IELTS, Reading
IELTS Reading Short-Answer Questions
You answer questions about factual details with words copied from the passage, within a word limit.
- Skill
- Reading
- Word limit
- 2 per answer
- Part
- Reading
How Reading Short-Answer Questions is scored
One mark per correct answer. Spelling and the word limit count.
Marked against the answer key
4%of your reading score, by our estimate
How to answer Reading Short-Answer Questions
A step-by-step method you can use on every question of this type.
- 1
Underline the question word and the keywords in each question.
- 2
Scan for the keywords or their synonyms; the questions follow the passage order.
- 3
Copy the exact words that answer the question, within the limit.
Common mistakes
What costs the most marks, and what to do instead.
- Writing the answer in your own words.
- Including extra words that push you past the limit.
IELTS Reading Short-Answer Questions: common questions
How many words can you write in each Reading Short-Answer Questions answer?
No more than 2 words per answer. Going over the limit makes the answer wrong, even if it contains the right word.
How is IELTS Reading Short-Answer Questions scored?
One mark per correct answer. Spelling and the word limit count.
How many Reading Short-Answer Questions questions are in the IELTS test?
It varies. Each IELTS Reading test mixes several question types in groups of a few questions each, so this type may appear once, more than once or not at all.
How much does Reading Short-Answer Questions count towards your score?
By our estimate, about 4% of your reading score. The test provider doesn't publish exact weights, so treat this as a guide to where practice pays off.
Where can I practice IELTS Reading Short-Answer Questions for free?
On PrepScroll you can answer exam-style Reading Short-Answer Questions questions and get an instant estimated score with feedback on what to fix. It's free to start and runs in your browser.
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