Here is an overview for IELTS reading Short Answer Questions:

Short Answer Questions are a type of question that require you to locate answers in the passage and write them using words from the passage.

In this task, candidates are given a set of questions that require them to provide short, factual answers. The answers must be no more than three words long and must be taken directly from the passage. Candidates must read the questions carefully and locate the relevant information in the passage to answer them correctly.

You should skim read the passage and then spend time preparing the questions. Pay attention to question words which will help you understand what type of words you need for your answer.

You are given a word limit (for example: write no more than three words) and you should not exceed it. Even if your answer is logically correct, but number of words exceeds the limit, it achieves 0 points.

The answers for Short Answer Questions always come in order in the passage. You can use this to help you find the relevant paragraph and use key words to navigate.

The questions or statements are not simply copied from the text, but they keep the initial meaning and contain some key words2. If the text introduces new terms, some answers are likely to be among them.

How to solve the module

Here is a step by step guide on how to solve IELTS reading Short Answer Questions:

1. Read the questions and underline key words. Key words are the important words that help you understand the focus of the question. Key words include names, places and figures, as well as nouns, verbs and adjectives. For Short Answer Questions, it’s also very important to look at the question word(s) at the start of the question.
2. Skim over the text. Get a general idea of what the text is about and where you can find the relevant information for each question. The answers are most likely to appear in the text in the same order as the questions.
3. Find the paragraph that contains the answer. Use key words to navigate and locate the paragraph that is likely to contain the answer for each question. You can also use synonyms or paraphrases of key words to help you find similar expressions in the text13.
4. Read attentively the paragraph you’ve found. Search for the answer by matching the meaning and context of the question with the text. Pay attention to details and specific information that can answer the question.
5. Write your answer using words from the passage. Make sure your answer does not exceed the word limit and follows the instructions. Check your spelling and grammar carefully. You can write your answer in capital letters to ensure precision and consistency.

Example of the module

Expert tips for the module

Here are some tips and tricks for IELTS Reading Short Answer Questions:

• Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.
• Understand the questions (which means you exactly know what you’re looking for).
• Underline the keywords in the given questions on the question paper1.
• While reading a passage, one should be clear whether the meaning of a particular word is really important to answer the question or not. If not, just move on.
• Make sure that your answer doesn’t exceed the word limit.
• The order of questions can help you. Answer for question 4 will be between answers for questions 3 and 5 in the text.
• You will find answers in order