Short-answer questions ask you to find specific information in a passage and respond within a stated word limit. They may look familiar, but small details in the wording can make the difference between a correct and incorrect answer.
Common Challenges
- Paraphrasing: The passage may express an idea with different words from the question. Searching only for exact matches can waste time.
- Word limits: Answers that exceed the stated limit may be marked incorrect.
- Reading efficiently: You usually need to locate relevant details, not understand every word in the passage.
- Unfamiliar vocabulary: Do not spend too long worrying about one unknown word. Use the surrounding information to work out what matters.
- Writing too much: Short answers do not need to be full sentences unless the instructions ask for them.
What These Questions Test
You need to understand what each question asks, locate the relevant part of the passage, and recognize when the passage uses a synonym or a different phrase to express the same idea.
Tips
- Read the instructions and check the word limit.
- Read each question before searching the passage.
- Identify the key information the question asks for.
- Think of words or phrases that could express that information in another way.
- Scan the passage for the relevant section, then read that section carefully.
- Use information from the passage. Do not add your own opinion.
- Keep your answer within the word limit. Use a short phrase if the instructions allow it.
Questions often follow the order of the information in the passage, which can help you locate each answer.
A Step-by-Step Approach
- Check the instructions and word limit.
- Read the questions and note what information each one requires.
- Mark key words in the questions.
- Think of possible synonyms or paraphrases.
- Scan for the section related to the first question.
- Reread the question and confirm what it asks.
- Read the relevant lines closely and select the answer.
- Repeat for the remaining questions.