ACCUPLACER Reading: How to Compare Claims and Supporting Evidence
Reading comprehension often requires you to decide whether an argument is convincing and whether the evidence actually supports the author's claim. These skills are useful when reading academic passages and preparing for college placement assessments. A reliable method is to separate what the author claims from the information used to support that claim.
1. Identify the main claim
A claim is a statement that an author wants readers to accept. It may express an interpretation, make a recommendation, or argue that something is true. For example: Colleges should provide more quiet study spaces because students need places to concentrate between classes. The main claim is that colleges should provide more quiet study spaces. The reason given is that students need places to concentrate. When reading a passage, summarize the author's central position in one sentence. This makes it easier to evaluate the evidence that follows.
2. Distinguish evidence from opinion
Evidence may include research findings, examples, observations, statistics, or documented facts. An opinion expresses a judgment or belief. However, a statistic is not automatically strong evidence simply because it contains a number. You should consider where the information came from, what it measures, and whether it is relevant to the claim. For example, a survey showing that many students want quiet study spaces provides information about student preferences. It does not necessarily prove that adding those spaces will improve academic performance.
3. Check whether the evidence is relevant
Evidence should directly support the claim being made. Imagine an article arguing that a college should extend library opening hours. The author mentions that the campus has a popular sports club. That fact may be true, but it does not directly establish that longer library hours are needed. Ask yourself whether the evidence explains, supports, or demonstrates the point under discussion.
4. Recognize unsupported conclusions
An author may present evidence and then draw a conclusion that goes beyond it. Suppose a passage says that students who attend optional tutoring sessions often earn higher grades. It would be too strong to conclude from that information alone that tutoring always causes higher grades. Other factors may influence the results, including prior preparation and the amount of time students spend studying. When evaluating an argument, distinguish what the evidence shows from what the author assumes.
5. Compare two arguments
When two passages discuss the same subject, compare their main claims, supporting reasons, and evidence. One author may rely on relevant research, while another may rely mainly on personal experience. Personal experience can illustrate a point, but it may not establish that the same outcome occurs for everyone. Look for differences in evidence quality, relevance, and the strength of the conclusions. Do not choose an argument simply because you agree with its position.
6. Use a structured answering process
For each practice question: 1.
- Identify the author's claim.
- Locate the evidence used to support it.
- Determine whether the evidence is relevant.
- Check whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
- Select the answer that most accurately reflects the passage.
Use official ACCUPLACER preparation materials to practise the question formats relevant to your placement test.
Final thoughts
Evaluating arguments requires careful reading rather than simply deciding whether you agree with the author. Learn to identify claims, examine evidence, and recognize unsupported conclusions. These habits can strengthen both placement-test preparation and academic reading.
