What Short Answer questions test
This type tests scanning for specific factual detail — names, numbers, places, things — and your ability to extract a precise answer without exceeding the word limit or changing the words.
Step-by-step strategy
- 1Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- 2Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
- 3Scan the passage — questions usually follow passage order — for the sentence that answers the question.
- 4Copy the answer straight from the text; do not paraphrase, and do not add extra words that push you over the limit.
- 5Check your spelling and that the answer grammatically fits the question, since misspelled answers are marked wrong.
Common traps to avoid
- Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
- Rephrasing the answer in your own words instead of using the passage’s exact words.
- Copying a misspelling or transcribing a number incorrectly.
- Choosing the first keyword match without checking it actually answers the specific question asked.
Timing advice
These are quick marks — aim for well under a minute each. Bank the time you save here for the slower Matching Information questions elsewhere in the paper.