SSAT Elementary Level Reading

A friendly introduction to reading comprehension skills for the SSAT Elementary Level.

Understanding Main IdeasFinding DetailsUnderstanding Vocabulary in Context
Making InferencesIdentifying Author’s PurposeComparing and Contrasting
Reading Everyday TextsDiscussing What You ReadUsing Reading to Learn New Things
Read the Questions FirstUse Process of Elimination
Understanding Main I...Finding DetailsUnderstanding Vocabu...Making InferencesIdentifying Author’s...Comparing and Contra...Reading Everyday Tex...Discussing What You ...Using Reading to Lea...Read the Questions F...Use Process of Elimi...
Basic Concepts

Finding Details

What Are Details?

Details are the small pieces of information that support the main idea. They answer questions like who, what, where, when, why, and how.

How to Spot Details

  • Look for facts, numbers, names, and descriptions.
  • Pay attention to what characters do or say.
  • Notice examples and reasons the author gives.

The Power of Details

Details help you prove what the main idea is. They make stories and articles interesting and believable.

Real Life Connection

Remembering details helps you with homework, following instructions, and even telling your friends what happened at school!

Examples

  • If the main idea is that cats are good pets, details might include that they purr, use a litter box, and chase toys.

  • If a passage talks about the seasons, details could be about how leaves change color in fall or snow falls in winter.

In a Nutshell

Details are the facts and examples that support the main idea.

Key Terms

Detail
A small piece of information that helps explain the main idea.
Support
To help or back up an idea.
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Understanding Vocabulary in Context