Same Writing › Answering questions › ACE and ACES
What is the ACE writing strategy?
ACE is a three-step formula for answering a reading question: Answer the question using words from it, Cite evidence from the text, and Explain what the evidence shows. It's RACE with Restate and Answer joined into one step, so it's common in third and fourth grade.
- Answer: one full sentence that uses the question's words.
- Cite: “In the text it says...”
- Explain: “This shows that...” Some classes add S, Sum it up.
Why schools teach it
Fewer steps for younger writers
Third graders are asked to answer questions about a text and refer to it directly (RI.3.1, RL.3.1). Four or five steps can overwhelm a young writer, so many schools start with ACE.
The answer sentence still borrows words from the question, the same habit RACE teaches. When kids are ready, teachers split it into Restate and Answer.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
Borrow words from the question to start.
AnswerFind the sentence in the text that proves it.
CiteTell me what that part shows.
ExplainRead your three parts out loud. Do they connect?
Skip this
- One-word answers.Every answer is a full sentence that could stand alone.
- Making up evidence.Cite only what the text really says.
- “The text says” with nothing after.Explain is the part most often left out.
See it in action
Answering “Why do owls hunt at night?”
Answer
Owls hunt at night because they can see and hear well in the dark.Cite
The text says, “Their huge eyes gather even dim light.”Explain
This shows owls can still spot food when it's dark.
ACE answers are usually three or four sentences long.
Free practice sheet
Make an ACE sheet
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Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
Is ACE the same as RACE?
Almost. ACE joins Restate and Answer into one sentence. The other steps match.
What does the S in ACES mean?
Sum it up: a closing sentence.
My child's class uses RACE. Should we use ACE?
Use the one the teacher uses. The steps line up, so either way the skills carry over.
What if there's more than one answer?
Pick one, and make sure the evidence supports it.