Short Answer is a digital assessment tool or question type in many learning platforms (such as Google Forms, LMS systems, or formative-assessment apps) that allows students to type a brief, open-ended response (usually a few words to a sentence or two). Unlike multiple-choice questions, Short Answer responses let students:  Express answers in their own words, demonstrate conceptual understanding or explanations, provide partial credit or nuanced responses, engage in more critical thinking and writing practice

Teachers can review all student responses, look for patterns in thinking or misconceptions, and provide targeted feedback. Because the responses are more open-ended, some tools offer features such as answer key matching, keyword detection, or manual review by the instructor.