IELTS Reading Short-Answer Questions: Strategy, Traps and Practice

Short-answer questions ask direct questions about the passage, usually starting with what, which, where, when, who or how many. You answer with words from the passage, within a word limit such as NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

They appear in both Academic and General Training Reading, and are especially common with factual texts such as reports, notices and instructions.

What it tests

• Locating specific facts: names, numbers, dates, places, objects.
• Understanding question words and what kind of answer they require.
• Accuracy with word limits, spelling and numbers.

Step-by-step strategy

1. Read the instructions and note the word limit.
2. Underline the question word. When needs a time, where a place, how many a number, what usually a thing.
3. Underline the key words and think of possible paraphrases.
4. Locate the area in the passage. Questions follow passage order.
5. Find the exact words that answer the question. Leave out words that the question already contains.
6. Copy them exactly, spelled as in the passage.
7. Count the words. Numbers written as figures count separately from words, according to the instructions.

Common traps

• Answering a different question word. Writing a place when the question asks when, or a reason when it asks what.
• Repeating the question. Including words that are already in the question pushes you over the limit.
• The first number you see. A passage often contains several numbers. Check which one matches the exact claim in the question, such as a total rather than a figure for one group.
• Per item vs total. The passage gives a price per person and a price for a group; the question asks for only one of them.
• Spelling and form. A misspelled answer, or a synonym instead of the passage's word, earns no mark. See IELTS answer rules.

Try it: mini-example

This passage is original practice material written for Bee English.

Riverside Community Garden: information for new members

Membership costs £24 a year, or £40 for a family of up to four people. Each member is given a raised bed and access to the shared tool shed. The shed is unlocked on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm; at weekends, members must collect a key from the site manager. All members are asked to help with one group work day each season, when paths are cleared and compost is turned.

Answer the questions. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

1. How much does a single person pay per year?
2. What does each member receive to grow plants in?
3. Who must members contact to use the shed at the weekend?
4. How often are members expected to take part in a group work day?

Answers and explanations

1. £24. £40 is the family price. This is the per item vs total trap.
2. (a) raised bed. The tool shed is also mentioned, but it is shared and is not for growing plants.
3. (the) site manager. The question asks who, so the answer is a person, not a key. This is the answering a different question word trap.
4. each season. The passage says "one group work day each season". One group work day each season is too long and repeats the question's words.

Related guides

• IELTS Reading: complete guide
• Sentence completion
• Answer rules: word limits, spelling and numbers
• Listening short-answer questions

Sources

• IELTS, Academic Reading format and question types
• IELTS, General Training Reading format