11+ Comprehension · Topic explained
Summarising and main ideas
Could you sum up a whole paragraph in one sentence?
The big idea
A summary keeps the main ideas, in your own words, and drops the small details.
Picture it
Like a film trailer: the key moments, not the whole film.
Key words
- Main idea
- What the whole paragraph is mostly about.
- Detail
- A small fact that supports the main idea.
- Summary
- A short version that keeps only the important points.
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
"Hedgehogs sleep through the winter. They build nests of leaves under hedges, and their hearts slow right down until spring."
- Main idea: hedgehogs hibernate in winter.
- Nests and slow hearts are details.
- 211+ standard
Which sentence best sums up the market paragraph? A A man plays the accordion. B The market is a busy event the whole town enjoys. C Farmers sell eggs. D Children like pancakes.
- A, C and D are details.
- B covers the whole paragraph.
- 311+ standard
Look at the first sentence of a paragraph.
- It's often the topic sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.
- 411+ standard
Summing up a story in one sentence: Who? Wanted what? What got in the way? What happened?
- "Ella's new kite blew out to sea, but a fisherman rescued it."
The common mistake
The mistake
Choosing the most interesting detail as the main idea.
Instead
The main idea covers the whole paragraph, not just one part.
Why: Exam options often include true details that are too narrow to be the main idea.
Where it comes up in the 11+
"What is the main idea of paragraph 3?", "Which title best suits the passage?"
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains summarising and main ideas step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Summarising and main ideas worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
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Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. A good summary…
- Copies every sentence
- Keeps the main ideas and drops small details
- Adds new ideas
- Is longer than the text
Show the answerHide the answer
Keeps the main ideas and drops small details
A summary is short and keeps only what matters most.
2. A paragraph describes a fox's den, its cubs and its night-time hunting. The best title is…
- The Den
- How Foxes Live
- Cubs
- Night
Show the answerHide the answer
How Foxes Live
It covers all three parts; the others cover only one.
3. Where is the main idea of a paragraph often found?
- In the first sentence
- In the longest word
- In the speech marks
- In the full stops
Show the answerHide the answer
In the first sentence
The topic sentence, often the first, tells you what the paragraph is about.