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03 APRIL 2025
COMPREHENSION SKILLS
Mastering Comprehension Open-Ended Questions
Tackling comprehension open-ended questions can be a challenge for many students. While my P6 boy recently scored 17/20 in his comprehension exam, I’m not resting on my laurels. This section carries the most marks in Paper 2, making it crucial to maximize every point.
With the right strategies, it’s possible to consistently score between 15 and even full marks. I’ve broken down the key question types and the study methods to tackle them effectively:
🔹 Literal (Factual)
🔹 Inferential
🔹 Vocabulary in Context
🔹 Evaluative (Opinion-based)
To help students master these question types, I’ll be sharing short comprehension snippets along with targeted study tips in my Study Studio. Stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled!
Meanwhile, have a read on how I break up the question types in the samples below.
The comprehension questions in the PSLE English paper can be categorized into different types based on the skills they assess. Here's how the questions in the passage above are divided:
Source: 2018 P6 EL RGS
1
Literal Questions (Factual Questions)
These questions test the student’s ability to find direct information from the passage.
Answers can be lifted or paraphrased from the text.
- Q71: Why was Vivian last in position in the race? (2m)
- Q72: What were Vivian’s two actions after moving towards Anna? (2m)
- Q73: What caused the shake in Anna’s legs? (1m)
- Q76: Arrange the events in the correct order. (1m)
Skills tested:
✔︎ Scanning for information
✔︎ Understanding key details
2
Inferential Questions
These require students to read between the lines and deduce implied meaning from the passage.
- Q74: Explain what the "instant connection" was. (2m)
- Q75: State whether each statement is true or false, then give a reason. (3m)
- Q80: Do you think Vivian liked spending Pyjamas Day reliving the race? Support your answer. (2m)
Skills tested:
✔︎ Drawing conclusions
✔︎ Understanding character motivation
✔︎ Evaluating cause and effect
3
Vocabulary in Context Questions
These test students’ ability to determine the meaning of words based on how they are used in the passage.
- Q77: What do the words “that”, “fate”, and “act of kindness” refer to in the passage? (3m)
- Q78: Explain fully what the writer meant by “unfortunate relief.” (2m)
Skills tested:
✔︎ Understanding word meaning in context
✔︎ Identifying reference words
4
Evaluative and Opinion-Based Questions
These require students to give their personal opinion supported by evidence from the text.
- Q79: Which two adjectives correctly describe Vivian? (2m)
- Q80: Do you think Vivian liked spending Pyjamas Day reliving the race? (2m)
Skills tested:
✔︎ Critical thinking
✔︎ Justifying opinions with textual evidence
Summary of Question Types
Question Type | Question Numbers | Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
Literal (Factual) | 71, 72, 73, 76 | Finding direct information |
Inferential | 74, 75, 80 | Reading between the lines, cause & effect |
Vocabulary in Context | 77, 78 | Understanding meaning from context |
Evaluative (Opinion-based) | 79, 80 | Critical thinking, personal response |
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