11 Plus English Comprehension Tips
If you have ten minutes and a tired Year 5 child, this is the article I wish someone had handed me when I first started teaching 11+. Ten things that genuinely move comprehension scores forward, in the order I would do them.
1. Read aloud, even if they can read silently
Reading aloud, especially with you joining in, sharpens hearing for sentence rhythm and word choice in a way silent reading does not. Twenty minutes of shared reading per evening, where you take it in turns, is one of the most reliable comprehension boosters I know.
2. Always read the passage before the questions
Children who jump straight to questions and skim the passage answer retrieval well and miss everything else. Train the habit: full read, then questions. Yes, even under time pressure.
3. Underline as they read
Pencil, lightly. Mark anything that catches the eye: unusual words, vivid descriptions, mood shifts, surprising sentences. These marks are roadmap signs back to where the harder questions will live.
4. Train the inference formula
5. Watch for word effect, not just word meaning
Language questions are about why the writer chose a particular word over another. “Slithered” is not just a synonym for “moved.” It carries threat, slowness, surprise. Practise this with single sentences before moving to passages.
6. Quote sparingly, explain fully
A common error: copying out long stretches of the passage instead of picking the specific words that prove the point. Show your child the difference between quoting two words and explaining around them, and quoting twenty words and explaining nothing. Mark schemes reward the first.
7. Match the answer length to the marks
A one mark question takes one short answer. A two mark question takes evidence plus explanation. A four mark question takes two pieces of evidence plus two interpretations. Train them to look at the marks before they answer.
8. Build vocabulary every day in tiny doses
Five minutes a day on vocabulary outperforms thirty minutes once a week. Use a word jar, sticky notes around the house, words of the day, or just naming words at the dinner table. Comprehension scores rise as vocabulary depth rises. There is no shortcut.
9. Read non fiction too
11+ comprehension passages include articles, biographical pieces, and the occasional newspaper extract. Children who only read fiction are unprepared for non fiction comprehension. A children’s newspaper like First News once a week, plus the occasional shared article, fills the gap.
10. Talk about everything they read
The single most underrated comprehension habit. After they read, ask: what did you think? Why did the character do that? What was the author trying to suggest? Children who articulate their reading aloud regularly outperform those who simply read in silence. Articulating builds deeper understanding, every time.
Want a structured weekly comprehension programme for your child? Our Year 5 and Year 6 weekly workshops include weekly comprehension teaching with detailed marking, alongside our Sunday English Masterclass for children targeting writing heavy schools.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend on each tip?
Pick two or three this week. Embed them. Add another in a fortnight. Trying to apply ten new habits at once is overwhelming. Two well used habits beat ten half remembered ones.
What if my child resists underlining?
Some children find it interrupts their reading. Try a different system: a pencil tick in the margin where something catches the eye, and a brief note at the end of the paragraph. The aim is active reading, not the specific tool.
How do I know if these tips are working?
By the inference and language marks. Retrieval marks tend to plateau early. The proof of better technique is in the harder marks moving. A mock four to six weeks after starting these habits is a good checkpoint.
My child reads but does not enjoy it. Help.
Variety. Audiobooks. Comics. Graphic novels. Non fiction on topics they love. The aim is engagement first, then progression. A child who reads daily but only what they choose will outperform a child who is forced through curated literature.
