How to Find the Central Idea and Complete Inferences for Digital SAT Questions (Find the Main Idea) for Beginners
How to Find the Central Idea is an important skill for understanding reading passages. This guide will help you learn simple steps to find the main point the author wants to share.
Information and Ideas: Use, locate, interpret, and evaluate information from various texts and infographics
TASK
3 teams
There are two remaining areas of the information and ideas type of questions for digital sat reading and writing. You need to read the following help and the examples. Start by understanding how to answer these types of questions:
- Central Ideas of the text
- Inferences
Read below to understand these two types of questions. Follow the 2 links to see the 5 types of central ideas and details questions, and the 5 types of inference questions.
Each team will gain points by answering these types of questions after the break. But first, gain points by writing the answers to the quiz below. Each team will hand in their answers and score 5 points for every correct answer.
Identify the Central Ideas
What is the central idea?
The central idea is the main point or message that the author is making in the text.
Central idea examples
- Tropical forests receive a lot of rainfall throughout the year. This constant rain keeps the forest lush and green.
- Central Idea: Tropical forests receive a lot of rainfall.
- Children who eat breakfast tend to do better in school. A nutritious breakfast helps them stay focused and energetic.
- Central Idea: Eating breakfast helps children do better in school.
How to answer the questions
- Read the passage carefully to understand what it is mainly about.
- Think: “What is the main point the author wants to share?” This is the central idea.
- Look at the answer choices (A, B, C, D). Find the one that explains the main point or overall message of the passage clearly and simply.
Simple information
- about 4 questions in the sat test
- asks ‘Which choice best states the main idea of the text?’
- It is based on the text main idea.
- Read the passage, what is it about?
- Some questions have a clear answer, so they are easier
- But, some questions are not so clear, so harder
- So these are mixed, some easy and some more difficult
Example
Dogs need exercise to stay healthy. Walking them every day is important.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- A) Dogs need exercise.
- B) Walking dogs is fun.
- C) Dogs like to play.
- D) Dogs should eat well.
Types of Central Idea Questions
Visit this page to see SAT-level examples in 5 different types of questions that have a range of difficulty levels:
Example answer
If you selected A, dogs need exercise, then you are correct. Notice the other answers are sometimes indirectly connect to the passage, even though they are not mentioned directly. Other times they will be in the text but are not the central idea.
Inferences
What is inference?
SAT, some questions will provide an unfinished passage that introduces information about an unfamiliar topic. Based on that information, you’ll be asked to select the choice that most logically completes the text.
How to answer the questions
- Read the passage carefully and think about what is implied but not directly stated.
- Ask yourself: “What can I figure out from the information given?”
- Find the option (A, B, C, or D) that matches what the passage suggests or hints at.
- Read the passage again to check for clues that support your choice.
Simple information
- about 3 or 4 questions in the sat test
- asks ‘Which choice most logically completes the text?’
- It is based on what the text ‘infers’
- Read the passage, what is it about?
- Find the ‘inferred’ (overall) meaning, which is not in the words but what the author is trying to say
- Can be difficult as you need to choose the ‘best’ answer
Visit this page to see SAT-level examples in 5 different types of questions that have a range of difficulty levels:
Return to the Course Home page
QUIZ
Question 1 : What type of Information and Ideas question asks “Which choice best states the main idea of the text”? (5 points)
- A. Inference
- B. Command of Evidence – Textual
- C. Central Ideas and Details
- D. Command of Evidence – Quantitative
Question 2: How do inference type questions phrase the question? (5 points)
- A. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers’ claim?
- B. Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
- C. Which choice most logically completes the text?
- D. Which choice most effectively uses the data to complete the assertion?
Question 3: Which option describes answer B in the first type of the 5 central idea example questions? (5 points)
- A. Correct
- B. Incorrect, the text does not say this
- C. Incorrect, this is the opposite of the main idea
- D. Incorrect, this is in the text but is not the main idea
Question 4: In the 5 types of inference questions, one example uses the phrase ‘casting doubt on the idea’. what is the effect of this? (5 points)
- A. the correct answer suggests the inference is completely true
- B. the correct answer suggests the inference is partially true
- C. the correct answer suggests the inference is related to fishing
- D. the correct answer suggests the inference is not true
Question 5: Which type of question may not have the answer ‘directly’ in the passage? (5 points)
- A. Inference
- B. Command of Evidence – Textual
- C. Central Ideas and Details
- D. Command of Evidence – Quantitative
Question 6: This summary is related to which type of and number question (e.g. inferences type 1)? (5 points)
Summary: I wish I could remember when I first met you. I can’t even remember what season it was! At the time, I had no idea that our relationship would grow and blossom.
- A. Central Ideas and Details type 2
- B. Central Ideas and Details type 4
- C. Inference type 2
- D. Inference type 4
Question 7: Why is this answer wrong? (5 points)
Incorrect answer: The majority of the most eloquently stated arguments in “Letter to the Spanish Americans” were written by Miranda.
- A. Miranda didn’t write the letter
- B. Miranda didn’t write the song
- C. The letter was to French Americans
- D. This is not in the passage
Question 8: What can you ‘infer’ if you read about someone building a snowman and drinking hot chocolate? (5 points)
- A. Someone is thirsty
- B. It is spring
- C. It is summer
- D. It is winter
Question 9: There are 4 areas of questions in digital SAT reading. Which area are both central ideas and inference questions? (5 points)
- A. Craft and Structure
- B. Standard English Conventions
- C. Expression of Ideas
- D. Information and Ideas
Question 10: How can you answer central ideas and inference questions? Select the option that is NOT advised. (5 points)
- A. Try to understand what the author is trying to say
- B. Read the passage carefully
- C. Just read the last sentence of the passage
- D. Eliminate incorrect answers
Digital SAT Reading Tips: Information and Ideas
How to Find the Central Idea Tips
- There is no shortcut, you need to read all of the passage.
- I found I did not need to re-write it in my own words (as KA advises)
- Incorrect options often include additional information, or,
- Wrong answers focus on words in the text that are not the main idea
- Read the question carefully before looking at the answer options.
- Eliminate obviously incorrect answers to improve your chances.
- Be cautious of answers that include information not mentioned in the passage.
- Don’t let your personal knowledge or opinions influence your choice; stick to what’s in the text.
- If unsure, try to match the scope and tone of the answer to the passage.
- Remember that correct answers often rephrase information from the text, while incorrect ones may add or distort information.
- The correct answer should cover most of the details in the text, and mention important points
- The correct answer should not focus on just one detail, disagree with the text, or introduce new ideas not in the text.
Inference Tips
- An inference is an idea you can get while you’re reading the text
- An inference is an educated guess about what might happen. Just like an estimate.
- Inferences help us understand things that aren’t directly stated. It’s like being a detective!
- Inference is using observation and background to reach a logical conclusion.
- For example, if you read about someone building a snowman and drinking hot chocolate, you can infer it’s winter.
- First: Focus on the topic and the idea of the text, try to find what is the main focus in the text.
- Pay attention to the few sentences at the end of the text, that is what you need to follow.
- You can rewrite the main idea in your own word, and then write what can fill the blank.
- Then look at the choices that match your prediction.
- Make sure you understand the end sentences of the passage as this is often the primary information for the question.
- The arguments made in inferences passages are often highly specific. Eliminate any choices that stray from or disagree with the points made in the passage.
- On difficult questions, remove options until you have possible answers, then choose the one that follows from the central idea of the text.
END OF THE LESSON
Related Articles
- Focus on the questions and examples of central ideas and details, called what is the central idea
- Focus on the questions and examples of inference, called inference examples
Find the Main Idea FAQ
Q: What is an example of a central idea?
An example of a central idea is: “Hard work and determination lead to success.” This one-sentence summary expresses the main message the author is trying to convey in a story or passage.
Q: What is the easiest way to find the main idea?
The easiest way to find the main idea is to ask what the author is trying to say about the topic, then look for supporting details that help you summarize the passage in one sentence.
Q: Where is the central idea found in a story?
The central idea is often found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or it may be revealed gradually throughout the text by analyzing the plot, characters, and key events.
Q: What is the formula for a central idea?
The formula for a central idea is: Topic + What the author wants to say about the topic. This gives you a complete thought that summarizes the key point of the text.
Inferences FAQ
What are inference questions on the SAT?
Inference questions on the SAT ask you to find information that is not directly stated but is suggested by the passage. You must use clues to understand what the author implies.
What are examples of inference questions?
Examples of inference questions ask things like: “What can you conclude from this passage?” or “What does the author suggest about the character’s feelings?” These require reading between the lines.
How to get better at inference questions on the SAT?
To get better at inference questions, practice reading carefully, think about what the author implies, and use evidence from the passage to support your answers.
What is the trick for inference questions?
The trick for inference questions is to look for clues in the passage and avoid answers that are directly stated or too extreme. Focus on what the passage suggests without adding your own ideas.
How to Find the Central Idea and Supporting Details in a Text
To find the central idea of a text, first read the text carefully. Ask yourself: What is the main focus of this passage? or What is the author trying to say? The central idea is the main message the author is trying to convey.
The central idea of a text is often found in the first sentence or the topic sentence, but sometimes you need to read the whole paragraph to figure it out. To determine the central idea, look for key details that explain or reinforce the message.
You can summarize the central idea of an article in one sentence. This sentence should include the most important information and help you understand what the author wrote the text to show. The supporting details are the ideas and details that help explain the central idea.
In informational texts, it’s important to analyze how the author is trying to convey their message. The central idea of any text connects all the ideas and supporting details together.
Learning how to find the central idea and identify the main point is an essential skill for reading comprehension. It also helps with critical thinking and answering SAT reading questions. When students understand the idea in a text, they can better explain what they read and why the author wrote it.
Use your background knowledge and follow these steps to clarify the message, gain insight, and write the central idea in your own words. This will help you discover the main idea of any passage and improve your reading skill.