Comprehension - worksheets

This page on comprehension begins with development of reading, and moves to writing and the understanding of the written word. All reading relies on comprehension to enjoy and understand the written word. It is also essential to ensure that children increase their spoken and written vocabulary. Comprehension exercises ensure that this is developed and that children get the most out of their reading. It is good if children can be encouraged to question and analyse any passage whether in a book, on the computer, DS or any other electronic device that they might read. The papers below help develop all of the above skills as well as hopefully giving children enjoyment!

When reading a story to children it is always useful for adults to ask children a couple of questions about the book. For example, 'Did you enjoy that story?' or  'Would you like to go into space?... go to the seaside?', or other question relevant to the storyline. Children usually ask questions incessantly so try encouraging them to use this as a method of developing comprehension.

See also:
Comprehension worksheets at Key stage 3 (KS3)
Comprehension eBook

For all our pages and worksheets on English, including teaching methods explained, please see the menu on the right. Links to most of the worksheets below will be active only if you are logged in as a subscriber to Parents in Touch (i.e. not if you are a guest or registered user).

Tips on comprehension	Help your child with reading comprehension Free Download	Help with comprehension Free Download

Comprehension Key stage 1 (KS1)

English exercise for ks1	KS1 English revision paper - Giant	Hetty Hen the teacher Free Download	Mummy and Poppy -comprehension
Learning to write in sentences	Surprise KS1 SATS type paper

It may be necessary to spend some time to discuss ideas before starting work! This is fun and the children feel very proud of the outcomes. 'Help your child with comprehension' is written to give parents suggestions, explanations and information as to how children will be expected to work in school. Developing comprehension and understanding needs to be approached in a logical and varied manner. All the pages featured here include some ideas to help and inspire your child.

Reading and questions for KS1	Key stage 1 reading tasks	Rainbows revision passage	Teaching comprehension
Year 2 reading test	KS1 English revision comprehension	Marty and the snowman- comprehension	Key stage 1 English paper The seashore Free Download
Working with others	Comprehension Winnie-the-Pooh Year 2 Free Download	Lost sheep	The tortoise and the hare-comprehension
The Emperor's new clothes-comprehension	The space adventure comprehension	The enchanted forest KS1 comprehension	Florence Nightingale - Y2 comprehension
Comprehension & question paper for Year 2 Free Download	Zoo Girl - thoughts on being alone Free Download	Sometimes by Rebecca Elliott	One way the tortoise got his shell
The lost kitten comprehension & thoughts	Frog information comprehension

We have arranged these passages as graded comprehension to help you find an appropriate level for your child.

How does it grow- comprehension	The boy and the llama
The sled race-KS2 comprehension	Why does the sky look so far away	Chipmunk and the animals Key stage 2 comprehension

Comprehension Key stage 2 (KS2)

Remember age groups may overlap. It is always a good idea to start with a passage which is easy. This builds confidence and stimulates interest.

Comprehension skills for KS2 Free Download	Comprehension for KS2 light bulb	April Fools' Day KS2 English revision	English topics for revision key stage 2
English thoughts for revision at KS2 Free Download	Brighten up your writing Free Download	English comprehension for level 3 SATS	Reading task for Year 5 - nose bleeds
KS2 English comprehension and essay revision	Books are great	Comprehension Key stage 2 Erastus	Carving your way to fame
Year 3 English practice	The thunderstorm	Revision English KS2 comprehension	Year 3 comprehension
Year 4 optional reading task	Comprehension for KS2 three men	Sample English 11+paper	Wild stories-comprehension
English questions for 11	Comprehension passages	Comprehension 1 with inferred questions	Comprehension passages for Year 6
Sumerians and comprehension	Comprehension passages Year 6 no 3	Comprehension passages for Year 6 no 2	Tips on comprehension
Coastguards comprehension	Comprehension - factual writing Free Download	Comprehension - Owl and the pussycat	Waiting - Year 3 and 4 comprehension
Comprehension Years 3 & 4 - Family	Trouble in the kitchen at Jupiter	Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2 Free Download	Comprehension factual writing Years 3/4
Pirates - comprehension Free Download	Constellations Free Download	The Twelve Labours of Heracles	How the whale got his throat comprehension
The Secret Garden comprehension	Comprehension Y6 Way through the woods	Comprehension butterflies Year 5	The Thief Year 5 & 6 comprehension
Reading comprehension spiders KS2	The rainmaker comprehension for KS2	Comprehension on penguins	Baboons comprehension
Comprehension Alice in Wonderland KS2	Comprehension symbols at Olympic Games	Owls Year 5 comprehension	Kidnapped Year 6 comprehension
Comprehension How the camel KS2	Nonsense poems Lear + comprehension	Poster for comprehension stages	Timmy in space comprehension Y3 Free Download

How the fir tree became the Xmas tree	Little Piccola's first Xmas Y6 comprehension	The Little Shepherd Y3 & 4 comprehension	Comprehension on London Zoo
Treasure in the house Y4 comprehension Free Download	Comprehension on the Olympics Y3 and 4	Comprehension a boring man Y3 and 4	Girl who got bigger comprehension Y5 and 6
Famous Britons reading comprehension Y3	Reading a map	Reading comprehension playground signs Y3	Short comprehension passages 1 Y3 and 4
Thoughts on The Owl and the Pussycat Y6	Comprehension passages for Years 5 and 6	The story of Tom Thumb comprehension	Comprehension passages for Years 3 and 4 Free Download
Fact or opinion	Comprehension on a new popular hobby

The art of shopping	The princess and the pea	The bat and the weasel	Boy by Roald Dahl + Comprehension
Year 3 optional English reading paper	A Pacific island	Mercury and the axe-comprehension	Short comprehension passages for Year 6
KS2 English SATS-type Animals	Year 6 English revision paper a	Year 6 English revision paper b	Play: The mouse wedding

Reading stories to children helps concentration and imagination. We have included some fiction passages from well known books to encourage reading and understanding.Many of these include comprehension passages and tests. More on the Using the library pages and on the Worksheet Finder.

Harry Potter	The machine gunners	Lord of the flies	Charlotte's web
The wreck of the Zanzibar	Bill's new frock Free Download	Charlie and the chocolate factory Free Download	Cliffhanger
Jabberwocky	Katie Morag Free Download	Grandpa Chatterji	Goodnight Mr Tom
Tom's midnight garden	Anthony Browne	Hans Christian Andersen	Carrie's War
Alice in Wonderland topic	The midnight fox	The angel of Nitshill Road	Boy by Roald Dahl + Comprehension
Aesop's fables Free Download	Kit's wilderness	The adventures of Tom Sawyet	The Railway Children
There's a boy in the girls' bathroom

Comprehension worksheets at Key stage 3 (KS3)