I don't know the meaning of "get at" in this sentence. Please could you explain it to me?
It is essential to devote some time to thinking about what you are going to write before writing it. This does not necessitate writing elaborate essay plans, but you must think about what exactly a specific question is getting at and how it can best be answered. .

I don't know the meaning of "get at" in this sentence.

I think that the verb phase "get at" means "reach' in this sentence.

Is it right?

Question

I don't know the meaning of "get at" in this sentence. Please could you explain it to me?
It is essential to devote some time to thinking about what you are going to write before writing it. This does not necessitate writing elaborate essay plans, but you must think about what exactly a specific question is getting at and how it can best be answered. .

I don't know the meaning of "get at" in this sentence.

I think that the verb phase "get at" means "reach' in this sentence.

Is it right?

Answer

"what exactly a specific question is getting at"
means

"what exactly a specific question means"
or
"what the exact meaning of a question is"

'to get at' is a bit colloquial / informal

Answer

in this sense it relates to understanding the specifics of a question, it is referring to what does the question mean. To 'get at' the crux of the question, the meaning of the question, the main focus of the question.  
'Get at' can have other meanings but this is what it relates to in this context.

Answer

"you must think about what exactly a specific question is getting at" means that you should decide what the question is really asking.

If I ask you, "Is anyone sitting here with you?"
what I'm "getting at" is that I'd like to sit here.

Answers · 3

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