A complete guide for parents preparing children for 11+ comprehension and looking to build strong reading habits in Primary School.

⭐ PART 1 — Where Do 11+ comprehension Passages Actually Come From?

Many parents assume that exam boards take 11+ comprehension passages from children’s books. The truth is very different — and understanding it can transform how you prepare your child.

Here is a clear breakdown of where 11+ passages really come from.

1️⃣ Specially Written Passages (MOST COMMON in 11+)

For GL, CEM-style papers, ISEB Pre-Test, and Independent School exams, the majority of passages are:

• Original texts written by exam specialists
• Not published anywhere
• Tailored to test vocabulary, inference, tone and deep comprehension
• Designed so that no child has seen them before

These passages often feel “book-like,” but they are not from any book.

👉 Children cannot prepare by memorising any list of books — because the passages are newly written each year.

2️⃣ Adapted Extracts from Books (Used Often in Independent Schools)

Selective private schools sometimes use real book extracts, but they are usually:

• Abridged
• Simplified
• Names changed
• Vocabulary adjusted
• Descriptions shortened
• Events reordered

Commonly adapted authors include:

• Katherine Rundell
• Louis Sachar
• Philip Pullman
• Michael Morpurgo
• Eva Ibbotson
• Michelle Magorian

Even classics such as A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, The Hobbit, Black Beauty may appear — but rarely in their original form.

3️⃣ Non-Fiction Extracts (A Growing Trend)

Non-fiction comprehension is widely used to test:

• Skimming and scanning
• Retrieval
• Understanding technical vocabulary
• Interpretation of facts
• Distinguishing opinion vs. fact

Sources include:

• Wildlife articles
• Child-friendly science writing
• Historical accounts
• Biographies
• Geography-based pieces

These are almost always rewritten or adapted to fit the exam level.

4️⃣ Public-Domain Texts (Used for Higher-Level 11+ Papers)

Texts older than 100 years are copyright-free, so exam setters may use:

• Rudyard Kipling
• Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Arthur Conan Doyle (simplified)
• Charles Dickens (adapted)
• Robert Louis Stevenson

These are chosen because they challenge vocabulary and require deeper understanding.

So… Is There a “Master List” of Books to Study for 11+?

❌ No.
Comprehension passages are almost never taken directly from children’s books.

✔ Instead, what truly matters is building:

• Wide reading exposure
• Strong vocabulary
• Reading stamina
• Ability to understand tone, inference, theme
• Familiarity with fiction and non-fiction

This is where the reading list comes in.

⭐ PART 2 — Recommended Reading List for Year 3, Year 4 & Year 5

These books build the exact skills needed for 11+ success.

📖 Year 3 Reading List (Ages 7–8)

Focus: Building fluency, imagination & reading confidence

✔ Best Chapter Books

• Magic Tree House – Mary Pope Osborne
• Flat Stanley – Jeff Brown
• The Worst Witch – Jill Murphy
• The Boy Who Grew Dragons – Andy Shepherd

✔ Classic Stories

• Beatrix Potter Stories
• Paddington Bear – Michael Bond
• The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark – Jill Tomlinson

✔ High-Quality Picture Books

• The Day the Crayons Quit – Drew Daywalt
• Voices in the Park – Anthony Browne
• The Great Kapok Tree – Lynne Cherry

✔ Non-Fiction

• DK Find Out!
• National Geographic Kids (Level 2–3)

✔ Poetry

• A Great Big Cuddle – Michael Rosen
• Revolting Rhymes – Roald Dahl

📖 Year 4 Reading List (Ages 8–9)

Focus: Strengthening comprehension & exploring new genres

✔ Best Chapter Books

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
• How to Train Your Dragon – Cressida Cowell
• The Nothing to See Here Hotel – Steven Butler
• The Iron Man – Ted Hughes

✔ Classics (Simplified or Abridged)

• Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
• The Secret Garden (abridged)
• The Wind in the Willows (simplified)

✔ Non-Fiction

• Usborne Beginners
• DK Level 3–4
• Little People, Big Dreams biographies

✔ Poetry

• A Kid in My Class – Rachel Rooney
• The Lost Spells – Robert Macfarlane

📖 Year 5 Reading List (Ages 9–10)

Focus: Advanced vocabulary, analysis & pre-11+ preparation

✔ Recommended Novels

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
• Wonder – R.J. Palacio
• Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan
• The Explorer – Katherine Rundell

✔ Award-Winning Books

• The Boy at the Back of the Class – Onjali Q. Raúf
• Cogheart – Peter Bunzl
• When the Mountains Roared – Jess Butterworth

✔ Classics for Confident Readers

• Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
• A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
• The Hobbit (abridged extracts)

✔ Non-Fiction

• DK Encyclopedias
• Illustrated History/Geography books
• Science-focused informational texts

✔ Poetry

• I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree – Fiona Waters
• Cloud Busting – Malorie Blackman

📘 Top Novel Picks for 11+ Reading Development (With Age & Ability Guidance)

These novels are not exam texts, but they are excellent for developing the skills required for 11+ comprehension: vocabulary, inference, tone, empathy, and reading stamina.

Note for parents:
Ages are guidelines, not rules. A confident reader may access books earlier, while others may benefit from guided reading or audio support.

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — J.K. Rowling

Recommended for:
✔ Strong Year 4 readers
✔ Most Year 5 children
✔ All confident 11+ candidates

Why:
Rich vocabulary, layered storytelling, and extended narrative build stamina, prediction, and inference skills.

2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C.S. Lewis

Recommended for:
✔ Confident Year 4
✔ Year 5 (ideal)

Why:
Classic descriptive language and symbolism help children practise deeper comprehension and theme-based questions common in 11+.

3. Charlotte’s Web — E.B. White

Recommended for:
✔ Late Year 3 (strong readers)
✔ Year 4–5

Why:
Subtle emotional tone and author’s voice make it excellent for inference, mood, and “what the author suggests” questions.

4. The Secret Garden — Frances Hodgson Burnett

Recommended for:
✔ Strong Year 5
✔ Early Year 6 (with support if needed)

Why:
Challenging vocabulary and long descriptive passages mirror the language style often seen in 11+ exams.

5. Wonder — R.J. Palacio

Recommended for:
✔ Year 4–5
✔ Particularly good for reluctant but capable readers

Why:
Modern language with emotional depth. Excellent for empathy, viewpoint questions, and understanding character motivation.

6. Goodnight Mister Tom — Michelle Magorian

Recommended for:
✔ Strong Year 5
✔ Year 6 (selective school level)

Why:
Emotionally complex with mature themes. Ideal for advanced inference, tone analysis, and reflective answers.

7. A Wrinkle in Time — Madeleine L’Engle

Recommended for:
✔ Strong Year 5
✔ Stretch read for high-attaining readers

Why:
Abstract ideas and inventive language challenge interpretation and deepen analytical thinking.

8. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase — Joan Aiken

Recommended for:
✔ Year 5
✔ Early Year 6

Why:
Rich narrative voice and expressive language are excellent for atmosphere, inference, and implied meaning.

9. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief — Rick Riordan

Recommended for:
✔ Year 4–5
✔ Excellent for reluctant readers

Why:
Fast-paced and engaging while still developing vocabulary, cultural knowledge, and reading stamina.

How Parents Can Use This List Effectively

✔ Mix classic + modern books
✔ Encourage discussion (“Why did the character do that?”)
✔ Don’t rush difficult books — slow reading builds depth
✔ Audio + print together is perfectly acceptable
✔ Focus on understanding, not speed

📌 Skills Progression Across Years (Why These Books Matter)

Year 3 Skills

✔ Fluency
✔ Retelling stories
✔ Basic inference
✔ Vocabulary building

Year 4 Skills

✔ Understanding themes
✔ Character analysis
✔ Figurative language awareness
✔ Comparing texts

Year 5 Skills

✔ Deep inference
✔ Evidence-based answers
✔ Understanding author’s purpose
✔ Reading stamina for 11+ papers

Conclusion

If your child is preparing for the 11+, the best strategy is not to chase specific passages, because exams use original or adapted texts.

The smart strategy is to:
📘 Build broad reading habits
📘 Strengthen comprehension through exposure to varied genres
📘 Use Year 3–5 reading lists as a structured pathway
📘 Develop inference, vocabulary, and analytical thinking early

Our SPAG + Comprehension classes, as a part of our 11+ English offering, are structured to ensure that the child picks up these skills well before the exams.

This combined approach prepares children far more effectively than trying to “guess” the passage source.