English · Stated vs inferred
Inference Iceberg
Sort each statement: stated in the text, suggested by clues, or not supported.
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Why this works
STATED means a detail is given directly, even if the statement uses different words. HIDDEN means the idea is inferred: clues support it, but it is not directly stated. Nell’s repeated counting, patched coat and choice between two items suggest she has little money. The shopkeeper’s tapping suggests impatience. These are reasonable readings, not certain facts. NOT SUPPORTED means the text does not give enough evidence for the claim. Buying bread does not support saying Nell will go hungry, and impatience alone does not show dislike. Explain both the clue and how it supports your idea. Other interpretations may also fit a passage.
Helping a child through Inference Iceberg
Hints, least revealing first
- For STATED, find the detail written in the passage. It may use different words from the statement.
- For HIDDEN, join the clues. Counting coins, a patched coat and choosing one item suggest that money is tight. This is likely, not certain.
- For NOT SUPPORTED, ask what evidence is missing. Nell buys bread, so the passage does not give enough support to say she will go hungry tonight.
What usually goes wrong here
- Chooses a plausible inference without enough textual evidence.
This is the wrong answer 11+ papers are built to offer, so it is worth watching for directly: a child who does this will look confident and still lose the mark. If it keeps happening on infer implicit meaning, the fix is the misunderstanding rather than more questions.
3 11+ skills this exercise practises
Each of these has its own page, with a worked example on it. 2 of the 3 name the mistake that skill attracts.
- Infer a character stateInfer one character feeling, motive, or attitude from textual evidence.
- Infer implicit meaningDraw one supported conclusion that is not directly stated.
- Retrieve an explicit detailFind a detail stated directly in a passage.
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