10 common 11+ comprehension mistakes, and how to fix them
The short answer
Most lost marks come from habits rather than ability: answering from memory instead of checking the passage, not answering the exact question, giving too little for the marks, copying long quotations without explaining them, and running out of time. Each one has a simple fix that you can practise at home.
Which mistakes cost the most marks?
- Answering from memory. Fix: find the line first, then answer. Underline the evidence in practice.
- Not answering the actual question. A question about feelings needs a feeling word, not a summary of events. Fix: underline the key words in the question.
- Ignoring the marks. One point for a 3-mark question caps the score. Fix: use the marks to plan (see how to answer 1 to 4-mark questions).
- Quoting too much. Copying a whole paragraph hides the useful words. Fix: quote only the few words that prove the point.
- Quoting without explaining. Fix: after every quotation, write “This suggests…”.
- Retelling the story. Summaries rarely earn inference or language marks. Fix: ask “What does this show?” rather than “What happened?”
- Naming a technique without its effect. “It's a simile” is only half an answer. Fix: name it, quote it, then say what it makes the reader think or feel. See our guide to literary devices.
- Guessing word meanings out of context. Many words change meaning by sentence. Fix: substitute the answer into the sentence and check it still makes sense. See vocabulary in context.
- Copying with spelling mistakes. Fix: check copied words letter by letter against the passage.
- Getting stuck and running out of time. Fix: in timed practice, mark a hard question, move on and come back.
Why do children make these mistakes?
Under time pressure, children fall back on habits. If the habit is to answer quickly from memory, that's what happens in the exam. The fixes work because they become automatic with regular practice, not because they are clever tricks.
How can you practise fixing them at home?
- Pick one mistake to work on each week, rather than all ten at once.
- When marking, ask “Show me where it says that” for every answer.
- Compare your child's answer with a model answer and ask what the model answer does that theirs doesn't.
- Do some practice timed, once accuracy is secure, to build pace.
Questions and answers
What is the most common 11+ comprehension mistake?
A very common one is answering from memory instead of going back to the passage. Checking the exact lines before answering prevents many other mistakes too.
How can my child stop running out of time?
Practise moving on from a hard question and coming back to it, and build up to timed practice once answers are accurate. Check the timing of your child's own test, because it varies.
Is it bad to quote a lot?
Long quotations usually don't help. A few precise words, followed by an explanation, show more understanding.
Sources
Admissions dates and test details change. Always check the current information from your local authority and the schools you are applying to.
Practise with a classic story
More guides
- 11+ inference questions: how to read between the lines
- Vocabulary in context: working out unfamiliar words in 11+ comprehension
- Similes, metaphors and personification for 11+ English
- How to answer 1, 2, 3 and 4-mark 11+ comprehension questions
- 11+ English glossary: literary and grammar terms explained
- How to prepare for 11+ English comprehension at home