Fiction Extracts

In the CSSE 11+ exam, you will almost certainly encounter a fiction extract — a passage taken from a novel, short story, or other piece of imaginative writing. The CSSE is known for using longer, more demanding passages than some other 11+ exams, so it is important to develop strategies for reading fiction carefully and confidently.

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What Is a Fiction Extract?

A fiction extract is a section of a story created by an author. It is not real — the characters, events, and settings are imagined (though they may be inspired by real life). In the CSSE exam, the extract will usually be taken from a published book, and you will not have read it before.

Feature	What to look for
Characters	Who appears in the passage? What are they like? How do they feel?
Setting	Where and when does the story take place?
Plot	What is happening? What events unfold?
Atmosphere	What is the overall mood — tense, calm, eerie, joyful?
Narrative voice	Is it told in first person ("I") or third person ("he/she")?

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