SAT Grammar Strategy

Topic and Concluding Sentences on the SAT

The Easiest Points You Might Be Missing

Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.

5 Min Read

Grammar Rule

Clarity Focus

4 Practice Qs

Identify the subject and verb, then make sure punctuation does not split them or add extra ideas.

Find the subject + verb first. That is the sentence core.
Only add commas around extra information, never inside the core.
Re-read the sentence without the modifier to test clarity.

Picture yourself walking into a conversation halfway through. Someone is discussing numbers, trends, and results, yet you have no idea what the actual topic is. That confusion is exactly what a reader experiences when a paragraph lacks a clear topic sentence. Now picture that same conversation suddenly ending with no wrap-up, no point, and no takeaway. That is what a paragraph feels like when it is missing its concluding sentence.

On the SAT Reading and Writing section, several questions per module ask you to choose the best sentence to introduce or conclude a paragraph. The good news? These questions follow a predictable pattern. Once you learn to spot it, they become some of the most reliable points on the entire test. Let's break down exactly how they work.

What Are Topic and Concluding Sentences?

A topic sentence is the sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph. Think of it as a promise to the reader: "Here's what this paragraph is going to be about." It sets the direction and scope for everything that follows.

A concluding sentence is the sentence that wraps things up. It summarizes the main point, reinforces the argument, or provides a logical endpoint for the paragraph or passage. It answers the reader's unspoken question: "So what? Why does this matter?"

Both types of sentences share one critical feature: they deal with the big picture, not the small details. A topic sentence is never about just one fact buried in the paragraph. A concluding sentence is never about just one example. They capture the full scope of what the paragraph covers, no more, no less.

The most common mistake isn't choosing a "bad" answer, it's choosing an answer that sounds good but doesn't match the paragraph. Here are the traps students fall into:

Too narrow: Picking a sentence that only describes one detail from the paragraph instead of the overall point. If the paragraph discusses three benefits of urban gardens, a topic sentence about just one benefit is too narrow.
Too broad: Picking a sentence that goes beyond what the paragraph actually covers. If the paragraph is about one specific study on sleep, a topic sentence about "all health research" is too broad.
Off-topic: Picking a sentence that introduces a related but different idea. The paragraph is about the economic impact of a policy, but the answer choice discusses its environmental impact.
Sounds impressive: Picking the answer that uses the fanciest language or makes the boldest claim, even when the paragraph doesn't support it.

On the SAT, the correct answer is almost never the most dramatic option. It's the one that fits.

Here's a straightforward approach that works for both topic and concluding sentence questions:

Read the full paragraph first. Don't jump to the answer choices. Read every sentence the SAT gives you and ask yourself: what is this paragraph actually about?
Summarize the main idea in your own words. Before you look at the choices, form a rough version of what the topic or concluding sentence should say. It doesn't have to be elegant, just accurate.
Check the scope of each answer choice. Does it match the paragraph? Is it too broad? Too narrow? Does it introduce something the paragraph never discusses?
Pick the answer that fits the paragraph's scope. The right answer will feel like it belongs, it will connect logically to the sentences around it without stretching beyond what the paragraph supports.

That's it. No tricks, no memorization. Just read carefully, summarize, and match.

How These Questions Appear on the SAT

You'll recognize these questions by their stems. They typically read:

"Which choice most effectively introduces the topic of the paragraph?"
"Which choice best states the main idea of the text?"
"Which choice most effectively concludes the passage?"
"Which choice most logically completes the paragraph?"

Whenever you see phrasing like "introduces," "main idea," or "concludes," you're dealing with this question type. Apply the scope-matching strategy and move with confidence.

Practice Topic and Concluding Sentences with SAT-Style Questions

Try these SAT-style questions. For each one, read the paragraph, summarize the main idea in your head, and then choose the answer that best matches.

Passage

_______ Unlike most coral species, which depend heavily on warm, shallow waters, deep-sea corals thrive at depths of over 1,000 meters where sunlight cannot reach. Instead of relying on photosynthetic algae for energy, these organisms filter tiny food particles from ocean currents. Recent expeditions have revealed that deep-sea coral ecosystems support a surprising diversity of marine life, including species previously unknown to scientists.

easy

Which choice most effectively introduces the topic of the paragraph?

Passage

In the 1970s, most American cities designed their downtown areas primarily around automobile traffic. Wide highways cut through neighborhoods, and parking structures dominated the urban landscape. Over the past two decades, however, many cities have reversed course. They have replaced highway lanes with pedestrian plazas, added bike lanes, and invested in public transit. Studies show that these redesigned areas attract more visitors, generate higher tax revenue, and report lower rates of traffic accidents. _______

easy

Which choice most effectively concludes the paragraph?

Passage

_______ In 1956, Horne became one of the first Black artists to be featured on the cover of a major fashion magazine. Throughout the 1960s, she used her celebrity to draw attention to the civil rights movement, performing at rallies and refusing to appear at segregated venues. While her contributions to music and film have been widely celebrated, historians have increasingly recognized that her activism was equally significant in breaking barriers for Black performers in mainstream American entertainment.

medium

Which choice most effectively introduces the topic of the paragraph?

Passage

A 2023 study published in the journal Psychological Science examined how short breaks during learning affect long-term memory retention. Researchers divided 200 participants into two groups: one studied a set of vocabulary words continuously for 60 minutes, while the other studied the same words in four 15-minute sessions separated by brief rest periods. When tested one week later, the group that took breaks recalled 23% more words on average. Brain imaging data further revealed that during rest periods, participants' brains showed patterns of neural activity associated with memory consolidation. _______

medium

Which choice most effectively concludes the paragraph?

Key Takeaways for Topic and Concluding Sentences

Topic sentences introduce the main idea, they should match the paragraph's scope exactly. Not too broad, not too narrow, and never off-topic.
Concluding sentences wrap up the entire discussion, they summarize or reinforce the paragraph's point. They should never introduce a brand-new idea.
Always check scope. The most common wrong answers are ones that sound reasonable but cover too much ground, too little ground, or shift to a different subject.
Summarize before you look at choices. Forming your own version of the answer, even a rough one, makes it much harder for wrong answers to trick you.

Conclusion: The Core Rule for Topic and Concluding Sentences

Topic and concluding sentence questions are some of the most predictable on the SAT Reading and Writing section. They don't require memorizing grammar rules or vocabulary, they require careful reading and one simple skill: matching the answer to the paragraph's actual scope. Practice summarizing paragraphs in your own words before looking at choices, and you'll find these questions get easier every time.

Remember: Read the paragraph, summarize the main idea, and match the scope. That's the whole strategy, and it works.

About the Instructor

Thomas Meli

Founder, Deep Test Prep

"Viewing the SAT as a transformative rite of passage, my approach builds self-awareness, sharpens critical thinking, and fosters a love of learning that supports students far beyond test day."

With over 20 years of teaching and 500+ hours of training in compassionate communication, Thomas uses scientifically proven methods to help students target and achieve their SAT goals.