Article
Reading comprehension questions sometimes require you to identify information that the author suggests without stating directly. This skill is called making an inference. For students preparing for the HESI A2 exam, understanding how to draw reasonable conclusions from short passages can improve accuracy on questions about meaning, character behavior, and implied information.
1. Understand what an inference is
An inference is a conclusion based on available information and reasoning. Consider this sentence: Jordan checked the weather forecast, packed an umbrella, and placed a raincoat beside the door. The passage does not explicitly say that Jordan expects rain. However, the details suggest that Jordan is preparing for wet weather. That is a reasonable inference because it follows from the information provided. An inference is different from a guess. A guess may rely mainly on personal beliefs, while a good inference is supported by specific clues in the text.
2. Separate explicit information from implied meaning
Explicit information is stated directly. Implied information must be worked out from the passage. For example: Maria arrived at the classroom early and arranged her notes before the instructor entered. The passage explicitly tells you that Maria arrived early and arranged her notes. You might infer that she wanted to prepare for the lesson, but you cannot conclude with certainty that she was anxious, unless additional evidence supports that interpretation. Distinguishing what the author states from what you infer helps prevent overinterpretation.
3. Look for multiple clues
A strong inference often depends on more than one detail. Suppose a passage says: After the announcement, several students began whispering, while others opened their notebooks and started writing down dates. You might infer that the announcement contained information students considered important. The whispering and note-taking provide clues, although the passage does not establish exactly what each student thought. When possible, combine related details rather than relying on a single word.
4. Use the passage instead of outside assumptions
Your background knowledge can help you understand a passage, but it should not replace textual evidence. For example, if a passage describes someone carrying books into a building, you cannot automatically conclude that the person is a teacher. The person could be a student, librarian, or visitor. Choose the interpretation that is supported by the passage, not the one that seems most familiar.
5. Eliminate unsupported answer choices
Some reading questions include options that sound possible but require information the passage never provides. Imagine a passage describing a person repeatedly checking a train timetable and looking toward the station entrance. A reasonable inference is that the person is waiting for a train or someone arriving by train. An answer claiming the person is traveling to another city may go too far unless the passage includes that detail. Ask yourself whether each answer follows logically from the evidence or introduces a new assumption.
6. Pay attention to tone and context
Word choice can help you infer how a person feels or how an author views a subject. If a passage describes a character as sighing, speaking quietly, and avoiding eye contact after receiving disappointing news, it may suggest that the character is upset. However, individual behaviors can have multiple explanations. Use the overall context and the wording of the question to determine the most defensible interpretation.
7. Use a three-step inference method
When practicing, follow this process: 1. Identify the important details in the passage. 2. Ask what those details suggest when considered together. 3. Check that your conclusion does not go beyond the available evidence. After selecting an answer, point to the words or sentences that support it. If you cannot identify supporting details, reconsider the choice.
Strengthen your HESI reading skills
Practice with short passages and write one inference after each reading. Then identify the clues that support your conclusion. Review incorrect answers by asking whether you overlooked a clue, confused an explicit fact with an inference, or made an assumption that the text did not support.
