ACT Reading

A comprehensive guide to mastering the reading section of the ACT, focusing on comprehension, analysis, and strategic test-taking.

Understanding ACT Reading PassagesMain Ideas and Supporting DetailsInference and Interpretation
Analyzing Author's Purpose and ToneComparing Multiple PerspectivesInterpreting Visual and Quantitative Information
Applying ACT Reading Skills to Academic SuccessUsing Reading Skills in the WorkplaceBecoming an Informed Citizen
Time Management During the ACT Reading TestElimination and Educated GuessingActive Reading Techniques
Understanding ACT Re...Main Ideas and Suppo...Inference and Interp...Analyzing Author's P...Comparing Multiple P...Interpreting Visual ...Applying ACT Reading...Using Reading Skills...Becoming an Informed...Time Management Duri...Elimination and Educ...Active Reading Techn...
Basic Concepts

Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Finding the Heart of the Passage

Every ACT Reading passage has a main idea—the central point the author wants you to understand. Supporting details are the evidence, examples, and explanations that reinforce the main idea.

How to Identify Main Ideas

  • Look for repeated concepts or phrases.
  • Check the introduction and conclusion.
  • Ask yourself: "What is the author trying to say overall?"

Spotting Supporting Details

Supporting details can be facts, anecdotes, or explanations. They provide backup for the main idea, making the author's point stronger.

Real-World Connection

Whether you're summarizing an article or explaining a movie plot to a friend, identifying main ideas and details is a skill you'll use everywhere.

Examples

  • The main idea of a passage is that teamwork leads to success, supported by stories of famous teams.

  • A passage describes the effects of climate change using statistics and expert opinions.

In a Nutshell

Learn to distinguish the main message and its supporting evidence in a text.

Key Terms

Main Idea
The central or most important point made by the author.
Supporting Details
Facts, examples, or descriptions that clarify and prove the main idea.
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Inference and Interpretation
Main Ideas and Supporting Details - ACT Reading Content | Practice Hub