Standard Comprehension for the 11+
Learn how to read fiction, non-fiction, and occasional poetry with accuracy, evidence, and careful interpretation.
11+ Standard Comprehension
Read precisely before writing the answer.
Standard comprehension tests how well a child understands, interprets, and analyses a written passage. These guides build the habits behind accurate answers.
What This Guide Covers
Work through the core skills students need to practise, draft, revise, and improve with confidence.
Standard Comprehension Question Types
These guides cover the main question types that appear in 11+ standard comprehension papers.
Literal Comprehension
Scan carefully, copy only the relevant detail, and avoid adding guesses.
Read the overviewVocabulary in Context
Use the sentence around the word, the mood of the moment and nearby clues.
Read guideInference
Use evidence from the text to explain feelings, motives and meanings that are implied.
Read guideDeduction and Reasoning
Combine several clues to make a careful judgement about characters, relationships or events.
Read guideAuthor's Language and Technique
Notice verbs, adjectives, imagery and sentence choices, then explain their effect on the reader.
Read guideStructure and Purpose
Think about openings, endings, paragraph order and why the writer chooses that structure.
Read guide