Ditch Those Boring and Uninspiring Comprehension Questions
Willy A Renandya, 28 April 2025
For many English teachers in Asia, comprehension questions are a familiar and reliable tool to assess students’ understanding of a reading or listening passage.
These questions often come at the end of a lesson, after students have engaged with the text. They can range from simple, literal questions that test basic recall (lower-order thinking) to more challenging inferential questions that require deeper analysis and critical thinking (higher-order thinking).
While there is nothing wrong with using comprehension questions, it’s important to recognize that they shouldn’t be the only way we evaluate students’ understanding. In fact, relying solely on this method may limit students’ ability to express their thoughts creatively and meaningfully.
If we truly believe that students learn best when they are given choices and opportunities to demonstrate their thinking and understanding in diverse ways, then we need to explore other methods of assessing comprehension. This approach not only makes learning more engaging but also helps cater to different learning styles and abilities.
Below, we will discuss some creative and practical ways to assess comprehension beyond traditional question-and-answer formats. These ideas encourage students to think critically, use their imagination, and take ownership of their learning. But let’s first try to understand some of the problems with comprehension questions.
Why Move Beyond Bloom-Inspired Questions?
Before discussing alternatives, let’s first understand why moving beyond traditional comprehension questions is beneficial.
For one, answering questions, especially those derived from Bloom’s taxonomy, can become monotonous for students over time. When lessons feel predictable, students may lose interest or disengage.
Also, comprehension questions often focus on verbal skills, which might disadvantage students who struggle with writing or speaking but excel in other areas like art, design, or storytelling.
By using different ways of checking and supporting student comprehension, teachers give students multiple entry points to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
This approach aligns with modern educational theories that emphasize student-centred learning and differentiation.
It also fosters creativity and allows students to connect emotionally with the material, making the learning experience more meaningful and memorable.
Creative Ways to Assess Comprehension
Here are 10 creative ways to assess comprehension, along with explanations of how each activity works:
1. Draw a Picture of the Most Exciting Part
This activity invites students to reflect on the text and identify the part they found most exciting or impactful. By drawing a picture either by hand or using an AI tool, students engage their visual and imaginative skills instead of relying solely on words. Afterward, they can explain their artwork to the class, providing an opportunity for oral practice as well.
2. Use Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are excellent tools for helping students structure their thoughts visually. For example, a Venn diagram can compare two characters, while a flowchart can summarize the sequence of events in a story. These organizers allow students to showcase their comprehension in a clear and organized manner.
3. Create Questions for Classmates
Instead of answering pre-written questions, students can take on the role of “teacher” by creating their own set of questions for their peers. This encourages higher-order thinking because students must analyze the text carefully to formulate thought-provoking queries. It also promotes collaboration during group discussions.
4. Design a Poster
Posters provide a creative outlet for students to capture the main theme or message of the text. They can include key quotes, illustrations, and symbols that represent their understanding. This task appeals to artistic learners and gives them a chance to display their work proudly. Students can use freely available poster makers e.g., https://www.canva.com/create/posters/ to create their artwork.
5. Write a Short Poem
Writing a five-line poem challenges students to distill their comprehension into concise yet expressive language. Poetry allows for flexibility, so even students who aren’t confident writers can experiment with rhythm, rhyme, and imagery to convey their thoughts. Students can use Apple’s poem maker to make the work more exciting – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-poem-writing-poem-generator/id6470615961
6. Write a Different Ending
Rewriting the ending of a story encourages students to think critically about cause-and-effect relationships within the narrative. What would happen if the protagonist made a different choice? How would this change the outcome? This exercise sharpens analytical skills and sparks creativity.
7. Transform Key Features of the Story
In this activity, students alter specific elements of the story, such as switching the gender of a character, changing the setting, or modifying the plot. For instance, what if the story took place in a futuristic city instead of a small village? Transforming these features helps students explore how context influences meaning.
8. Create a Digital Story
With access to technology, students can create digital stories using apps or software like PowerPoint, Canva, or video editing tools. A digital story combines visuals, text, and audio to retell or interpret the original text. This option is particularly appealing to tech-savvy students and those interested in multimedia projects.
9. Make a Collage
A collage is another visually engaging way for students to express their comprehension. Using magazine cutouts, printed images, or hand-drawn sketches, students piece together a representation of the text’s themes or events. This tactile activity supports kinesthetic learners and encourages symbolic thinking.
10. Role-Play or Act Out Scenes
Drama-based activities bring the text to life. Students can act out scenes from the story, either verbatim or with slight modifications. Role-playing builds confidence in public speaking and teamwork while deepening their connection to the material.
More Ideas to Consider
If you’re looking for even more ways to diversify your comprehension assessments, here are a few additional suggestions:
- Mind Maps : Similar to graphic organizers, mind maps help students brainstorm and organize their ideas around central concepts.
- Character Profiles : Have students write detailed profiles for the main characters, including traits, motivations, and relationships.
- News Report : Students pretend to be journalists reporting on an event from the text. This could involve writing an article or presenting live updates.
- Comic Strip : Turning the story into a comic strip lets students condense the plot into key moments while adding humor or drama through dialogue bubbles.
- Letter Writing : Ask students to write a letter from one character to another, expressing their feelings or explaining their actions.
Benefits of Diversified Assessment Methods
Using a mix of these activities offers many advantages. First, it caters to different learning preferences; visual, verbal, kinesthetic, and more. Second, it reduces pressure on students who may find traditional question-and-answer formats intimidating. Third, it fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their work, especially when they see their creations displayed or shared with classmates.
Moreover, these activities promote 21st-century skills such as creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. By stepping outside the confines of rote memorization and regurgitation, students develop a deeper, more holistic understanding of the material.
Conclusion
As English teachers in Asia, we play a crucial role in enhancing our students’ language abilities and nurturing their love for reading. Research clearly shows that reading is one of the best ways to develop overall language proficiency, as it enriches vocabulary, refines grammar, and strengthens comprehension skills. While comprehension questions are undeniably valuable, broadening our range of assessment methods can increase students’ learning experience and motivation.
When students find reading lessons truly enjoyable, they are more likely to engage in independent pleasure reading outside the classroom. Over time, this helps them build a lifelong reading habit that not only supports their language growth but also boosts their overall proficiency.