Comprehension · 6 guides
Comprehension study guides
Six guides to the question types in 11+ comprehension, from finding facts to writing full 3-mark answers, all using one short passage.
What to expect in the 11+
In a comprehension test you read a passage (a story, a poem or a non-fiction text) and answer questions about it. Some answers are written in the text; others ask you to read between the lines, explain a word or say why the writer chose it.
11+ comprehension may be multiple choice (GL Assessment and many consortiums) or written answers (many independent schools and some grammar schools). The same skills work for both: knowing the question type tells you how to answer it.
The marks next to a question are a clue: 1 mark wants one fact, 2 or 3 marks want a point, evidence from the text and an explanation.
The guides
- Guide 1
Retrieval questions
How to find facts in a comprehension passage fast: spot retrieval questions, scan for key words, check the right paragraph and answer in your own words.
Start learning
- Guide 2
Inference questions
Work out what a writer suggests but doesn't say: clues about feelings and character, a step-by-step method and worked 11+ inference examples.
Start learning
- Guide 3
Vocabulary in context
Work out what a word means in a passage: read around it, swap in your own word, check the sentence still makes sense, with 11+ examples.
Start learning
- Guide 4
Language and effect
Spot similes, metaphors and personification in a comprehension passage and explain their effect on the reader, with model 11+ answers.
Start learning
- Guide 5
Author's purpose and structure
Why did the writer write it, and why in that order? Answer purpose and structure questions on openings, paragraphs, short sentences and endings.
Start learning
- Guide 6
Answering 2- and 3-mark questions
Earn every mark on longer 11+ comprehension questions with Point, Evidence, Explain: how many points to make, using quotes, and model answers.
Start learning
Tips for comprehension
- Read the whole passage once for the story, then read the questions.
- Underline the key words in each question before you look for the answer.
- Go back to the text for every answer: don't rely on memory.
- Use the marks as a guide to how much to write.
- Answer in full sentences for written papers, and use short quotations as evidence.
- Leave time to check: a careless slip is the easiest mark to lose.
Related on Academy11+
More free help with the same topic, on screen and on paper.