Read between the lines. This is a crucial skill to possess as it affects our comprehension of a text and our response to it. The key skill of making inferences is often a stumbling block for students. In the comprehension section, your child will be required to deduce a conclusion by identifying the correct contextual clues from the passage.
For example, your child may be asked to explain an emotion the writer or character was feeling at a point in the story.
Example: “Why do you think the author felt ‘pleased’?”
Let us help your child understand how to analyse an author’s words to determine contextual evidence that supports their inferences.
One thing to note about inferential questions is that the answer must be drawn from the passage. It just requires your child to link relevant pieces of information from the text. Typically, inferential questions test your child’s reasoning skills.
Common question types include:
Similarity
Contrast
Cause and effect
Consequence
Intention
Just like any exemplary piece of writing, an examinable passage does not divulge its intentions explicitly. Instead, your child will be required to think a little bit deeper about what they are reading.
QUICK TIP 1: Identify an inferential question.
Look out for keywords such as 'why', 'how', 'give a reason' or 'explain'.
QUICK TIP 2: Look for evidence in the passage.
Gather relevant clues in the passage to support your answer. Since this section is testing your child on their comprehension of the passage, their answer should include details from the passage to support their inference.
QUICK TIP 3: If in doubt, rewrite the response / answer.
In some instances, students may trip up on true or false questions. This is because the statements are not clearly phrased. If the statement seems confusing, it is best to rephrase and break down keywords in the question. This will help your child attain a clearer idea of what the question is asking for.
With the help of our highly experienced ex-MOE teachers, TWC's in-house curriculum experts will enhance our tried-and-tested MOE-style examination strategies for all our programmes, especially the English Tuition programme. Our teachers will also continually be trained in the latest MOE requirements in order to excel in their teaching. To find out more about our English Tuition programme, please feel free to speak with our friendly staff at your preferred centre.
Happy Teachers' Day!
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” - Theodore Roosevelt A big ‘thank you’ to all our teachers for their hard work, commitment and determination. We are exceptionally proud of our staff who have dedicated their lives to providing a quality education and nurturing the next generation of Singaporeans. Thank you for making learning a meaningful and enjoyable journey for all our students.
Kids Excellence Awards 2018 - Best English Literacy Programme
Thank you! We're pleased to share that TWC has been awarded the Kids Excellence Awards 2018 - Best English Literacy Programme.
A huge shout-out to our students, parents and the dedicated TWC team! This achievement would not have been possible without your unwavering support. We will continue to do our utmost to lead our students to excel in their writing, thinking and English skills.