The main idea of a passage is:

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Identifying the main idea means finding the central point the author wants you to take away from the passage. This is the overarching claim that everything in the text supports or develops.

The main idea is what ties all the details together and gives the passage its purpose. Supporting details—facts, examples, and evidence—back up that point but aren’t the main idea themselves. The author’s tone describes attitude toward the subject, revealing how the idea is presented, but it isn’t the central message. The sequence of events focuses on order and progression, not on the core claim the author is making.

To spot it, look for a sentence or idea that seems to summarize the passage’s motive or a claim that other parts repeatedly reinforce. In a narrative, the main idea is the message or takeaway the story conveys, even if it isn’t stated in a single sentence.