IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

What Are Short Answer Questions in IELTS Reading?

In the IELTS Reading test, Short Answer Questions (SAQs) require you to write a short response — usually 1 to 3 words and/or a number — based directly on information from the passage.

These questions test your ability to:

-Understand specific information

-Locate relevant details quickly

-Recognize synonyms and paraphrases

-Follow word limit rules precisely

Step-by-Step Guide to Solve Short Answer Questions

Let’s break down the full process carefully.

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully

This is the most important step and often ignored by test-takers.

Each question set has a clear instruction such as:

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

What this means:

-You must not write more than the word limit.
Even one extra word makes your answer incorrect.

-If it says TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER, then:

You can write:
one word (e.g., “oxygen”)
two words (e.g., “solar energy”)
one word + a number (e.g., “2020 report”)

You cannot write three words or extra information.

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Step 2: Read the Questions Before the Passage

Before reading the passage in detail, look at the questions first.

Ask yourself:

-What kind of information am I looking for?
(name, place, number, reason, method, etc.)

-What are the keywords?

Example:

Question: When was the telephone invented?
Keywords: when, telephone, invented

Now you know you are looking for a year or date related to telephone invention.

This step helps you focus your reading and save time.

Step 3: Skim the Passage for General Understanding

Do a quick skim (about 1 minute) of the passage to understand:

The main topic and structure

Where each paragraph focuses (introduction, examples, data, etc.)

This gives you an idea of where to find information later.
Don’t try to understand every word; just get the main idea.

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Step 4: Scan for Keywords or Synonyms

Now, move to each question one by one.
Use scanning — that means move your eyes quickly through the passage to find your keyword or its synonym.

Important:
IELTS rarely repeats exact words from the question. They use paraphrases.

Example:
Question word: “cause”
Passage might use: “reason”, “lead to”, “result in”

Question word: “children”
Passage might use: “youngsters”, “the youth”, “school students”

So, be alert to different expressions that mean the same thing.

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Step 5: Read Around the Keyword Carefully

Once you locate the section containing your keyword or synonym:

Read the sentence before and after it.

The answer will almost always be close to that area.

Be careful — sometimes there are distractors (extra information that looks correct but isn’t).

Example:

Question: What type of fuel is used in the generator?
Passage: “Although early versions used coal, the modern generator runs on diesel.”
Answer: diesel (not coal — that’s old information)

Step 6: Select and Write Your Answer

Once you find the correct phrase:

Copy the exact words from the passage (spelling and plural forms must match).

Don’t change grammar or word form.

Don’t add unnecessary words.

Example:
Question: What type of energy is produced using sunlight?
Passage: “Solar energy is generated by converting sunlight into electricity.”
Answer: solar energy

Wrong answers:

“the solar energy” (extra word)

“energy from the sun” (paraphrased, not exact words)

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Step 7: Check Grammar and Word Limit

After writing the answer, quickly test it in the question:

Does it make sense grammatically?

Is it within the word limit?

Is the spelling correct?

If any of these are wrong, you’ll lose marks even if your idea is correct.

Example Practice (Step-by-Step)

Passage:

“Bananas were first grown in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago.
In the 15th century, Portuguese traders introduced them to Africa,
and later they reached the Americas.
Today, bananas are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the world.”

Questions:

Where were bananas first grown?

Who introduced bananas to Africa?

In which century did bananas reach Africa?

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Let’s solve step-by-step:

Q1: Where were bananas first grown?
Keyword: first grown
Passage: “Bananas were first grown in Southeast Asia…”
Answer: Southeast Asia

Q2: Who introduced bananas to Africa?
Keyword: introduced … to Africa
Passage: “Portuguese traders introduced them to Africa…”
Answer: Portuguese traders

Q3: In which century did bananas reach Africa?
Keyword: century … Africa
Passage: “In the 15th century, Portuguese traders introduced them to Africa…”
Answer: 15th century

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Writing more than the word limit
Always double-check the instruction.

Using your own words or paraphrasing
Use the exact wording from the text.

Ignoring spelling
Misspellings = wrong answers.

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

Confusing distractors
IELTS often adds extra facts to confuse you — focus on what the question asks, not everything around it.

Not checking grammar fit
Your answer should fit naturally into the question if read aloud.

Quick Practice Tips

Practice scanning and skimming regularly — these skills save time.
Learn synonyms and paraphrases commonly used in IELTS.
Always underline or highlight keywords before reading.
Manage your time — spend no more than 1 minute per question.
When unsure, make an educated guess — there’s no negative marking.

Final Summary

IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide

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IELTS Reading – Short Answer Questions Guide