How to improve at reading comprehension

Read the question types, then the passage

Most comprehension questions fall into a few types: main idea, specific detail, inference (what the text implies but doesn't state), vocabulary-in-context, and author's purpose or tone. Knowing the type tells you what to look for, so glance at the questions before reading closely.

Answer from the text, not from opinion

The correct answer is always supported by the passage — even an inference is a small, justified step from what's written. If an option sounds reasonable in real life but isn't backed by the text, it's wrong. Train your child to point to the line that proves their choice.

Beat the distractors

Wrong options are designed to tempt: they use words copied from the passage, overstate a true idea ('always', 'never'), or answer a slightly different question. Eliminating these deliberately is often faster than hunting for the right one.

Vocabulary in context

For 'what does this word mean here' questions, ignore the dictionary definition you know and read the sentence — the surrounding text fixes the intended meaning, which may be a less common sense of the word.

Practise the right way

• Do timed passages, then review every wrong answer.
• For each mistake, find the exact words that justify the correct option.
• Read widely outside practice to build vocabulary and stamina.