What it means to ask questions to check understanding

Checking your understanding through questions means making sure you fully understand what someone is saying by asking questions. It helps you avoid mistakes and confusion.

This involves:

• Listening carefully: Paying full attention to what is being said.
• Asking questions: Asking for more details if something is unclear.
• Repeating key points: Saying back what you understood and asking if it is correct.

For example, if someone is explaining how to complete a task, you might ask, "Just to check, do I need to do step one before step two?" This helps confirm you have understood correctly.

Why is it important to check understanding by asking questions 

If you do not understand what you have heard, then it is important to ask questions to check what someone meant.

It is also important to check your understanding when:

• Instructions are complex: If there are many steps, asking questions can help you understand them better.
• The information is new: If you are learning something for the first time, questions help you remember details.
• The speaker is unclear: Sometimes, people speak quickly or use unfamiliar words, so asking questions can help make things clearer.
• You need to avoid mistakes: Checking your understanding helps ensure you do the task correctly the first time.

For example, if someone gives you directions to a location, asking, "So, I should turn left at the second street?" helps avoid getting lost.

However, there are times when it may not be necessary to ask questions, such as when the information is very simple or when you already fully understand what is being said.

How to ask questions to check understanding

Even good listeners may misunderstand if the communication is unclear. To avoid confusion, it helps to check what you’ve understood before acting.

Simple ways to check understanding include:

• Repeating back what you heard.
• Rephrasing to confirm meaning.
• Making comparisons, for example., "Is this like when…?" or "Is this similar to…?"

To ask helpful questions, reflect on what you already understand. Use question words to help you:

• Who: Who is involved?
• What: What is happening?
• Where: Where is it happening?
• When: When is it happening?
• How: How will it work?

Good questions save time and show you’ve been listening.