How do I read between the lines in an 11+ comprehension?
Use evidence from the text to explain feelings, motives and meanings that are implied.
Step-by-step approach for Year 5-6
- Start with what the text tells you for certain.
- Ask what that detail suggests about the character or situation.
- Support your idea with a short quotation or specific detail.
- Explain your reasoning using because, which suggests or this implies.
What to look for
- Body language, pauses, silence and hesitation.
- Small actions that reveal how a character feels.
- Details that hint at danger, worry, excitement or disappointment.
- What a character avoids saying directly.
Worked example
Example question
Why do you think Sarah hesitated before answering?
Short extract
Sarah opened her mouth, then looked down at the floor. When she finally replied, her voice was barely above a whisper.
Model answer
Sarah probably hesitated because she felt nervous or unsure. The fact that she looks down and speaks in a whisper suggests she lacks confidence about what she is going to say.
Exam tip
Inference is not wild guessing. The best answers make a sensible idea and prove it with a detail from the passage.