RACE and CER: how to write a good short answer
Short-answer questions ask a child to answer a question about a text in a few sentences. Two simple structures, RACE and CER, give them a pattern to follow so the answer is complete and supported by the text.
RACE
Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain.
- Restate: turn the question into the start of your answer.
- Answer: give your answer clearly.
- Cite: back it up with evidence from the text, using a quote or close detail.
- Explain: say how the evidence proves your answer.
A worked example
Question: Why did Mia hide the letter?
- Restate: Mia hid the letter because
- Answer: she did not want her brother to read it.
- Cite: The text says she "slid it under her pillow the moment she heard footsteps".
- Explain: This shows she was worried about being caught, so she wanted to keep it secret.
CER
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning. It is the same idea in three steps and is often used in older years and in science.
- Claim: your answer in one sentence.
- Evidence: the fact, quote or detail that supports it.
- Reasoning: the link that explains why the evidence supports the claim.
Which one to use
Use whichever your child's school uses. RACE suits younger students because the first step, restating the question, gets them started. CER suits older students who are ready to think more about the reasoning step.
Common mistakes
- Skipping Explain or Reasoning. A quote on its own is not an answer.
- Quotes that are too long. Choose the few words that prove the point.
- Evidence that does not match the claim. Ask: does this really show what I said?
Where it shows up in LiteracyLab AI
On Premium, the reading practice includes one short written answer marked out of two or three with the reason. The structure it teaches is RACE for primary and middle years and CER for high school, and you can see which parts the student used.
Common questions
How long should a short answer be?
Two to four sentences is usual. It is long enough to cover each step and short enough to finish in the time.
Do I mark it myself?
Yes, at home you can check each step in turn: did they restate, answer, cite and explain?
Get feedback on your child's writing
LiteracyLab AI reads a child's own writing and gives specific feedback: what worked, one thing to try next, and a corrected version, matched to their year and curriculum. The Free plan includes 3 pieces a month and needs no card.