Short answer: In brief response item prompted the student a certain number of answers short and defined. Learning more appropriate to measure with brief, response as says Hernandez (1994) are those who can show with few words that represent the most important facts or concepts studied; e.g., remember and record the appropriate procedure to deal with specific tasks: operation of a system, a country organization, driving a vehicle, others remember and write functions, features, stages, rules, steps, elements or concepts.

The short answer may draw up starting with the following words: type, note, mention, cite, show others; or using the interrogative form, by entering with what, how called, etc. The following recommendations should also be considered when develops this type of item:

      Instruction must be clear.

 It is necessary to specify the number of responses expected.

 All empty spaces must have equal length.

 Every difficulty is worth a point.

 To all levels of the education system must submit a minimum of five points.

Look at these examples of short answer items:

Instructions: Type in the empty spaces, responses that are requested.

Cite three typical parts of entire eukaryotic cell. (3 points)
Type  three functions  of the cell membrane.  ( 3 points).