Math: Problem Solving and Data Analysis
SAT Question of the Day for October 20, 2026
A university randomly assigns students to either receive weekly tutoring sessions or to study independently for a semester. At the end of the semester, the tutored group has a significantly higher average exam score than the independent-study group. Which of the following conclusions is most justified?
- A.Weekly tutoring causes higher exam scores compared to independent study for students at this university.Correct answer
- B.Weekly tutoring causes higher exam scores for all college students nationwide.
- C.Students who seek tutoring are naturally better test-takers than those who study independently.
- D.There is an association between tutoring and higher exam scores, but causation cannot be established.
Explanation
Because participants were randomly assigned to tutoring or independent study, confounding variables are controlled. Random assignment supports a causal conclusion — weekly tutoring caused the higher exam scores. However, the conclusion is limited to the population from which the sample was drawn (students at this university). Extending the causal claim to all college students nationwide overgeneralizes beyond the study population. Attributing the result to pre-existing test-taking ability ignores that random assignment equalizes such differences across groups. Claiming that only association can be established misidentifies this as an observational study when it is in fact a randomized experiment.
How to use this question
Try the question before you read the explanation: cover it, commit to an answer, and then compare your reasoning with the worked solution. If you missed it, note the step where your approach went wrong rather than only the correct letter, and look for that same step the next time you see a similar question.
Every past question stays here with its answer and explanation, and a new question is posted every day.