English Reading: Intensive Training

Reading comprehension training for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, organised by type of text. Method slides and an explained passage first, then practice passages at two levels – Standard and Higher Level. Access lasts 6 months from the day you enrol.

50 passages

Stories, classic extracts, poems, information texts, travel memoirs, letters and articles

Method & explanations

Slides and step-by-step explanations for every type of text

2 levels

Standard and Higher Level practice sets

228 questions

Every answer explained with evidence from the text

Choose a topic

Reading comprehension training for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, organised by type of text. Every unit has two levels of practice – Standard and Higher Level:

  • MethodSlides on how this kind of text works, the questions you will meet, a step-by-step method and the common traps.
  • Explained questionsOne passage worked through: after every answer you see the evidence from the text, the explanation and the method.
  • Practice sets (Standard)Two passages per set. Get one right and you move straight on; get one wrong and you see the correct answer, the evidence and the explanation at once. The sets unlock one at a time: finish a set and the next one opens.
  • Higher LevelLonger, harder passages, including classic extracts and poems, with their own method slides and explained passage. The Higher Level sets unlock once you have finished the Standard practice sets of the same unit.

The passage stays at the top of every question, so you can check the text as you answer. Finished sets show ✓ Done, so you can tick them off like a daily check-in.

StoriesStories and classic extracts: follow the plot, read the characters’ feelings and explain why things happen.11 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 110 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 210 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 310 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 410 questions · 2 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 110 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 210 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 315 questions · 3 passagesStart
Poems & Information TextsA short poem with an information text: techniques, the writer’s purpose, the order of events and the main idea.9 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 28 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 38 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 412 questions · 3 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart
Travel MemoirsFirst-person journeys: find details fast and work out how the writer felt, and why.7 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 212 questions · 3 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart
Letters & Non-fictionPersuasive letters, articles, diaries and speeches: follow the argument and spot how the writer persuades.7 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart
Practice Set 28 questions · 2 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart
Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart
Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart