Inference and Exam Technique

<h3>Writing High-Quality Inferences</h3>

<p>A strong inference goes <em>beyond the obvious</em> to explore what a writer is communicating beneath the surface.</p>

<h3>Weak vs Strong Inference</h3>

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<tr style="background:#f0f9f4"><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Weak</th><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Strong</th></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"He is scared."</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"The phrase 'heart hammering' implies the character is gripped by fear, suggesting he has lost control of his body's response to danger."</td></tr>

</table>

<h3>Key Vocabulary for Inference</h3>

<ul>

<li><strong>suggests / implies / indicates / connotes / conveys</strong></li>

<li><strong>the reader infers / we can deduce / this reveals</strong></li>

</ul>

<h3>Exam Tips</h3>

<ul>

<li>List questions: give a minimum of 4 clear points, each on a new line</li>

<li>Inference questions: use PEE, aim for 3–4 developed points</li>

<li>Spend roughly 1 minute per mark</li>

</ul>