Using the Four Levels of Questioning to Build Stronger EFL Readers

Developing reading comprehension in the EFL classroom requires much more than vocabulary practice or grammar explanations. To help learners truly understand a text, teachers need strategies that promote deeper thinking, engagement, and meaningful language use. One highly effective framework is the Four Levels of Questioning—Robot, Detective, Judge, and Inventor.

Although not part of Bloom’s Taxonomy, these four levels align closely with Bloom’s hierarchy of cognitive skills, making them a practical tool for EFL teachers who want to build higher-order thinking skills while strengthening English proficiency.

Robot questions form the foundation. These basic recall questions—Who? What? When? Where?—support the Remembering and Understanding stages of Bloom’s Taxonomy. For English learners, this stage ensures comprehension of essential information and key vocabulary before moving on to more complex tasks. This makes Robot questions ideal for early stages of reading comprehension activities.

Detective questions encourage students to infer meaning, interpret clues, and make predictions. These tasks correspond to Bloom’s Applying and Analyzing levels and are especially useful for helping EFL learners move beyond literal meaning. By answering Detective questions, students begin to engage in critical thinking in the EFL classroom, strengthening both comprehension and confidence.

Judge questions invite learners to express personal opinions, evaluate characters’ actions, or analyze the author’s message. This aligns with the Evaluating stage of Bloom’s Taxonomy. For EFL teachers, Judge questions are a powerful tool for promoting authentic communication, as students justify their ideas using English in meaningful, real-world ways.

Inventor questions represent the highest level of thinking. Connected to Bloom’s Creating stage, these questions encourage imagination and problem-solving: students redesign story events, propose new solutions, or explore “what if” scenarios. This level supports creative thinking in language learning, allowing EFL students to use English flexibly and confidently.

By using all four levels, teachers can design scaffolded reading activities that start with accessible comprehension questions and gradually build toward analysis, evaluation, and creativity. This approach not only boosts reading comprehension—it also fosters independent thinking, engagement, and strong language development.

Whether you’re teaching young learners or adults, the Four Levels of Questioning offer a practical, classroom-friendly framework for transforming reading into a dynamic and meaningful experience for your EFL students.