3.4. Answer Rules for Every Question
Stop losing marks on answers you already knew were right.
The short version
The word limit is part of the mark, not a suggestion.
Copy words from the text exactly as they appear.
A misspelled answer scores zero.
Never leave a box empty.
The word limit is part of the mark
Instructions such as NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS are a rule. An answer that goes over scores nothing, even when the right word is inside it. Count your words before you type.
Side by side
Limit: ONE WORD. The text says a stone bridge. You type bridge. One mark.
Limit: ONE WORD. You type stone bridge. Zero, even though bridge is in there.
Copy the word, do not improve it
When an answer comes from the text, take it exactly as it appears. Your own synonym is wrong even when it means the same thing, because the marker is checking against the text's word.
Spelling counts
Your answer is marked on what you actually typed. Harbour typed as habor is a wrong answer. Since the word is on the screen in front of you, copying it carefully is free marks.
Step by step, before you type anything
- 1Read the instruction line
It carries the word limit for that whole group of questions.
- 2Count the words in your answer
Numbers and hyphenated words have their own rules, but the count is what matters most.
- 3Copy the spelling from the text
Letter by letter. Do not trust your memory of the word.
- 4Check the box is not empty
If you have nothing, put your best guess in. Nothing is taken off.
Quiz time3 questions
Three questions on the rules that apply everywhere.
Over the limit
The limit is ONE WORD. The text reads: the path crosses the river by a stone bridge.
Which answer scores the mark?
Your word or theirs
The text says the water is cleaned by a planted margin.
Which answer should you type in a completion gap?
Spelling
Choose what happens to a misspelled answer.
What happens if you spell an answer wrongly?
Recap
The word limit is a rule. Going over scores zero.
Copy words from the text exactly, including the spelling.
Never leave a box empty.
Next: the question types themselves, and how each one works.