Central Ideas and Details SAT practice questions

Reading and Writing, Information and Ideas. 360 questions

You read a short passage and choose the option that states its main idea or correctly reports a specific detail from it.

All skills

What this skill tests

  • Identifying the main point of a passage
  • Locating and restating key details
  • Telling central ideas from supporting ones

How to approach it

  1. 1Summarize the passage in a few words before you look at the options.
  2. 2Reject options that are true in general but not stated in the text.
  3. 3Watch for options that are too broad or that cover only one sentence.
Read the guideSAT Reading and Writing question types

More Reading and Writing skills

Command of EvidenceInformation and IdeasInferencesInformation and IdeasWords in ContextCraft and StructureText Structure and PurposeCraft and StructureCross Text ConnectionsCraft and StructureRhetorical SynthesisExpression of IdeasTransitionsExpression of IdeasBoundariesStandard English ConventionsForm, Structure, and SenseStandard English Conventions