PTE speaking task guide

PTE Answer Short Question: format, scoring and practice

Answer Short Question tests whether you can understand a brief recorded question and supply an accurate word or short phrase. Longer answers do not earn extra credit, so speed and precision matter.

Practise Answer Short Question See all PTE tasks
Task overview

Answer Short Question at a glance

Prompt3-9 seconds of audio
PreparationRespond immediately
Response10 seconds
Skills scoredListening
Test-day flow

How Answer Short Question works

  1. You hear a short question lasting about 3-9 seconds; an image may also appear.
  2. The microphone opens after the audio and there is no replay.
  3. You have 10 seconds to answer with one word or a few words.
Scoring

What your response is scored on

Correct or incorrect

The answer receives credit when its words appropriately answer the recorded question.

Listening

This task contributes to Listening, even though you give the answer through the microphone.

No length bonus

A concise accurate answer earns the available mark; extra words do not add marks.

Use scores as direction, not certainty

Pearson does not publish the complete scoring algorithm or raw-to-scale conversion. PrepEx feedback and 10-90 scores are practice estimates, not official PTE results.

Original example

Sample-style short question

Answer Short Question Sample task
Plays once
Reveal the sample sentence

What instrument is used to measure temperature?

This is an original PrepEx example designed to demonstrate the response format. It is not an official Pearson test item.

Practice method

How to improve at Answer Short Question

  1. Identify the question category while listening: person, place, object, action, quantity or term.
  2. Answer as soon as the microphone opens instead of building a full sentence.
  3. Practise common academic and everyday concepts with several acceptable word forms.
Practice this task type

Learn the strategy here, then practise filtered Answer Short Question items in the Practice Hub.

Practise Answer Short Question Back to all PTE task types
Focused session

A 15-minute Answer Short Question practice loop

01

Preview the rules

Re-read the timing, scoring traits and common mistakes on this guide before opening practice.

02

Run focused attempts

Open the filtered Practice Hub view and complete several Answer Short Question attempts without switching task types.

03

Review and repeat

Use your activity history and target plan to decide whether to repeat this task or move to the next weak family.

Continue the loop

Stay on this task for a short focused set, then review whether it should remain your priority.

Run focused attempts Review attempts Update target plan
Avoidable errors

Common mistakes

  • Pausing too long after the microphone opens
  • Giving an explanation when one term is enough
  • Repeating the question instead of answering it
  • Replacing a known answer with a more complicated phrase
Accuracy and source

Checked against Pearson's current format

Task format, timing and published scoring traits were checked against Pearson's current PTE Academic test-format guidance on June 23, 2026. Pearson remains the final authority and may update the test.

Primary source: Pearson PTE Academic test format.

All PTE task typesBrowse the complete 22-task library by section. How PTE scoring worksUnderstand partial credit, score traits and the 10-90 scale. Practise Answer Short QuestionGo directly to matching items in the PTE Practice Hub.
PTE Academic is a trademark of Pearson Education Ltd. PrepEx is independent of Pearson. PrepEx scores are practice estimates, not official Pearson scores.