SAT Central Ideas and Details
Identify a text's main idea and locate details it states directly.
Also known as: main idea questions, detail questions.
Key ideas
- The main idea is what the whole text is about and what it says about that topic.
- Detail questions are answered directly by the text: find the sentence.
- Too narrow (one example) and too broad (beyond the text) are the classic traps.
Finding the main idea
Ask two questions: What is the text about? and What does it say about that? Combine them into one sentence. For literary texts, focus on what the passage reveals about a character or situation.
Detail questions
"According to the text…" questions have an answer stated in the passage. Find the matching sentence and choose the paraphrase that keeps its meaning without adding anything.
Worked examples
Example 1 · Main idea vs detail
A text explains that octopuses solve puzzles, use tools such as coconut shells, and recognize individual people. Which is the main idea?
- Step 1.Puzzles, tools and recognition are all examples.
- Step 2.They share one point: octopuses show sophisticated intelligence.
Answer: Octopuses display several forms of complex intelligence.
Example 2 · Avoiding "too broad"
A text describes how one village restored a wetland and saw birds return. Is "Wetlands should be restored worldwide" the main idea?
- Step 1.The text discusses one village; it doesn't argue for worldwide action.
Answer: No, that goes beyond the text.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a true detail that isn't the main point.
- Choosing a claim broader than the text supports.
- Adding information not in the text.
Try it yourself
Original practice questions. Your answer is checked instantly.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?