Fiction Comprehension

Fiction passages — stories, novel extracts, and narrative writing — are very common in the CEM 11+ exam. In this lesson, you will learn how to approach fiction texts, understand their key features, and answer questions about them with confidence.

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What Is Fiction?

Fiction is any writing that tells an imaginary story. It is made up by the author, although it may be based on real events or experiences. In the CEM exam, you might encounter:

Type of fiction	Example
Novel extract	A passage from a children's or classic novel
Short story	A complete short story or part of one
Myth or legend	A traditional story from folklore or history
Fairy tale or fable	A story with a moral or lesson

CEM passages are often taken from texts you have never read before. This is deliberate — the exam wants to see if you can understand an unfamiliar text, not whether you have read the book.

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Key Features of Fiction

When you read a fiction passage, pay attention to these elements:

1. Characters