Learn the 3-Step Method
1Underline the question's key words.
‘What TIME did AMARA LEAVE?’ — time, Amara, leave.
2Scan for them in the text.
Don't re-read everything — sweep for ‘Amara’, ‘left’, and numbers.
3Answer with the text's words.
7:45 — precise, brief, and provable by pointing at the line.
Worked Example
Text: ‘The lighthouse was painted red and white in 1902. Its lamp, visible for twenty miles, still turns every night.’
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Use THIS text! The answer must come from the passage in front of you, not what usually happens in stories.
Be precise! The question asked for a time — ‘7:45’ scores; copying the whole sentence wastes time and can blur the answer.
Check it matches! The text mentions the bus being late too — scan on until you find the words that answer THE question asked.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Underline the question's key words.
- Scan the text for those words (and numbers/names).
- Answer briefly with the text's own words.
- Check you can point to the proof.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Retrieval answers are stated directly in the text.
- Underline the question's key words, then scan — don't re-read everything.
- Answer briefly, using the text's words.
- Every retrieval answer should be provable by pointing at a line.
Frequently asked questions
What is a retrieval question?
One whose answer is written directly in the text — names, times, places, facts. No working out is needed, just accurate finding.
How can children find answers faster?
By scanning for the question's key words and for easy-to-spot items like capital letters and numbers, instead of re-reading the whole passage.
How long should a retrieval answer be?
As short as accuracy allows — the asked-for fact, quoted or closely paraphrased. Copying whole sentences wastes exam time.
Continue your child's learning journey
with the MindBlaze app.
Fun daily learning missions for children. Clear progress insights for parents — helping every child start secondary school ready to learn.
