What are the three parts of a goal statement?

• A. When, How, and Why
• B. Who, What, and Where
• C. Start, Stop, Finish
• D. Before, After, During

Answer: (A)

A goal statement is built around three key questions: when, how, and why. When sets the timeframe or deadline, giving the goal a clear end point and a way to measure progress. How describes the actions, steps, or methods you will use to reach the goal, outlining the plan you’ll follow. Why explains the purpose or motivation behind the goal, detailing the benefit or reason that makes the effort worthwhile.

For example, you might say: I will complete the project by the end of next month by outlining sections, drafting each part, and revising after feedback, because this will demonstrate strong communication skills to potential employers. This shows a concrete deadline (when), specific actions (how), and the underlying purpose (why).

Other options mix elements that aren’t the standard three parts of a goal statement and miss one or more of these essential areas. They might describe who’s involved, or temporal relationships, but they don’t center on a clear deadline, a concrete plan, and a justified purpose in the same cohesive way.