PTE Short Answer Question
PTE Answer Short Question Task, Including Definition,
Scoring, Proven Tips, and Sample Questions with Answers
1.
What is the PTE Answer Short Question Task?
The Answer Short Question task
appears at the end of the Speaking section. You will hear a short, general
knowledge question through your headphones (3–9 seconds long). Sometimes, an
image or diagram is also shown on screen to provide context. Your job is to
answer with one word or a few words.
- Number of questions:
5–6 in PTE Academic / 10–12 in some formats
- Time to answer:
~10 seconds per question
- Skills assessed:
Listening and Speaking
- Can you replay the audio? No, you only hear it once
Critical
Rule to Remember
As soon as the audio finishes, the
microphone opens. You must start speaking immediately. If you remain silent for
more than 3 seconds, the recording will automatically stop, and you will lose
that question.
2. How is Scoring Calculated? (Very Important)
Scoring for this task is
refreshingly simple:
|
Scoring Feature |
Details |
|
Scoring Type |
Correct / Incorrect (1 point or 0
points) |
|
What is scored |
Vocabulary accuracy (did you say
the right word?) |
|
What is NOT scored |
Oral fluency, pronunciation,
grammar, sentence structure |
|
Skills impacted |
Listening + Speaking + Vocabulary |
Why
this matters to you:
You don't need to speak with a
perfect accent or in a full sentence. A simple, single word like "Dictionary"
earns the same point as "The book with words and their meanings is
called a dictionary." Long answers only waste time and risk mistakes.
3. Proven Tips to Get a High Score
Listen
for Keywords
The question is short, so every word
counts. Pay close attention to question words like "who,"
"what," "where," "how many." These tell you
what kind of answer is needed.
Don't
Overthink—First Answer is Usually Correct
These are basic general knowledge
questions. The answer that pops into your head first is almost always right.
Overthinking leads to hesitation or wrong answers.
Example:
Question: "What do you call
the meal you eat in the morning?"
First thought: "Breakfast"
✅
Overthinking: "Well, some
people have brunch..." ❌
Answer
in 1–3 Words Only
Longer answers add zero points. Be
direct and finish speaking quickly. The microphone will close automatically
after about 10 seconds.
Question: "What is the
capital of France?"
❌ "The capital city of France
is Paris."
✅ "Paris" or "Paris,
France"
✅
Keep Speaking Even If Unsure
If you don't know, guess anyway.
There is no negative marking for wrong answers. A guess has a chance to be
correct; silence has zero chance.
✅
Use the On-Screen Image (if any)
Sometimes a picture, graph, or floor
plan appears on screen. Look at it—it often contains the answer directly.
Example:
An image shows a 4-story building
labeled:
- Pharmacy - Floor 1
- Cardiology - Floor 2
- Cafeteria - Floor 3
Question: "On which floor is
the cafeteria?"
→ Answer: "Third
floor".
✅
Practice General Knowledge in English
Questions come from everyday topics:
science, geography, common objects, dates, and math basics. You don't need
expert knowledge, but you must know the English words for common concepts.
4. Sample Exam Questions with Answers
Here are real-style PTE Answer Short
Questions divided by topic. Cover your answers and test yourself.
🧮
Numbers, Time & Math
|
Question |
Answer |
|
How many days are in a leap year? |
366 |
|
How many years are there in a
century? |
100 (years) |
|
What do you call a period of ten
years? |
Decade |
|
How many years are in a
millennium? |
1,000 (years) |
|
What is three quarters of 100
percent? |
75% |
📚
Common Objects & Definitions
|
Question |
Answer |
|
What do we call a book that
contains lots of words with their meanings? |
Dictionary |
|
What do you call the alphabetical
list at the end of a textbook that tells you where to find specific
information? |
Index |
|
What do we call the instructions
that tell you how to cook food? |
Recipe |
|
What document proves you have
bought an item? |
Receipt |
|
What do you call the piece of
paper that proves you have bought an item? |
Receipt |
🌍
Geography & Nature
|
Question |
Answer |
|
In which direction does the sun
rise? |
East |
|
Where does a camel normally live? |
Desert |
|
What do we call the natural
satellite that orbits the Earth? |
Moon |
|
Which continent do China, India,
and Japan belong to? |
Asia |
|
What is the name of the longest
river in the world? |
Nile |
⚕️
Science & Health
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Which organ pumps blood throughout
the body? |
Heart |
|
What sweet food is produced by
bees? |
Honey |
|
What instrument examines very
small objects? |
Microscope |
|
What is the main gas found in the
air we breathe? |
Oxygen |
👔
People & Professions
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Who treats ill or injured people
at a hospital? |
Doctor |
|
What do we call a person who buys
products from a shop? |
Customer / Shopper |
|
Who sits in the cockpit of an
airplane? |
Pilot |
|
What do we call someone who can
speak two languages? |
Bilingual |
📖
Language & Grammar
|
Question |
Answer |
|
What is the opposite of
"vertical"? |
Horizontal |
|
What word is used to describe
frozen water? |
Ice |
|
When the writer of a book is
unknown, what word describes the author? |
Anonymous |
|
What does ASAP stand for? |
As Soon As Possible |
5. Summary Table for Quick Revision
|
Task Feature |
What You Need to Know |
|
Where it appears |
End of Speaking section |
|
What you hear |
Short question (3–9 seconds) |
|
How long to answer |
~10 seconds |
|
How many words to say |
1–3 words only |
|
How it's scored |
Correct = 1 point / Incorrect = 0 |
|
What's NOT scored |
Fluency, pronunciation, grammar |
|
What happens after 3 seconds of
silence |
Recording stops automatically |
|
Penalty for wrong answer |
None—always guess! |
100 PTE Answer Short Question Practice Prompts Without
Answers
These 100 PTE Answer Short Question
practice prompts are grouped by topic for organized practice.
General
Knowledge & Definitions (1–15)
1. What do you call a book that
contains words and their meanings?
2. What is the alphabetical list at the
end of a book that shows where specific topics are found?
3. What do you call the written
instructions that tell you how to cook a dish?
4. What document proves that you have
paid for an item in a shop?
5. What do you call a person who writes
books?
6. What is the name for a story about a
person's life written by that same person?
7. What do you call a building where
historical artifacts and artworks are displayed to the public?
8. What is the term for the room in a
library where books are stored?
9. What do you call the person who
helps you find and check out books at a library?
10. What is the name for the list of
sources and references at the end of an academic paper?
11. What do you call a statement that
can be proven true or false?
12. What is the term for a word that has
the opposite meaning of another word?
13. What do you call a word that sounds
the same as another word but has a different meaning and spelling?
14. What is the name for a group of
lines in a poem?
15. What do you call a short story that
teaches a moral or religious lesson?
Geography
& Nature (16–30)
16. In which direction does the sun
rise?
17. In which direction does the sun set?
18. What is the largest ocean on Earth?
19. Which is longer, a river or a
stream?
20. What do you call a mountain that
erupts with lava, ash, and gases?
21. What is the natural satellite that
orbits the Earth called?
22. What do you call a large area of
land covered with many trees?
23. What is the name for a hot, dry,
sandy region with very little rainfall?
24. Which continent is Egypt located in?
25. What is the name of the highest
mountain in the world?
26. What do you call a scientist who
studies rocks, minerals, and the physical structure of the Earth?
27. What is the name of the longest
river in the world?
28. What do you call a large body of
saltwater that is smaller than an ocean?
29. What is the term for a violent
tropical storm with very strong winds?
30. What do you call a piece of land
that is completely surrounded by water?
Science,
Health & Medicine (31–45)
31. Which organ in the human body pumps
blood throughout the body?
32. What is the largest organ in the
human body?
33. What do you call the bones that make
up the spine or backbone?
34. What is the name of the bone that
protects the brain?
35. What sweet, sticky food is produced
by bees from flower nectar?
36. What scientific instrument is used
to see objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye?
37. What gas do humans breathe in from
the air to survive?
38. What gas do humans breathe out after
their bodies use the oxygen?
39. What do you call a medical professional
who treats sick or injured people?
40. What is the term for a place where
sick or injured people receive medical treatment?
41. What do you call a medicine that
kills or stops the growth of bacteria?
42. What is the name of the process by
which green plants use sunlight to make their own food?
43. What do you call a scientist who
studies plants?
44. What do you call a scientist who
studies animals?
45. What is the name of the hardest
natural substance found in the human body?
Professions
& People (46–60)
46. Who is the person that flies an
airplane or helicopter?
47. Who is responsible for putting out
fires and rescuing people from burning buildings?
48. What do you call a person who
defends clients in a court of law?
49. Who designs buildings, bridges, and
other structures?
50. What do you call a person who
repairs water pipes, sinks, and toilets?
51. Who performs surgical operations on
patients?
52. What do you call someone who can
speak two languages fluently?
53. Who is the head or chief executive
of a university?
54. What do you call a person who
performs in plays, movies, or television shows?
55. Who repairs cars, trucks, and other
motor vehicles?
56. What do you call a person who cuts,
styles, and colors hair?
57. Who prepares and dispenses medicines
in a pharmacy?
58. What do you call a person who
reports news for a newspaper, television, or radio station?
59. Who is responsible for preparing
food in a restaurant?
60. What do you call a person who
represents athletes or artists in business deals?
Numbers,
Time & Math (61–75)
61. How many days are in a leap year?
62. How many years are there in a
century?
63. What do you call a period of ten
years?
64. What do you call a period of one
hundred years?
65. What is 50 percent of 200?
66. What is three-quarters expressed as
a percentage?
67. How many months are there in one
year?
68. What is the first month of the year?
69. What is the last month of the year?
70. How many seconds are in one minute?
71. How many minutes are in one hour?
72. How many hours are in one day?
73. What is the Roman numeral for the
number 50?
74. What is the Roman numeral for the
number 100?
75. What do you call a whole number that
is not a fraction or decimal?
Everyday
Objects & Household Items (76–85)
76. What do you call a device that keeps
food cold and fresh?
77. What do you call a machine that
washes dirty dishes?
78. What do you use to tell the time on
a wall or wrist?
79. What do you call a piece of
furniture with drawers used for storing clothes?
80. What do you call a light source that
is often placed on a desk or table?
81. What do you use to cut paper or open
packages?
82. What do you call a tool used to
write or draw with black lead inside a wooden case?
83. What do you call a tool used to
remove pencil marks from paper?
84. What do you call a container used to
boil water for tea or coffee?
85. What do you call a flat, portable
surface on which you place food while eating?
Food
& Drink (86–95)
86. What do you call the first meal of
the day, eaten in the morning?
87. What do you call the meal eaten in
the middle of the day?
88. What do you call the evening meal?
89. What do you call a person who does
not eat meat or fish?
90. What do you call a person who does
not eat any animal products, including dairy and eggs?
91. What is the main ingredient used to
make bread?
92. What dairy product is made by
churning cream or milk?
93. What is the name of the brown, sweet
powder made from roasted cacao beans, used to make candy and hot drinks?
94. What is the name of the yellow fruit
that monkeys are known to eat?
95. What do you call a drink made by
steeping dried tea leaves in hot water?
Law,
Government & Society (96–100)
96. What do you call a proposed law that
is being discussed in parliament?
97. What is the name of the place where
legal trials are held?
98. What do you call a group of people
selected to hear evidence and give a verdict in a trial?
99. What is the term for the money that
citizens are required to pay to the government to fund public services?
100.
What
do you call a person who has officially asked to become a citizen of another
country?
Here are short answers to all
100 PTE Answer Short Question prompts:
General
Knowledge & Definitions (1–15)
1. Dictionary
2. Index
3. Recipe
4. Receipt
5. Author
6. Autobiography
7. Museum
8. Library stack / Stack room
9. Librarian
10. Bibliography
11. Statement / Proposition
12. Antonym
13. Homonym / Homophone
14. Stanza
15. Fable
Geography
& Nature (16–30)
16. East
17. West
18. Pacific Ocean
19. River
20. Volcano
21. Moon
22. Forest
23. Desert
24. Africa
25. Mount Everest
26. Geologist
27. Nile
28. Sea
29. Cyclone / Hurricane
30. Island
Science,
Health & Medicine (31–45)
31. Heart
32. Skin
33. Vertebrae
34. Skull
35. Honey
36. Microscope
37. Oxygen
38. Carbon dioxide
39. Doctor
40. Hospital
41. Antibiotic
42. Photosynthesis
43. Botanist
44. Zoologist
45. Teeth enamel / Enamel
Professions
& People (46–60)
46. Pilot
47. Firefighter
48. Lawyer
49. Architect
50. Plumber
51. Surgeon
52. Bilingual
53. Vice-Chancellor / President
54. Actor
55. Mechanic
56. Hairdresser
57. Pharmacist
58. Journalist
59. Chef
60. Agent
Numbers,
Time & Math (61–75)
61. 366
62. 100
63. Decade
64. Century
65. 100
66. 75%
67. 12
68. January
69. December
70. 60
71. 60
72. 24
73. L
74. C
75. Integer
Everyday
Objects (76–85)
76. Refrigerator
77. Dishwasher
78. Clock / Watch
79. Drawer / Chest of drawers
80. Lamp
81. Scissors
82. Pencil
83. Eraser
84. Kettle
85. Plate / Tray
Food
& Drink (86–95)
86. Breakfast
87. Lunch
88. Dinner
89. Vegetarian
90. Vegan
91. Flour
92. Butter
93. Cocoa
94. Banana
95. Tea
Law,
Government & Society (96–100)
96. Bill
97. Court
98. Jury
99. Tax
100.
Immigrant
/ Applicant (citizenship seeker)
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