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SAT Transitions: Lesson, Practice Problems & Video Explanations

By Glyn Caddell, BSME · Author of Digital SAT Math Secrets · Tutoring since 2008 — Updated August 10, 2026

Digital SAT Transitions Lesson

Transition questions on the Digital SAT ask students to choose the best transition word to fill into a blank to connect two sentences. Transition questions appear on approximately 9.7% of the Digital SAT Reading & Writing section. These questions fall under Expression of Ideas according to the College Board categories.

Table of Contents

Transitions Lesson

The lesson covers the types of transitions questions that show up on the Digital SAT. The lesson reviews what transition questions look like, how to answer them, and transition words to know.

What Do Transition Questions Look Like?

These questions ask “Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?”

You can also quickly identify this question by glancing at the answer choices and noticing that all of the answer choices are transitions.

How to Answer Transition Questions Correctly

Read the whole text. Reread the sentence before the blank and the sentence with the blank. Determine the relationship between the two sentences: the second sentence a continuation? an example? a contrasting point/view? a next step? etc.

Look for the transition word that should be used for that relationship.

Tip:

If two answers are interchangeable, then they both can be eliminated.

Transition Words to Know

Here is a list of transition words to know including the most commonly misunderstood ones, ones for additional information, ones for contrasting, ones for comparing, ones for providing examples, ones for summarizations, and ones that show relation with time.

What are the Most Commonly Misunderstood Transition Words?

Nevertheless/Nonetheless: in spite of that, even so, however

Consequently: as a result, as a consequence

Subsequently: later on, afterward

Moreover: furthermore, in addition

Accordingly: appropriately, therefore

Indeed/In fact: (used to reinforce or amplify the previous idea)

Conversely: (used to introduce an idea that reverses the previous one)

Hence: therefore

To that end: in order to achieve that goal

By the same token: in the same way, for the same reason

Transition Words for Additional Information

additionally

also

besides

first

further

furthermore

in addition

in the same way

likewise

moreover

next second

similarly

too

Transition Words for Contrasting Information

although

at any rate

but

even so

even though

however

in contrast

in spite of that

instead

nevertheless

regardless

on the contrary

on the other hand

otherwise

still

yet

Transition Words for Comparing

also

by comparison

equally

in the same manner

in the same way

likewise

next

similarly

too

Transition Words for Providing Examples

after all

as an illustration

for example

for instance

indeed

in fact

in particular

specifically

Transition Words for Summarizations or Coming to a Conclusion

accordingly

as a result

as a consequence

briefly

consequently

for this reason

to these ends (to achieve these goals)

hence

in a word

in brief

in short

in summary

therefore

thus

to conclude

to summarize

Transition Words that Show Relation with Time

afterward

at last

before

earlier

first

in the meantime

later on

meanwhile

next

now

often

once

simultaneously

subsequently

then

until now

when

Example

Octopuses are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities. Researchers have observed them opening jars, navigating mazes, and even using objects in their environments as tools. ______, some species gather coconut shells and assemble them into shelters for protection.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) In contrast,
B) For example,
C) Nevertheless,
D) As a result,

Video Explanation

Text Explanation

Answer: B) For example,

The final sentence provides a specific illustration of octopuses using tools and demonstrating intelligence. “For example” correctly introduces that evidence. “In contrast” and “Nevertheless” suggest opposition, while “As a result” incorrectly indicates cause and effect.

Practice Problems with Video Explanations

Here is a set of practice Digital SAT transition practice problems. After selecting an answer, press “See Answer” to see the correct answer and a video explanation showing how to properly solve the questions. At the end of the set, after you press “Submit”, you’ll be able to see all of the questions, answers, and video explanations to review.

For more practice like this, enroll in our on-demand SAT prep course here: https://caddellprep.com/sat/prep/on-demand/

1. In the 19th century, many readers admired Emily Dickinson’s poems for their compressed language and startling imagery. During her lifetime, however, only a small number of her poems were published, and editors often changed her punctuation and wording to fit conventional tastes. ______, modern scholars often stress that Dickinson’s unusual style was central to her artistic achievement.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question 1 of 5

2. Some comets take only a few years to orbit the Sun, returning frequently enough to be observed many times within a single lifetime. Halley’s Comet, by contrast, appears roughly once every seventy-five to seventy-six years. ______, a person who saw Halley’s Comet as a child might have only one more chance to see it as an older adult.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question 2 of 5

3. Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is now famous for woodblock prints such as The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He also produced illustrated books, paintings, and sketches over a long career. ______, reducing Hokusai’s achievement to a single image oversimplifies the range of his work.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question 3 of 5

4. At the ancient site of Çatalhöyük, located in present-day Turkey, archaeologists found that many houses shared walls with one another and were entered through openings in the roof. Streets, in the modern sense, were largely absent. ______, researchers think residents probably moved across the settlement by walking over rooftops and climbing down ladders.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question 4 of 5

5. The axolotl, a salamander native to Mexico, is well known for its ability to regenerate lost limbs. Researchers also study the animal because it can repair parts of its spinal cord and other tissues. ______, the axolotl has become an important organism in regenerative-medicine research.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question 5 of 5


 

Related Topics

Sentence completions and punctuation are topics related to transitions.

Sentence Completions

Transition questions are related to sentence completion questions because both require students to use context clues. In sentence completion questions, students need to choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence. In transition questions, students need to choose the word or phrase that best shows the relationship between ideas. Therefore, practicing sentence completion questions can help students become better at using context to choose the correct transition.

Punctuation

Transition questions are related to punctuation questions because transitions are often placed between two sentences or clauses. Students may need to understand whether ideas should be separated with a period, semicolon, comma, or other punctuation mark. In some questions, the punctuation around the transition can help show how the ideas are connected. Therefore, practicing punctuation questions can help students improve on transition questions.

All Reading & Writing Topics

All of our reading & writing topics are available here: https://caddellprep.com/sat/reading-writing/ for you to review and improve on your SAT. There are lessons, practice problems, and video explanations for you. If you need more help, try our on-demand SAT course with video lessons, practice tests, and sets of questions for each topic: https://caddellprep.com/sat/prep/on-demand/

Glyn Caddell - Founder of Caddell Prep

Glyn Caddell

Glyn Caddell holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT and has been tutoring New York City students since 2008. He founded Caddell Prep in 2012 and is the author of Digital SAT Math Secrets: Lessons & Tricks to Quickly Improve to a Perfect 800 on the Math Test, which contains over 900 practice problems and is used in Caddell Prep’s SAT math classes. He is founding president of the Staten Island Technical High School alumni association and teaches every lesson on this site personally.

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