The Broader the Better

Michael Buckingham Gray • November 17, 2023

Essential to Read Widely


When parents ask what the reading comprehension component of the GATE test is like, I reply that it is broad. Very broad!

The Department of Education in its official GATE Parent Presentation indicates that students may be tested on their ability to “understand and interpret a range of texts, which may include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama, together with diagrams, tables, charts or maps.”

Compare this to what the government post on their website of what Year Sevens may be tested on for NAPLAN - just non-fiction – and the difference could not be starker.

The message, then, is clear. The earlier GATE students interact with a wide range of texts, the better.

Parents can assist their children by buying poetry, or by discussing tables and charts the next time they appear in the newspaper. Parents can also help their children by booking them into Intuition’s GATE preparation classes - classes that will give an overview of all these texts and broaden their comprehension skills.

By Michael Buckingham Gray November 13, 2025
Not All Tutoring Is Created Equal — Here’s What Parents Must Know 
A person is holding a diploma with a red ribbon around it.
By Intuition Educational Support June 14, 2025
Why independent, teacher-led tutoring matters more than ever.
An aerial view of a winding road through a forest.
By Intuition Educational Support May 16, 2025
The Intuition Approach to Coaching, Mentorship, and Growth
A silhouette of a person climbing a rock wall at sunset.
By Trish Baran April 16, 2025
Why Starting Early Makes All the Difference for Gifted and Talented Success
A stack of books with one being open
By Intuition Educational Support March 16, 2025
Preparing for Selective School Placements and Private School Scholarships
A black and white pencil is broken in half
By Michael Buckingham Gray January 21, 2025
Opposites
By Michael Buckingham Gray December 15, 2024
Rewarding the Courage to Explore
By Michael Buckingham Gray September 3, 2024
Creative Writers Still Needed
By Trish Baran August 24, 2024
Why We Need To Sleep
By Trish Baran August 24, 2024
The Power of Curiosity