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In the CSSE 11+ exam, some of the most challenging — and most rewarding — questions ask you to work out something the writer has not said directly. This is called inference, and it is one of the most important skills you can develop for the English paper.
Inference means reading between the lines. The writer gives you clues through their choice of words, descriptions, and actions, and you use those clues to work out what is really happening — or how a character is feeling — even though it is not stated outright.
Think of it like being a detective. The writer leaves clues, and your job is to piece them together to solve the puzzle.
Deduction is closely related to inference, but it relies more on facts and logic. When you deduce something, you use evidence from the passage to reach a conclusion that must be true.
| Skill | How it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inference | Using clues to work out feelings, moods, or implied meanings | "She bit her lip and looked away." — She is nervous or upset. |
| Deduction | Using facts and logic to reach a definite conclusion | "He put on his coat, hat, and gloves." — He is about to go outside, and it is cold. |
Both skills are tested in the CSSE exam, and the best candidates can use evidence from the passage to support their answers.
Writers do not usually tell you directly how a character feels or what is about to happen. Instead, they use clues hidden in several places:
What a character does often tells you more than what they say.
Example: "Tom pushed his food around the plate without eating."
This suggests Tom is worried, upset, or not hungry — he is too distracted to eat.
The words a character uses and how they say them reveal a great deal.
Example: "Fine," she snapped, slamming the door.
Even though she says "fine", her tone ("snapped") and action ("slamming the door") tell us she is angry, not fine at all.
The way a writer describes the world around a character can mirror their emotions.
Example: "Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, and the last leaves fell from the branches."
This creates a gloomy, foreboding atmosphere. It might reflect a character's sadness or hint that something bad is about to happen.
Single words can carry enormous meaning. Writers choose their words carefully — and so should you when analysing them.
Example: "He crept along the corridor" vs "He marched along the corridor."
"Crept" suggests secrecy or fear; "marched" suggests confidence or determination. The verb completely changes the meaning.
In the CSSE exam, you need to do more than just state what you think. You must show your working by quoting from the text and explaining what the evidence suggests.
Follow this three-step method:
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