- The method: sum up each text in one sentence, list what is the same, list what is different, then answer.
- Every answer needs both texts: make a point about text A, a matching point about text B, and use a linking word.
- Spotting is not enough: naming a simile earns little; saying what it does to the reader earns the marks.
- Where it comes up: some tests, especially second rounds and some independent schools, use more than one text. Check your test's familiarisation material.
Comparison questions ask your child to hold two texts in mind at once. They look hard, but a simple method turns them into a few small steps.
This guide gives that method, the notes to make while reading, a worked example with a model answer, and ways to practise at home.
When comparison questions come up
Some 11+ tests, especially second rounds and some independent school papers, give children more than one text. The texts usually share a topic, such as the sea, a journey or growing up.
Formats change and differ between tests, so check your test's familiarisation material. If your child's test uses only one passage, this skill still sharpens their reading.
The four-step method
- One sentence each After reading, write one sentence saying what each text is about and how it feels. This stops the texts blurring together.
- List similarities Topic, feelings, setting, purpose. Two or three quick notes are enough.
- List differences Viewpoint, mood, the kind of writing, and the way each writer uses language.
- Answer with a point from each text Make a point about text A with a short quote, then a matching point about text B. Join them with "whereas", "however" or "both".
Notes to make while reading
Your child should jot short notes in the margin as they read each text. Three headings cover most comparison questions.
- Tone: is it cheerful, tense, sad, angry or calm? Does it change?
- Viewpoint: who is speaking, and how do they feel about the topic?
- Writer's craft: one or two striking words, images or sentence shapes, and what each does to the reader.
Naming a technique alone earns very little. The marks come from saying what the choice makes the reader feel or picture.
Worked example
Both extracts below were written by Pip for this guide. They are short on purpose, so your child can try the method in ten minutes.
Jonah pressed his face to the harbour railing as the waves hurled themselves at the wall. Every crash sent up a fountain of spray, and he laughed as it soaked his coat.
"Again!" he shouted to the sea, and the sea obliged.
Storm again tonight. Two small boats still out past the point, and the wall shaking under every wave.
I have lit every lamp we own. I will not sleep until both are in.
Question: Compare how the storm is presented in the two texts.
Step 1, one sentence each: Text A is a boy enjoying the storm as a game. Text B is an adult afraid the storm will cost lives.
Steps 2 and 3, notes: Same: both show a powerful storm hitting the harbour wall. Different: excited versus fearful; story versus diary; long flowing sentences versus short clipped ones.
In text A the storm is exciting and playful. The waves "hurled themselves" like a performer, and Jonah shouts "Again!", which shows he sees the sea as a friend putting on a show.
However, in text B the storm is frightening. The short sentences, such as "Storm again tonight.", sound tense and tired, and the keeper "will not sleep", which shows she feels responsible for the people at sea.
Both writers show the waves shaking the wall, but text A makes the reader enjoy the danger whereas text B makes us worry about it.
Notice that every paragraph has a point, a short quote and an explanation of the effect. The last sentence links the two texts directly, which is what comparison marks reward.
How to practise at home
- Pair two short extracts on one topic: for example a poem about winter and a page of non-fiction about snow from books at home.
- Use older free texts: poems and stories published before 1900 are free online and pair well with modern non-fiction.
- Talk before writing: ask "What is the same? What is different? Which one would you rather read?"
- One linked paragraph a week: point about A, point about B, joined with "whereas".
- Include poems: one of the two texts is often a poem, so make sure your child is comfortable reading them.
Comparison relies on reading each text properly first, so see our guide on reading the questions or the passage first. For single-passage practice, try the free comprehension worksheets and our comprehension guide.
For short daily reading questions between paper sessions, Pip offers adaptive English practice.
Frequently asked questions
How do you answer 11+ questions that compare two texts?+
Sum up each text in one sentence, list what is the same and what is different, then answer with a point from each text. Join the points with a linking word such as whereas or however.
Which 11+ tests use two texts?+
It varies. Some tests, especially second rounds and some independent schools, use more than one text, so check your test's familiarisation material for the current format.
What should my child compare?+
Tone, viewpoint, purpose and the writer's language are the main things. Topic alone is too simple, as the texts are usually chosen because they share one.
Does my child need to quote from both texts?+
Yes. A short quote from each text, with a sentence on its effect, shows the examiner your child has read both properly.
What if one text is a poem?+
Read the poem twice, once for sense and once for feeling. Then treat it like any other text: one sentence summary, tone, viewpoint and one or two striking images.
How much should my child write?+
It depends on the marks. A useful rule is one point from each text per two marks, plus a closing sentence linking them.
The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.
