Comprehension Skills

Welcome to the first lesson in your GL 11+ English course! Comprehension is one of the most important skills you will need for the 11+ exam. It means reading a passage carefully and showing that you understand what it says — and what it means.

What Is Comprehension?

Comprehension simply means understanding. In the 11+ exam, you will be given a passage to read — it could be fiction (a story), non-fiction (factual writing), or poetry. You will then answer questions about it.

Type of passage	What it might look like
Fiction	An extract from a novel or short story
Non-fiction	A newspaper article, diary entry, or speech
Poetry	A poem with verses and sometimes rhyme

The key is not just to read the words, but to understand what the writer is telling you.

The Four Levels of Understanding

Think of comprehension like a ladder. Each rung takes you deeper into the text.

Level	What it means	Example question
Literal	What the text says directly	"What colour was the dog?"
Inferential	What the text suggests but does not say outright	"How do you think the character was feeling?"
Evaluative	Judging the writer's choices	"Why did the author use the word 'crept'?"
Deductive	Working out something from clues in the text	"What time of year is it? Use evidence."

At the 11+ level, you need to go beyond literal answers. The best answers use evidence from the text and explain what it tells us.

How to Read a Passage Carefully

Follow these steps every time you read a comprehension passage:

Step 1: Read the whole passage through once

Do not stop to answer questions yet. Just get a feel for what the passage is about.

Step 2: Read the questions

Look at what you are being asked. Underline key words in the questions so you know what to look for.

Step 3: Read the passage again

This time, read more carefully. As you read, look for the answers to the questions. You can underline or circle important words and phrases.

Step 4: Answer the questions

Go back to the text for every answer. Never guess — always find evidence.

Types of Comprehension Questions

Here are the most common types of questions you will see in a GL 11+ English paper:

1. Retrieval questions

These ask you to find information directly stated in the passage.

Example: "According to the passage, where did the family go on holiday?"

Tip: Scan the text for key words from the question. The answer will be right there in the passage.

2. Vocabulary questions

These ask you what a word or phrase means in the context of the passage.

Example: "What does the word 'reluctantly' mean in line 5?"

Tip: Look at the surrounding sentences for clues. Even if you do not know the word, the context can help you work it out.

3. Inference questions

These ask you to read between the lines — to work out something the author has not stated directly.

Example: "How can you tell that the character was nervous?"

Tip: Look for clues in the character's actions, speech, and the descriptions around them.

4. Explanation questions

These ask you why something happens or why the writer made a particular choice.

Example: "Why do you think the author described the forest as 'dark and whispering'?"

Tip: Think about the effect on the reader. What feeling or picture does the writer create?

Worked Example

Read this short passage:

The old house stood at the end of the lane, its windows dark and its garden overgrown with weeds. No one had lived there for years. Tom stood at the gate, his heart thudding. He told himself there was nothing to be afraid of, but his feet refused to move.

Now let us answer some questions:

Q1: How long has the house been empty?

This is a retrieval question. The passage says: "No one had lived there for years."

Q2: How is Tom feeling? Use evidence from the passage.

This is an inference question. Tom is feeling frightened or anxious. We know this because:

His "heart" was "thudding" — this suggests his heart was beating fast with fear.
He "told himself there was nothing to be afraid of" — the fact he has to tell himself this shows he is afraid.
His "feet refused to move" — he is frozen with fear.

Notice how the best answers quote from the text and then explain what the evidence shows.

Key Skill: PEE Paragraphs

For longer comprehension answers, use the PEE structure:

Letter	Stands for	What to do
P	Point	State your answer clearly
E	Evidence	Quote from the passage
E	Explain	Say what the evidence shows or means

Example PEE paragraph

Question: How does the writer show that Tom is scared?

Answer: The writer shows that Tom is scared by describing his physical reactions. The text says his "heart" was "thudding", which suggests it was beating very fast — a sign of fear. Furthermore, the writer tells us that "his feet refused to move", as though his body was frozen with anxiety. This makes the reader feel sympathy for Tom because we can picture how frightened he is.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Why it is a problem	What to do instead
Copying the whole sentence from the text	Shows you found it, but not that you understood it	Use a short quote and explain it in your own words
Writing "I think" without evidence	Your opinion alone is not enough	Always back up your answer with a quote
Not reading the question carefully	You might answer the wrong thing	Underline key words in the question first
Rushing through the passage	You will miss important details	Read the passage at least twice

Practice Tips

Read widely — stories, articles, poems, and non-fiction. The more you read, the better your comprehension will be.
Time yourself — in the exam, you will not have unlimited time. Practise reading a passage and answering questions within a set time.
Always go back to the text — the answer is in the passage. Never write from memory alone.
Use your own words — unless the question asks you to quote, put the answer in your own words to show understanding.
Check your spelling and grammar — clear, accurate writing shows the examiner you are a confident reader and writer.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning
Comprehension	Understanding what you have read
Retrieval	Finding information directly stated in the text
Inference	Working out something the text suggests but does not say directly
Evidence	A quote or detail from the text that supports your answer
Context	The words and sentences around a particular word that help explain its meaning
PEE	Point, Evidence, Explain — a useful structure for longer answers

Summary

Comprehension is all about reading carefully, finding evidence, and explaining what it means. In the GL 11+ exam, you will need to answer different types of questions — from simple retrieval to deeper inference and evaluation. Always use the PEE structure for longer answers, and remember: the answer is always in the passage. Your job is to find it and explain it clearly.