Checking an answer means testing each sentence against the passage and keeping only what the text supports. It is a short habit that catches errors you cannot see while writing.
This lesson is part of prescribed-text orientation in the Bible Knowledge subject guide.
The line-by-line check
Take your written answer and do the following for each sentence.
- Underline the claim.
- Find the verse that supports it.
- Tick it if the verse says it, cross it if not, and put a question mark if you are unsure.
Rewrite the crossed sentences and look up the question marks. By the end, every sentence is either supported or fixed.
Worked example: Mark 4:35-41
Question (4 marks): Describe what happened when a storm came while Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake.
Student answer:
- A great storm came up and the waves broke into the boat.
- Jesus was at the front of the boat steering it through the storm.
- The disciples woke him and asked whether he cared that they were about to die.
- Jesus told the wind and the waves to be still, and there was a great calm.
Check against the passage:
| Sentence | Check | Verse |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supported. A furious squall came and waves broke over the boat | 37 |
| 2 | Not supported. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion | 38 |
| 3 | Supported. They woke him and asked if he did not care that they were perishing | 38 |
| 4 | Supported. He rebuked the wind and said to the waves “Quiet! Be still!” and there was a great calm | 39 |
Sentence 2 is the error. It probably came from a picture of a boat with someone at the helm, not from the text.
Corrected sentence 2: “Jesus was asleep in the stern on a cushion (verse 38).”
The corrected version is shorter and gets a mark for a detail the passage actually gives.
Why errors hide
The mind fills gaps with whatever fits. A storm at sea suggests someone steering, so the detail slips in without warning.
That is why the check has to be against the text. Asking yourself “does this sound right?” will not catch it.
Keep an error log
After each check, write one line in a log.
| Date | Passage | Error | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Mark 4 | Jesus steering | Added detail |
| Week 1 | Daniel 6 | Wrong number of satraps | Number |
After four entries you will see a pattern. One student mostly adds details, another mixes up names. The fix is different for each, so the log shows where to spend your time.
The mistake to watch
The riskiest sentences are the ones that feel most familiar. A story you have heard many times feels as if you know it by heart, so you skip the check.
Check the familiar ones first. Confident mistakes hide there.
Check yourself
Check this sentence about Mark 4:35-41 against the verses: “After the calm, the disciples were afraid and asked each other who this was that even the wind and waves obey.”
Answer
It is supported. Verse 41 says they were terrified and asked one another, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The text says “terrified”, which is stronger than “afraid”. Either word works, but staying close to the text is safest.
What to study next
Test your checking habit on the orientation practice set. When you are ready to write fuller answers, read how to use an evidence and explanation self-review checklist.
If you want a teacher to check your answers next to the passage with you, see online one-to-one Bible Knowledge tuition.