exact meanings. "Murmured" and "said" both indicate speaking, but "murmured" specifies quiet, soft speech and may suggest intimacy, secrecy, or gentleness. Questions may ask why an author chose one word over a more general alternative.

FigurativeDevice	Defi nition	Example
Simile	Acomparisonusing"like"or"as"	"Hervoicewaslikehoney" .
Metaphor	Adirectcomparisonwithout"like"or"as"	"Timeismoney" .
Personification	Humanqualitiesgiventononhumanthings	"Thewindwhisperedthroughthetrees" .
Hyperbole	Exaggerationforeffect	"I'vetoldyouamilliontimes" .
Understatement	Deliberateminimizing	"Thehurricanecausedsomedamage"when ,
		destructionwasmassive

When interpreting figurative language, identify what is being compared, what qualities are being highlighted or transferred, and how the language contributes to meaning, tone, or purpose. Academic vocabulary appears across disciplines, and discipline-specific vocabulary appears in science, history, and literature passages; use context to determine meaning even when a term is unfamiliar.

analyze interpret evaluate synthesize hypothesize assert contradict infer significant substantiate undermine corroborate

Author's Purpose and Audience

Every author writes with goals in mind: explaining concepts, arguing positions, comparing alternatives, evaluating claims, describing phenomena, or narrating events. Many digital questions ask for the "main purpose" of a text or the "function" of one sentence; the function describes what the sentence does (introduces a claim, gives an example, presents a counterpoint), not what it says. Authors also adjust content, tone, vocabulary, and argument to their audience: a passage written for experts differs from one written for general readers.

Purpose	WhattheAuthorDoes
Toinform	Presentsinformationobjectively
Topersuade	Advocatesapositionandattemptstochangereaders'views
Toanalyze	Examinesatopicindepth consideringmultipledimensionsandimplications ,
Tonarrateordescribe	Tellsastoryordepictsaperson place orphenomenon , ,

Text Structure and Relationships Between Ideas

Understanding how a passage is organized helps you comprehend content and anticipate information. Transitions such as "however," "therefore," "furthermore," and "consequently" signal how sentences and paragraphs connect. Some ideas function as examples of broader concepts, some are causes and others effects, and some support main claims while others qualify or limit them.

Structure	HowtheTextIsOrganized
Chronologicalorder	Eventsorstepsintimeorder
Causeandeffect	Howeventsorconditionsleadtoresults
Comparisonandcontrast	Similaritiesanddifferencesbetweensubjects
Problemandsolution	Anissuefollowedbywaystoaddressit
Orderofimportance	Frommosttoleastsignificant orthereverse ,

Rhetorical Strategies

Authors employ rhetorical strategies to achieve their purposes. The three classic appeals are the foundation of rhetorical analysis.

Device	Purpose	Example
Repetition	Emphasizeskeyideasthroughrestatement	"Wemustact Wemustacttogether" . .
Rhetoricalquestion	Engagesreaderswithaquestionnotmeanttobe	"Ifnotnow when?" ,
	answered
Analogy	Clarifiesanunfamiliarideabycomparisontoa	"Justaswebuilthighways wemustnowbuild ,
	familiarone	digitalnetworks" .
Metaphor	Describesonethingasanothertosuggest	"Wearethearchitectsoftomorrow" .
	sharedqualities
Anecdote	Usesabriefstorytoillustrateapoint	"Lastspring ourclassplantedagarden " , …
Loadedlanguage	Useschargedwordstoshapethereader's	"a reckless short-sighted policy" ,
	attitude

Tone, Style, and Perspective

Tone reflects the author's attitude toward the subject and audience: formal or informal, serious or humorous, objective or subjective, critical or sympathetic. Identify tone through word choice, sentence structure, and content selection. Style covers an author's characteristic sentence structure, vocabulary level, use of figurative language, and organization. Point of view is the vantage point of the text: first person uses "I" and "we," and third person uses "he," "she," and "they." Perspective shapes what information is included and how it is presented: a first-person account differs from third-person reporting, and a historian's analysis differs from a participant's memoir. All writing involves choices that may reveal bias; recognize how perspective shapes presentation while still evaluating arguments on their merits.

Genre shapes rhetorical choices, too. Scientific writing emphasizes objectivity and precision; political writing may emphasize persuasion and emotional appeal; literary writing may emphasize aesthetic qualities and complex meanings. Charts, images, and design elements also communicate rhetorically and can support or complicate a text's message.

Cross-Text Connections

Some questions present two short texts on related topics. Understand each text individually, then analyze the relationship: the texts might agree on some points and disagree on others, present the same information differently, or address complementary aspects of a topic. A typical question asks how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to a claim in Text 1.

For paired texts, write a four- or five-word summary of each author's position before you read the choices. The correct answer reflects the specific point of agreement or disagreement, not simply the shared topic.