Index: lams_central/web/includes/javascript/common.js
===================================================================
diff -u -re450814f5cc93d34ea65467cc4803e2b50004d1f -reac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed
--- lams_central/web/includes/javascript/common.js	(.../common.js)	(revision e450814f5cc93d34ea65467cc4803e2b50004d1f)
+++ lams_central/web/includes/javascript/common.js	(.../common.js)	(revision eac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed)
@@ -119,16 +119,4 @@
 	var wordCount = value ? (value.replace(/['";:,.?\-!]+/g, '').match(/\S+/g) || []).length : 0;
 	return wordCount;
 }
-    
-function getNumberOfWords(value, isRemoveHtmlTags) {
-    	
-	//HTML tags stripping 
-	if (isRemoveHtmlTags) {
-		value = value.replace(/&nbsp;/g, '').replace(/<\/?[a-z][^>]*>/gi, '');
-	}
-	value = value.trim();
-    	
-	var wordCount = value ? (value.replace(/['";:,.?\-!]+/g, '').match(/\S+/g) || []).length : 0;
-	return wordCount;
-}
 	
\ No newline at end of file
Index: lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources_en_AU.properties
===================================================================
diff -u -r2f725f8ef2aa09a2663b2335bf67213074426d11 -reac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed
--- lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources_en_AU.properties	(.../ApplicationResources_en_AU.properties)	(revision 2f725f8ef2aa09a2663b2335bf67213074426d11)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources_en_AU.properties	(.../ApplicationResources_en_AU.properties)	(revision eac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed)
@@ -286,6 +286,6 @@
 label.search  =Search...
 label.posted.by  ={0} on {1}
 label.noredo.enabled  =Note: after answer these questions, no changes are allowed.
+label.words.required  =Words required
 
-
 #======= End labels: Exported 280 labels for en AU =====
Index: lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/AnswersContent.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -r522626bfe2a64ef94cf7fdc94c7043e5f84051cb -reac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed
--- lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/AnswersContent.jsp	(.../AnswersContent.jsp)	(revision 522626bfe2a64ef94cf7fdc94c7043e5f84051cb)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/AnswersContent.jsp	(.../AnswersContent.jsp)	(revision eac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed)
@@ -16,28 +16,26 @@
 	<title><fmt:message key="activity.title" /></title>
 	<lams:css />
 	<style media="screen,projection" type="text/css">
-div.growlUI {
-	background: url(check48.png) no-repeat 10px 10px
-}
+		div.growlUI {
+			background: url(check48.png) no-repeat 10px 10px
+		}
+		
+		div.growlUI h1, div.growlUI h2 {
+			color: white;
+			padding: 5px 5px 5px 0px;
+			text-align: center;
+			font-size: 20px;
+		}
+	</style>
 
-div.growlUI h1, div.growlUI h2 {
-	color: white;
-	padding: 5px 5px 5px 0px;
-	text-align: center;
-	font-size: 20px;
-}
-</style>
-
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/common.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/jquery.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/jquery.form.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/jquery.blockUI.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/jquery.timeago.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${lams}includes/javascript/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
+	<script type="text/JavaScript">
 
-
-	<script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
-
 		var minWordsLimitLabel = '<fmt:message key="label.minimum.number.words" ><fmt:param>{0}</fmt:param></fmt:message>';
 	
 		function submitMethod(actionMethod) {
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@
 						value =  $("#answer"+ questionId).val();
 					}
 					
-					var numberEnteredWords = getNumberOfWords(value); 
+					var numberEnteredWords = getNumberOfWords(value, isCkeditor); 
 					
 					var minWordsLimit = $(this).data("min-words-limit");
 					if (numberEnteredWords < minWordsLimit) {
@@ -145,6 +143,56 @@
 		       	}, interval
 		   );
 		}
+
+		//min words counter
+		$(document).ready(function() {
+			
+			//character count fuction in case ckeditor is OFF
+			function counter(event) {
+				var questionId = event.data.questionId;
+				var minWordsLimit = event.data.minWordsLimit;
+				var value = $("#answer"+ questionId).val();
+				
+				var numberEnteredWords = getNumberOfWords(value, false);
+				var numberRequiredWords = (minWordsLimit > numberEnteredWords) ? minWordsLimit - numberEnteredWords : 0;
+				$('#words-required-' + questionId).html(numberRequiredWords);
+			};
+
+			//character count fuction in case ckeditor is ON
+			function ckeditorCounter(event) {
+				var questionId = event.listenerData.questionId;
+				var minWordsLimit = event.listenerData.minWordsLimit;
+				var value = event.editor.getData();
+				
+				var numberEnteredWords = getNumberOfWords(value, true);
+				var numberRequiredWords = (minWordsLimit > numberEnteredWords) ? minWordsLimit - numberEnteredWords : 0;
+				$('#words-required-' + questionId).html(numberRequiredWords);
+			};
+
+			//check for min words limit 
+			jQuery(".min-words-limit-enabled").each(function() {
+
+				var isCkeditor = $(this).data("is-ckeditor");
+				var questionId = (${generalLearnerFlowDTO.questionListingMode == 'questionListingModeSequential'}) ? "" : $(this).data("sequence-id");
+				var minWordsLimit = $(this).data("min-words-limit");
+				
+				//assign function
+				if (isCkeditor) {
+					var ckeditor = CKEDITOR.instances["answer" + questionId];
+					
+				    ckeditor.on('change', ckeditorCounter, null, {questionId: questionId, minWordsLimit: minWordsLimit} );
+					//count characters initially
+				    ckeditor.on('instanceReady', ckeditorCounter, null, {questionId: questionId, minWordsLimit: minWordsLimit});
+				      
+				} else {
+					$("#answer" + questionId)
+						.on('change keydown keypress keyup paste', {questionId: questionId, minWordsLimit: minWordsLimit}, counter)
+						.trigger( "change", {questionId: questionId, minWordsLimit: minWordsLimit} );
+				}
+				
+			});
+
+		});
 		
 	</script>
 </lams:head>
Index: lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/CombinedAnswersContent.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -ra9b67b922680b37a512068cdd9865fcd444145a7 -reac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed
--- lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/CombinedAnswersContent.jsp	(.../CombinedAnswersContent.jsp)	(revision a9b67b922680b37a512068cdd9865fcd444145a7)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/CombinedAnswersContent.jsp	(.../CombinedAnswersContent.jsp)	(revision eac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed)
@@ -25,19 +25,20 @@
 							<div class="panel"><c:out value="${questionEntry.value.question}" escapeXml="false" /></div>
 						
 							<div class="answer-req">
-							<fmt:message key="label.learning.yourAnswer" /> 
-							<c:if
-									test="${questionEntry.value.required}">
-									<small><mark>
+								<fmt:message key="label.learning.yourAnswer" /> 
+								<c:if test="${questionEntry.value.required}">
+									<small>
+										<mark>
 											<fmt:message key="label.required" />
-										</mark></small>
-								</c:if> <c:if test="${questionEntry.value.minWordsLimit != 0}">
-									<br/><small><em>- <fmt:message key="label.minimum.number.words">
-											<fmt:param>&nbsp;${questionEntry.value.minWordsLimit}</fmt:param>
-										</fmt:message>
-									</em></small>
+										</mark>
+									</small>
+								</c:if> 
+								
+								<c:if test="${questionEntry.value.minWordsLimit != 0}">
+									<br/>
+									<fmt:message key="label.words.required" />: <span id="words-required-${questionEntry.key}"></span>
 								</c:if>
-								</div>
+							</div>
 
 							<c:choose>
 								<c:when test="${hasEditRight}">
Index: lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/SequentialAnswersContent.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -r099554309e1f77769667c041fb6d0fa91a89ea03 -reac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed
--- lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/SequentialAnswersContent.jsp	(.../SequentialAnswersContent.jsp)	(revision 099554309e1f77769667c041fb6d0fa91a89ea03)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/web/learning/SequentialAnswersContent.jsp	(.../SequentialAnswersContent.jsp)	(revision eac8bde01757bcad6b96174cfd2e0433834364ed)
@@ -26,16 +26,15 @@
 						<div class="answer-req">
 							<fmt:message key="label.learning.yourAnswer" />
 							<c:if test="${questionEntry.value.required}">
-								<small><mark>
+								<small>
+									<mark>
 										<fmt:message key="label.required" />
-									</mark></small>
+									</mark>
+								</small>
 							</c:if>
 							<c:if test="${questionEntry.value.minWordsLimit != 0}">
 								<br />
-								<small><em>- <fmt:message key="label.minimum.number.words">
-											<fmt:param>&nbsp;${questionEntry.value.minWordsLimit}</fmt:param>
-										</fmt:message>
-								</em></small>
+								<fmt:message key="label.words.required" />: <span id="words-required-"></span>
 							</c:if>
 						</div>