📖 Reading Comprehension & Test Prep · Lesson 5 of 6
Written answers with RACE
A complete, supported and short answer.
RACE
| R — Restate | Turn the question into the start of your answer |
|---|---|
| A — Answer | Answer every part of the question |
| C — Cite | Quote or point to evidence from the text |
| E — Explain | Show how the evidence proves your answer |
An example
Question: “How does Leo change in the story?” Answer: “Leo changes from being afraid of the water to feeling brave. (R+A) At first, ‘he wouldn’t even dip his toes in the lake’ (paragraph 2), but at the end he ‘jumped off the dock, laughing’ (paragraph 9). (C) This shows that with his sister’s help, Leo overcame his fear. (E)”
Useful sentence starters
| Cite | “In paragraph 3, the author states…” / “According to the text…” |
|---|---|
| Explain | “This shows that…” / “This proves… because…” |
| Two parts | “First… Also…” |
Check before moving on
- Did I answer every part of the question?
- Is there a quote or specific evidence?
- Did I explain the evidence?
- Complete sentences, capital letters and periods?
Tip
💡 Count the parts of the question. “Explain how and why” is two parts — and needs two answers.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Pick a question from a reading passage
- Write an answer with RACE and label each part R, A, C, E
- Use one sentence starter from the table
- Check with the 4-point checklist
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Reading Comprehension & Test Prep
- 🎯 1. Read with a purposePeek at the questions first, then read
- 🔎 2. Finding details in the textQuestions whose answer is written right there
- 🕵️ 3. Making inferencesWhen the answer isn’t written, but you can figure it out
- 💡 4. Main idea and titleWhat the whole text is about, in one sentence
- ✍️ 5. Written answers with RACEA complete, supported and short answer
- 📝 6. Test dayTime, order, multiple choice and a final check