Explains the three kinds of comprehension questions (literal, inferential and evaluative) and the strategies good readers use before, during and after reading. Includes a short passage with worked answers so parents and students can see how to find evidence and make inferences.
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Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
Completed: Reading Comprehension Strategies
Year 5 students (typically ages 10–11) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
This is a study guide, so there is no separate answer sheet; the 'Check yourself' questions include answers.
About 20 minutes. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
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Try Students Give Creek a Second Chance — Reading Comprehension.
Year 5 · English · Reading Comprehension
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Comprehension means understanding what you read — not just saying the words, but knowing what they mean, what the writer is suggesting, and what you think about it. Good readers do not read passively. They ask questions, make predictions, picture what is happening and go back to check when something does not make sense. These are habits you can practise.
| Type | What it asks | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Literal ('right there') | Something stated directly in the text: who, what, when, where | Scan for key words and copy the detail from the text |
| Inferential ('think and search') | Something the text suggests but does not say: why, how do you know | Combine clues in the text with what you already know |
| Evaluative ('on my own') | Your opinion or judgement about the text: do you agree, was it effective | Give your view and back it up with evidence from the text |
Worked passage
For any question worth more than one mark, use the answer–evidence–explain pattern. Give your answer, quote or refer to the part of the text that supports it, and say how that evidence proves your point. 'Maya is worried. The text says she checked her phone again and there was still no reply, which shows she is waiting anxiously to hear from her dad.'
Answers: 1. A literal question is answered by information stated directly in the text; an inferential question needs you to work something out from clues. 2. 'The streetlights were flickering on.' 3. Evaluative. 4. Look at the title, headings and pictures, predict what it is about and decide what kind of text it is. 5. Answer, evidence, explain. 6. Use the words around it (context) to work out its meaning, or read on and come back.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource.
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