Summarising

Develop summarising skills to identify key points in 11+ reading passages.

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Summarising Skills for 11+ Comprehension

How to identify key points, write concise summaries using the 5 Ws approach, and manage word limits in 11+ reading comprehension papers.

8 minIntermediate

How to Write a Concise Summary for the 11+ Comprehension Paper

Teach students the skill of condensing a passage into its key points without losing meaning. Explain the difference between a summary and a retelling. Provide a three-step method: identify the main idea of each paragraph, remove supporting details, and combine the main ideas into a short paragraph. Use a practice passage and show the process step by step, including what to leave out and why. Include three practice passages with model summaries at different quality levels so students can see what examiners expect.

10 min readIntermediate

Extracting Key Information from Non-Fiction Texts in the 11+

Teach students how to quickly identify and extract the main points from informational texts. Cover skimming (reading headings and first sentences), scanning (looking for specific details), and detailed reading (understanding complex arguments). Provide a practice text and walk through each technique step by step. Show how to distinguish between main points and supporting details. Include practice questions that require students to locate and present information concisely.

10 min readIntermediate

Inferring Theme and Message in 11+ Comprehension

Teach students to identify the bigger idea a passage is exploring — not just the events it describes. Explains the difference between subject and theme, covers common themes in Year 5/6 comprehension texts, and walks through a model passage showing how to move from events to inference to theme. Includes practice passages and model PEE answers.

9 min readIntermediate

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