R30: Short-answer questions

Short-answer questions are real questions. "When was the bridge built?" "What did the researchers measure?" You answer with a few words from the passage. They follow the order of the passage, and the question word tells you exactly what kind of answer to look for. This makes them one of the friendliest question types, if you follow three rules.

Why this matters

Short-answer questions often appear in Passage 1. They're a chance to collect quick marks before the harder passages. Students lose these marks by writing too much, or by answering a slightly different question.

Rule 1: Let the question word guide you

Rule 2: Write only the words you need

You don't need a full sentence. Just the answer, inside the word limit.

• Question: Where were the first samples found?
• Good answer: in Peru (or Peru)
• Bad answer: The first samples were found in Peru. (Too many words.)

Rule 3: Copy exactly

Use the words from the passage, spelled exactly the same.

A worked example

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990. Soon after, scientists discovered that its main mirror had a small flaw, which made images blurry. In 1993, astronauts on a repair mission fitted new optical equipment, and the telescope began sending back extremely clear pictures. Since then, it has helped astronomers estimate the age of the universe.

Answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

1. When was the telescope launched?
2. Which part of the telescope had a problem?
3. Who fixed the problem?
4. What feature of the universe has the telescope helped astronomers estimate?

1. 1990
2. (its) main mirror
3. astronauts
4. (its) age. The question already says the universe, so you don't need to write it again.

Look at question 4 again. If you had written the age of the universe, that's five words, which breaks the limit. In a real IELTS test, the correct answer always fits the limit. So if your answer is too long, you've probably copied words that are already in the question. Cut them.

Try it yourself

The festival began in 1975 as a small gathering of local musicians. Today, it attracts over 50,000 visitors each summer, mostly from neighbouring countries.

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

1. In which year did the festival start?
2. In which season is it held?
3. Where do most visitors come from?

Honest note

The question is always a paraphrase of the passage. "Who fixed the problem?" matches "astronauts... fitted new optical equipment". Don't wait for the word fixed. Look for the meaning.

Your task today

Do one short-answer block. Circle the question word in each question before you search.