Answer inference questions by reading between the lines, using evidence from the text to work out what is suggested rather than stated

What this dot point is asking

SEAB wants you to answer inference questions: ones where the answer is not stated directly but suggested by the text. You "read between the lines", using clues in the passage to work out what is implied, and you back your answer with evidence from the text. Inference questions are common in Paper 2 and often use words like "infer", "suggest" or "what does this tell you". The skill is to notice the clues, draw a sensible conclusion, and point to the words that support it.

The answer

What inference means

To infer is to work out something that is hinted at rather than spelled out. A passage might never say "the man was poor", but if it describes his "worn shoes and patched coat", you can infer it. Inference is reading the clues the writer leaves and reaching the conclusion they point to. The answer is in the text, just not in plain words.

Spotting the clues

Clues come from details, actions, descriptions and word choices. A character who "slammed the door and refused to speak" gives clues about anger. Weather described as "grey and heavy" might hint at a sad or tense mood. Notice the specific details the writer includes, because they are usually there for a reason.

Drawing a sensible conclusion

From the clues, draw a conclusion that the text supports. The conclusion should not be a wild guess or your own imagination; it should be the natural reading of the clues. If several details point the same way (clock-watching, foot-tapping, nail-biting all suggest nerves), you can be confident in your inference.

Backing it with evidence

An inference answer needs evidence: point to the words or details that led you to your conclusion. "She is nervous, shown by her biting her nails and checking the clock repeatedly" is a complete answer. The conclusion alone is not enough; the evidence proves it is an inference, not a guess.

Examples in context

Example 1. Inferring a relationship. Passage: "He never looked his father in the eye and answered only in short, cold words." The reader can infer that the relationship between the son and father is tense or distant. The evidence is the avoided eye contact and the "short, cold words", which suggest discomfort even though the text does not state it.

Example 2. Inferring a mood. Passage: "The empty playground swings creaked in the wind, and not a single voice could be heard." The reader can infer a lonely or eerie mood. The evidence is the "empty" playground, the creaking swings, and the silence ("not a single voice"), which together create the suggested feeling.

Try this

• Cue. What can you infer from "He counted his coins twice before ordering the cheapest item on the menu"? That he has little money or is being careful with it, shown by counting his coins and choosing the cheapest item.

• Cue. A student answers an inference question with "She was happy" and no evidence. What is missing? The evidence: the clues from the text (such as a smile, laughter, or excited actions) that show she was happy.

• Cue. Explain why an inference must be supported by the text. An inference is a conclusion drawn from clues, not a guess; without evidence from the passage it is just an opinion and may not match what the writer suggests.