Comparing Texts

Some questions in the CEM 11+ exam may ask you to compare two or more passages. This means looking at how the texts are similar and how they are different. Comparing texts is a higher-level skill, and mastering it will help you stand out in the exam.

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Why Do Examiners Ask You to Compare?

Comparing texts shows that you can:

• Read and understand more than one text at the same time
• Identify similarities and differences in content, style, and purpose
• Think critically about how different writers approach the same topic
• Use evidence from both texts to support your points

In the CEM exam, you might be given two short passages and asked to answer questions that refer to one or both. The passages might be on a similar topic but written in different styles or from different viewpoints.

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What Can You Compare?

Here are the main areas you can compare between two texts:

1. Content (What they say)