Inference and Interpretation

In the CEM 11+ exam, many of the most challenging questions will ask you to work out something that the writer has not said directly. This skill is called inference, and it is one of the most important things you can practise.

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What Is Inference?

Inference means reading between the lines. The writer gives you clues — through word choice, actions, descriptions, and details — and your job is to piece those clues together to understand what is really happening.

Think of it like being a detective. A detective does not always see the crime happen, but they gather evidence and work out what occurred. That is exactly what you do when you infer meaning from a text.

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Inference vs Retrieval

It is important to understand the difference:

Skill	What it means	Example question
Retrieval	Finding information directly stated in the text	"What colour was the front door?"
Inference	Working out something the text suggests but does not say outright	"How do you think the character felt about the house?"