SSAT Upper Level Reading

A comprehensive guide to mastering reading comprehension for the SSAT Upper Level exam.

Understanding Passage TypesFinding Main Ideas and Supporting DetailsMaking Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
Analyzing Author’s Purpose and ToneUnderstanding Vocabulary in ContextEvaluating Arguments and Evidence
Applying Reading Skills to Everyday LifeEffective Note-Taking and AnnotationSummarizing and Paraphrasing
Time Management During the TestEliminating Wrong Answer Choices
Understanding Passag...Finding Main Ideas a...Making Inferences an...Analyzing Author’s P...Understanding Vocabu...Evaluating Arguments...Applying Reading Ski...Effective Note-Takin...Summarizing and Para...Time Management Duri...Eliminating Wrong An...
Basic Concepts

Finding Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Why Main Ideas Matter

The main idea is the central message or point of a passage. Supporting details are the facts, examples, and explanations that back up the main idea. On the SSAT, many questions will ask you to identify these.

How to Identify Main Ideas

  • Look for topic sentences, usually found at the beginning or end of paragraphs.
  • Ask yourself: What is the passage mostly about?
  • Eliminate minor details and focus on the big picture.

Spotting Supporting Details

Supporting details often answer who, what, when, where, why, or how. They make the main idea clearer and more convincing.

Everyday Application

When reading a news report, you focus on the headline (main idea) and then look for statistics or quotes (supporting details) to understand the full story.

Examples

  • Reading a passage about recycling and identifying the main point that recycling saves resources.

  • Locating details in a biography that support why the subject is considered a hero.

In a Nutshell

Master the skill of extracting the main idea and supporting details from any text.

Key Terms

Main Idea
The most important point the author makes.
Supporting Detail
Evidence or information that explains or proves the main idea.
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Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions