Academy11+

11+ subject guide

11+ English Comprehension

How 11+ comprehension works, the question types your child will meet, how to practise at home, and a short passage with three free questions to try.

Try 3 free comprehension questions Start free

Try 3 free comprehension questions

Read this short passage, then answer the questions below. Each one is a different type: retrieval, inference and language.

The Lighthouse Steps

Mara had counted the steps of the old lighthouse a hundred times, but tonight she counted them in the dark. The storm had cut the power just after supper, and now the only light came in pale flashes through the narrow windows.

"Stay by the fire," Grandad had said, pulling on his oilskin coat. But Grandad's knees were stiff, the stairs were steep, and the lamp at the top had not been lit. Somewhere out on the black water, the fishing boats would be looking for it.

Halfway up, the wind found a gap in the wall and howled through it like an animal. Mara pressed her back against the cold stone and waited for her heart to slow. Then she gripped the rail and kept climbing.

At the top her fingers were numb, but they remembered what to do. She struck a match, shielded the flame with her hand and touched it to the wick. A moment later, a golden beam swept out across the waves.

  1. Q1Retrieval

    Why was the lighthouse dark?

  2. Q2Inference

    Why did Mara climb the stairs instead of staying by the fire?

  3. Q3Language

    "The wind … howled through it like an animal." Which technique is this?

0 of 3 answered

What 11+ English Comprehension covers

In an 11+ comprehension your child reads a passage, usually an extract from a story, a non-fiction article or a poem, and answers questions about it. The questions move from finding facts that are stated in the text to working out what the writer suggests but doesn't say, and explaining why the writer chose particular words.

In many grammar school tests the questions are multiple choice. Independent schools and some grammar schools ask for written answers, where longer answers need a point, evidence from the text and an explanation. Either way, the skills are the same: careful reading, going back to the text, and backing every answer with evidence.

Comprehension question types

  • Retrieval (literal)

    Finding a fact, name, time or detail that is stated directly in the passage.

  • Inference

    Working out feelings, reasons or motives from clues, rather than from what is stated.

  • Vocabulary in context

    Explaining what a word or phrase means as it is used in that sentence.

  • Language and techniques

    Spotting devices such as similes, metaphors and personification, and saying what effect they have.

  • Main idea and summary

    Choosing the best summary of a paragraph or the whole passage, or the main point the writer makes.

  • Structure and order

    Putting events in order, or saying why a passage opens or ends the way it does.

  • Writer's purpose and viewpoint

    Deciding why the text was written (to inform, persuade or entertain) and what the writer thinks.

  • Evaluation

    Giving and supporting an opinion about a character, an argument or the passage as a whole.

Fiction

  • Character and motivation
  • Setting and atmosphere
  • Plot and turning points
  • Dialogue
  • Theme

Non-fiction

  • Main ideas and supporting facts
  • How the text is organised
  • Fact and opinion
  • The writer's viewpoint
  • Persuasive techniques

Poetry

  • Rhyme and rhythm
  • Imagery and metaphor
  • Mood and tone
  • How the poem is structured
  • Figurative language

Reading strategies

A routine your child can use for every passage:

  • Skim the passage for the gist
  • Read the questions
  • Read the passage closely
  • Underline key words and names
  • Go back to the text for every answer
  • Check answers against the evidence

How to practise English Comprehension at home

  1. Read a wide range of texts

    Stories, non-fiction, poetry, older children's classics and newspapers for young readers all turn up in 11+ papers.

  2. Ask questions as you read

    "How is she feeling? How do you know?" Talking about inference out loud makes it much easier to do on paper.

  3. Hunt for evidence

    Ask your child to point to the exact words that support an answer. This is the habit that wins marks.

  4. Look up words together

    When you meet an unfamiliar word, try to work out its meaning from the sentence first, then check it in a dictionary.

  5. Practise written answers

    For schools that want written answers, practise making a point, quoting a short piece of evidence and explaining it.

  6. Add the clock gradually

    Start untimed to build accuracy, then practise whole passages against the clock as the exam gets closer.

On the day of the exam

  • Read the questions first

    A quick look at the questions tells your child what to look for while reading.

  • Use line and paragraph numbers

    When a question points to a line or paragraph, read a little before and after it too.

  • Don't rely on memory

    Go back to the passage for every answer, even when your child feels sure.

  • Rule out wrong options

    In multiple choice, cross out answers the text contradicts before choosing between the rest.

More 11+ English Comprehension practice

English Comprehension paper packs

  • Academy11 Comprehension Pack 1

    A carefully sequenced collection of comprehension papers designed to build confident, capable readers in the run-up to the 11+ exam.

  • Academy11 Comprehension Pack 2 (EASY)

    Help your child develop strong reading skills with Pack 2 of our beginner-friendly 11+ Comprehension papers — perfect for building early confidence.

Sample reports

See a sample practice paper report

Every paper, mock and story comes with a report. Have a look at real ones, made for a fictional child.

See the sample reports
Practice paper
Mock exam
Creative writing
Progress

Guides for parents

11+ English Comprehension: questions parents ask

What is 11+ comprehension?

11+ comprehension tests how well a child understands a passage they have not seen before. They read an extract from a story, a non-fiction text or a poem, then answer questions about facts in the text, what the writer suggests, word meanings and the writer's choices.

What types of comprehension questions come up in the 11+?

The main types are retrieval (finding stated facts), inference (working out what is suggested), vocabulary in context, language and techniques, summary and main idea, and the writer's purpose. Written-answer papers also ask for explanations and opinions backed by evidence.

How can I help my child with inference questions?

Talk about books together and ask how a character is feeling and how your child knows. Encourage them to point to the exact words that give the clue. Doing this out loud, often, makes inference much easier in the exam.

Should my child read the questions or the passage first?

A good routine is to skim the passage for the gist, read the questions so they know what to look for, then read the passage carefully. Whatever routine they use, they should go back to the text for every answer.

Is 11+ comprehension multiple choice?

It depends on the test. Many grammar school tests use multiple-choice comprehension, while independent schools usually ask for written answers. Check which format your target schools use.

Start free with a sample comprehension paper

Sign up free to try a sample 11+ comprehension paper. It is marked instantly, with a report showing what went well and what to work on.

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