What Are Short Answer Questions?

In this question type, you’ll be asked to answer questions using information from the reading passage, typically in no more than three words and/or a number.

The answers:

Must come directly from the text
Must follow the word limit exactly
Often require names, numbers, dates, locations, or factual detail

Unlike multiple choice or sentence completion, this type asks you to construct the answer yourself using precise words from the passage.

What are Examiner Testing?

This question tests your ability to:

Find specific factual details
Understand direct questions
Identify and extract answers quickly
Follow word count and grammar accuracy

Common Mistakes Students Make

Writing more words than allowed
Paraphrasing instead of copying from the text
Adding unnecessary filler (e.g. “The answer is…”)
Choosing too general answers
Spelling or grammar mistakes

Step-by-Step Strategy

Step 1: Read the Question Carefully
- Underline the question word:
  - Who? (person)
  - What? (thing, action)
  - Where? (place)
  - When? (time)
  - How many/much? (number)
Step 2: Predict the Type of Answer
- Before reading, ask: Is the answer likely to be a name? Date? Number? Place?
Step 3: Locate Keywords in the Passage
- Use keywords from the question to scan the relevant part of the text.
Step 4: Copy the Answer Exactly
- Make sure:
  - It’s within the word limit
  - It answers the exact question
  - It’s spelled correctly
  - It makes sense grammatically

Cambridge-Style Example with Explanation

Passage:

Mount Everest was first successfully climbed in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Since then, thousands have reached its summit, though the journey remains extremely dangerous. Climbers often face harsh weather and low oxygen levels.

Short Answer Questions

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

1. Who was one of the first climbers to reach the top of Everest?

2. In which year was Everest first summited?

3. What environmental challenge do climbers face?

Show Answer

Answers:

Tenzing Norgay (or Edmund Hillary)
1953
low oxygen

Band 5 vs Band 8 Thinking

Uses own words	Copies answer exactly from passage
Exceeds word limit	Checks and counts each word
Skips scanning	Locates keywords efficiently
Guesses based on logic	Finds evidence in the passage

Common Traps to Avoid

Trap	How to Avoid
Too many words	Follow the word limit exactly
Grammar mismatch	Ensure the answer fits grammatically
Copying unrelated text	Check meaning carefully
Changing word form	Use the word as it appears in the passage

Quick Tips – Do vs Don’t

Do	Don’t
Focus on the question word	Ignore if it says “Who”, “Where”, etc.
Use exact words from the text	Paraphrase the idea
Count words and numbers	Write a full sentence or guess
Check spelling	Miss obvious typos or plural forms

Mini Practice Quiz

Paragraph:

Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes for her research on radioactivity. She was born in Poland but conducted most of her work in France. She is best known for discovering radium and polonium.

Instructions: Answer the following using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

1. Where was Marie Curie born?

2. What element did she discover along with polonium?

3. How many Nobel Prizes did she win?

Show Answer

Answers:

Poland
radium
two

Related Resources

📘 Sentence Completion →
🧠 Skimming and Scanning Skills →
📊 Band Score Calculator →
📄 Next: Matching Headings →

Final Advice from Your Tutor

Short Answer questions look simple — but they demand accuracy, not assumption.
You must find the exact phrase, obey the word limit, and think logically.
If your answer is “almost right,” you’ll still lose marks.
“Precision beats speed in this task. Slow down, think clearly, and double-check before writing.”