Answer the Following Questions Briefly NCERT/CBSE VSA Solutions

Every student who’s opened an NCERT textbook has run into this line at least a hundred times: answer the following question briefly. It looks simple enough on the page, but ask any teacher checking exam papers and they’ll tell you the same thing: most marks aren’t lost because students don’t know the answer. They’re lost because the answer is either too long, too vague, or missing the one keyword the examiner was actually looking for.

Very Short Answer (VSA) questions, the ones that carry this exact instruction, are worth fewer marks than long-answer questions, but they add up fast across a paper. A student who consistently loses half a mark here and a mark there on VSA questions can end up several marks short overall not because they didn’t know the content, but because they didn’t know how to write it briefly and correctly. This guide breaks down exactly what examiners expect when a question says answer the following question briefly, along with practical tips and solved examples across common CBSE subjects.

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What Does "Answer the Following Question Briefly" Actually Mean?

In CBSE and NCERT exam papers, this instruction usually applies to questions worth 1 to 2 marks. It’s asking for a direct, to-the-point response, not a detailed explanation, not multiple examples, and definitely not a paragraph.

The key word here is “briefly.” Examiners are specifically checking whether a student can:

Identify the exact concept being asked about
State it clearly without unnecessary padding
Stay within the expected word or line limit (usually 1–2 sentences for 1 mark, 2–3 for 2 marks)

Writing five lines for a 1-mark question doesn’t earn extra credit in fact, it often costs time that’s needed for longer questions later in the paper.

Why Students Lose Marks on "Briefly" Questions

Having gone through a fair number of CBSE answer scripts and marking patterns, a few patterns show up again and again when a student is asked to answer the following question briefly:

Overwriting — turning a 1-mark question into a mini-essay, which wastes time and doesn’t add marks.
Underwriting — giving a one-word answer when the question actually needs a short reason or definition.
Missing the keyword — examiners often look for a specific term or phrase from the NCERT textbook; a correct idea expressed in the wrong words can lose marks.
Not reading the command word carefully — “briefly” is different from “explain” or “describe,” which expect more detail.

Recognising which category a question falls into is honestly half the battle.

How to Approach a "Briefly" Question Step by Step

Step 1: Identify the Command Word

Before writing anything, check exactly what the question is asking:

State / Name → a direct fact, term, or list no explanation needed.
Define → the textbook meaning of a term, in one or two lines.
Give a reason → a short cause-and-effect statement.
Answer briefly → usually a mix of the above, kept tight and specific.

Step 2: Match Your Answer Length to the Marks

A rough rule that works well across subjects:

1 mark → one clear sentence.
2 marks → two to three sentences, or one sentence plus a supporting reason/example.

Step 3: Use Keywords From the NCERT Textbook

Examiners are trained to look for specific terms from the prescribed textbook. Paraphrasing the right idea in the wrong vocabulary sometimes costs marks, even when the meaning is technically correct.

Step 4: Avoid Extra Information

If a question asks you to answer the following question briefly, resist the urge to add “extra knowledge” the question didn’t ask for. It doesn’t earn bonus marks and often eats into time meant for other questions.

Sample VSA Questions and Model Answers (Across Subjects)

Here’s how a well-structured brief answer looks in practice, across a few common subjects.

Science (Class 9–10 Level)

Q: Why do plants need sunlight? A: Plants need sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, the process by which they make their own food.

Q: Define an ecosystem. A: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.

Social Science / History

Q: Name the river on whose banks the Harappan city of Mohenjodaro was built. A: Mohenjodaro was built on the banks of the river Indus.

Q: What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution? A: The immediate cause was the severe financial crisis caused by France’s involvement in costly wars and excessive royal spending.

English (Grammar/Comprehension)

Q: What does the phrase “a blessing in disguise” mean? A: It means something that seems bad or unlucky at first but eventually turns out to be beneficial.

Mathematics (Reasoning-Based)

Q: Why is a square considered a special type of rectangle? A: A square is a rectangle where all four sides are equal in length, in addition to having four right angles.

Notice that none of these answers run more than two lines. That’s exactly the balance examiners are looking for when a question says answer the following question briefly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in VSA Answers

Copying the question into the answer — it wastes writing time and adds nothing.
Giving multiple definitions when one is asked for — stick to what the question specifically requests.
Ignoring the mark weightage — a 1-mark answer stretched to five lines suggests the student isn’t confident about what’s actually required.
Vague language — words like “it depends” or “many reasons” without stating even one clear reason will usually not fetch full marks.

Quick Tips for Practicing VSA Questions at Home

Time yourself. Practicing under a rough time limit (30–45 seconds per 1-mark question) builds the habit of writing briefly under exam pressure.
Compare with the NCERT textbook wording after attempting a question, to check whether your phrasing matches the expected keywords.
Read the full chapter summary once before attempting VSA questions; many brief answers come straight from summary lines or highlighted definitions.
Practice past year papers, since VSA-style questions tend to repeat similar patterns year to year.

Conclusion

Learning to answer the following question briefly isn’t really about knowing less, it’s about knowing exactly what to say and having the discipline to leave the rest out. Once a student gets comfortable identifying the command word, matching their answer length to the marks, and using the right textbook terminology, these questions stop being a source of lost marks and start becoming some of the quickest, easiest points on the entire paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks are usually given for "answer the following question briefly" in CBSE exams?

These questions are typically worth 1 to 2 marks each, depending on the subject and question paper design.

Is it okay to write more than the expected length for a brief answer?

It’s not penalized directly in most cases, but it wastes exam time and offers no additional marks. Staying concise is the better strategy.

Do VSA answers need to be in full sentences?

Generally yes, especially for “define” or “state a reason” type questions, though very direct fact-based questions (like naming something) can be answered in a short phrase.

What's the best way to prepare for brief-answer questions?

Focus on NCERT textbook definitions and summaries, and practice writing concise answers under a time limit so brevity becomes a habit rather than a struggle during the actual exam.