What is inference?
Inference means working out something the writer suggests but doesn’t say directly. You’re a detective: use clues in the text plus what you already know.
| The text says… | You can infer… |
|---|---|
| Her hands were shaking and her mouth felt dry. | She was nervous. |
| He slammed the door and stomped upstairs. | He was angry. |
| She hugged the letter and did a little dance. | It was good news. |
Clues to look for
- Actions: what the character does (bouncing on her toes)
- Body language: faces, hands, voices (a grin spread across her face)
- Speech: what they say, and how they say it
- Description: the setting can set a mood (the noise bounced off the high ceiling)
Answer with evidence
A strong answer says what you think and why: I think Maya was nervous because the text says her mouth felt as dry as sand.
Watch out! The best answer must be supported by clues. Don’t choose something just because it could be true.
Top tip: ask “How do I know?” If you can point to words in the text, your inference is a good one.
📖 The Swimming Gala
1Maya stood at the edge of the pool, her toes curled over the cold tiles. The noise of the crowd bounced off the high ceiling. She pulled at the strap of her goggles for the third time and tried to swallow, but her mouth felt as dry as sand.
2In the lane next to her, Chloe was bouncing on her toes and waving to her family in the stands. Last year Chloe had won every race. Maya looked up at the balcony. Her dad gave her a thumbs up, and her little brother held up a painted sign with her name on it, the letters wobbly and bright.
3The whistle blew. Maya dived, and the water swallowed the noise. She kicked and pulled, kicked and pulled, not daring to look sideways. When her fingertips touched the wall, she lifted her head and blinked at the scoreboard.
4Her name was at the top. For a moment she just stared. Then the cheer from the balcony reached her, loud and wild, and a grin spread slowly across her face. Chloe swam over, pulled off her cap and said, ‘That was amazing.’ Maya laughed. Her hands had finally stopped shaking.