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All 14 Flashcards — Short answer
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Question
What is a short-answer question?
Answer
A question you answer in a few words of English — not a sentence — giving the correct, relevant detail.
Question
What is a short answer marked on?
Answer
The correct, relevant content — NOT essay style, length, or perfect grammar.
Question
What is 'the detail' in a listening question?
Answer
The single piece of information the question asks you to give.
Question
What are the 'key word(s)' in a short answer?
Answer
The one or two words you note down as the answer.
Question
Does 'By bus' score as well as 'She goes to school by bus'?
Answer
Yes — a few correct words score full marks; the full sentence adds nothing.
Question
What does it mean to 'skim the question' first?
Answer
To read the question quickly before listening, so you know exactly what detail to listen for.
Question
What does 'precise' mean for a short answer?
Answer
Exactly to the point — only the detail the question asks for, nothing extra.
Question
How many times do you hear each Paper 2 listening clip?
Answer
Twice — use the second play to confirm or fill any gaps.
Question
What is the five-step short-answer technique?
Answer
Read the question → Listen for that detail → Note the key word(s) → Write a short, precise answer → Check it answers the question.
Question
Why is a short answer safer than a long one?
Answer
The shorter the answer, the less chance of including something wrong that cancels the mark — give the detail and stop.
Question
Why is copying a long chunk of the recording risky?
Answer
The mark is for the precise detail; a long chunk may not answer the question and buries the relevant point.
Question
What is the most common lost mark in short answers?
Answer
Answering a DIFFERENT question — a correct fact that doesn't answer what was actually asked scores nothing.
Question
How does the wh- question word help you?
Answer
It tells you what kind of detail to give: who → a person, when → a time, where → a place, why → a reason, how → a manner/means.
Question
Should you ever leave a short answer blank?
Answer
Never — you hear each recording twice, so use the second listen to fill every gap; a blank scores zero.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Short answer
Topic 5.2 hub
Listening skills
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English B exam skills
Paper structures & tips
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