PTE Answer Short Question - Complete Introduction

PTE Answer Short Question - Complete Introduction

What is Answer Short Question?

The Answer Short Question (ASQ) is a task in the PTE Academic Speaking section where you:

• Listen to a question (audio plays automatically)
• Answer with a single word or short phrase (2-3 words maximum)
• The question tests your basic knowledge and vocabulary

Simply put: You hear a question and give a short, one-word answer.

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Quick Overview

Feature	Detail
What you do	Listen to a question → Give a short answer (1-3 words)
Question length	3-9 seconds (audio only, no text)
Preparation time	No separate preparation time
Answering time	10 seconds per question
Number of questions	5-10 questions
Skills tested	Listening + Speaking (Vocabulary)

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Where Does It Appear?

Answer Short Question is the LAST task in the Speaking section of the PTE exam.

Order in Speaking section:

1.      Read Aloud

2.      Repeat Sentence

3.      Describe Image

4.      Retell Lecture

5.      Answer Short Question ← You are here

What Is Tested?

Scoring Criteria

Aspect	Detail
Content	Is your answer correct? (1 mark for correct, 0 for incorrect)
Scoring Type	Correct/Incorrect - No partial credit
Skills Assessed	Listening + Speaking (Vocabulary)

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Important Points

Point	Detail
Score per question	1 mark
Total marks	5-10 marks (depends on number of questions)
Partial credit	❌ No partial credit. Either correct or incorrect
Acceptable answers	One word or short phrase (2-3 words)
Pronunciation	Must be clear and understandable

⭐ Key Insight: This task is all or nothing - you get 1 point for a correct answer and 0 for an incorrect one. But it's usually the easiest speaking task!

PTE Answer Short Question - Complete Introduction (Part 2)

Common Question Types

1. General Knowledge Questions

Q: "How many days are there in a week?"
A: "Seven"

Q: "What is the largest ocean in the world?"
A: "Pacific" (or "Pacific Ocean")

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2. Vocabulary Questions

Q: "What do we call a person who studies stars?"
A: "Astronomer"

Q: "What is the opposite of 'hot'?"
A: "Cold"

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3. Academic/Subject Questions

Q: "What is H2O commonly known as?"
A: "Water"

Q: "Which organ pumps blood throughout the body?"
A: "Heart"

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4. Everyday Life Questions

Q: "Where do people go to borrow books?"
A: "Library"

Q: "What do we use to cut paper?"
A: "Scissors"

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Sample Questions with Answers

Set 1: Easy Questions

#	Question	Answer
1	How many legs does a dog have?	Four
2	What color is the sky on a clear day?	Blue
3	What is the opposite of 'big'?	Small
4	Where do fish live?	Water
5	What do we use to see?	Eyes

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Set 2: Medium Questions

#	Question	Answer
1	What is the capital of France?	Paris
2	Which planet is known as the Red Planet?	Mars
3	What do we call a doctor who treats animals?	Veterinarian
4	What is the chemical symbol for gold?	Au
5	How many continents are there?	Seven

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Set 3: Academic Questions

#	Question	Answer
1	What is the study of living organisms called?	Biology
2	Who wrote Romeo and Juliet?	Shakespeare
3	What is the longest river in the world?	Amazon
4	What do we call the process of water turning into vapor?	Evaporation
5	What is the smallest planet in our solar system?	Mercury

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Set 4: Advanced Questions

#	Question	Answer
1	What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?	Diamond
2	What is the main gas in Earth's atmosphere?	Nitrogen
3	What is the study of ancient societies called?	Archaeology
4	What is the most common blood type?	O positive
5	What do we call the fear of heights?	Acrophobia

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Key Strategies for Success

✅ DO

Strategy	Explanation
Answer immediately	Don't wait - speak as soon as microphone opens
Give short answers	1-3 words is enough
Speak clearly	Pronunciation matters - your answer must be understood
If unsure, guess	Better to guess than stay silent
Pay attention to audio	Focus completely during the question
Know common topics	Study general knowledge, science, geography, history

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❌ DON'T

Mistake	Why It's Bad
Stay silent	You'll get 0 marks
Give long answers	You only need 1-3 words
Mumble	The system may not hear you
Repeat the question	Wastes time and isn't an answer
Give multiple answers	Confuses the scoring system
Panic if unsure	Guess - you might be right!

Common Question Categories

🌍 Geography

"What is the largest country in the world?" → Russia

"What is the longest river?" → Amazon/Nile

"Which continent has no countries?" → Antarctica

"What is the capital of Japan?" → Tokyo

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🧪 Science

"What is the chemical symbol for water?" → H2O

"What do we call animals with backbones?" → Vertebrates

"What is the center of an atom called?" → Nucleus

"What is the hardest natural substance?" → Diamond

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🏛️ History & Culture

"Who discovered America in 1492?" → Columbus

"What language is spoken in Brazil?" → Portuguese

"What is the name of the British flag?" → Union Jack

"Who painted the Mona Lisa?" → Da Vinci

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💡 Everyday Knowledge

"What do we use to write on a blackboard?" → Chalk

"Where do we put money to save it?" → Bank

"What is the opposite of 'day'?" → Night

"What do we use to tell time?" → Clock

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Sample Test with Answers

Practice Session (5 Questions)

Listen and answer each question:

	Audio Question	Your Answer	Correct Answer
1	"What is the national language of China?"	________	Mandarin
2	"How many sides does a triangle have?"	________	Three
3	"What do we call a person who flies a plane?"	________	Pilot
4	"What instrument has 88 keys?"	________	Piano
5	"What is the study of weather called?"	________	Meteorology

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Tips for Different Situations

If You Know the Answer

• Say it clearly and confidently
• Don't add extra words

Example: "Paris" (not "The answer is Paris")

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If You're Unsure

• Make a logical guess
• Example: If asked about a river, think of major rivers
• Say the answer with confidence (don't sound uncertain)

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If You Don't Know

• Guess anyway! - You might be right
• Never stay silent - say something plausible

Example: "What causes tides?" → If you don't know "moon," guess "sun" or "gravity"

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If You Misunderstand the Question

• Say the answer you think matches

Example: If you hear "What is the capital?" but didn't catch the country, say a capital

• Some points are better than none

PTE Answer Short Question - Complete Introduction (Part 4 - Final)

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Common Mistakes by Students

Mistake	Correct Approach
Saying too many words	Just 1-3 words is enough
Taking too long to answer	Answer within 2-3 seconds
Staying silent when unsure	Guess - you might be correct
Not listening carefully	Focus completely on audio
Speaking too softly	Speak clearly and loudly enough
Saying "ummm" before answer	Just say the answer directly

 

Why This Task Matters

Benefits of Doing Well

Benefit	Explanation
Easy points	These are the easiest speaking questions
Fast	Takes only 10 seconds per question
Boosts listening score	Cross-scoring helps your listening
Boosts speaking score	Short, simple responses
Low stress	Questions are usually straightforward
Practice pays off	Learn common topics and score high

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Score Impact Example

If you get 8 out of 10 questions correct:

Section	Points Gained
Speaking	+8 marks
Listening	+8 marks (cross-scoring)
Total	+16 marks

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Final Tips

• Stay calm - These questions are designed to be easy.
• Listen carefully - The first 2-3 seconds are most important.
• Trust your instinct - Your first answer is usually correct.
• Guess confidently - A confident wrong answer is better than silence.
• Practice common categories - Geography, science, history, everyday life.

 

100 Common PTE Answer Short Question Questions

📚 General Knowledge & Everyday Life

Set 1: Basic General Knowledge

#	Question	Answer
1	How many days are there in a week?	Seven
2	How many months are there in a year?	Twelve
3	How many hours are there in a day?	Twenty-four
4	How many minutes are there in an hour?	Sixty
5	How many seconds are there in a minute?	Sixty
6	How many continents are there in the world?	Seven
7	How many oceans are there in the world?	Five
8	What color is an emerald?	Green
9	What color is a ruby?	Red
10	What color is the sky on a clear day?	Blue

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Set 2: Everyday Items & Objects

#	Question	Answer
11	What do we use to cut paper?	Scissors
12	What do we use to write on a blackboard?	Chalk
13	What do we use to tell time?	Clock/Watch
14	Where do we put money to save it?	Bank
15	Where do people go to borrow books?	Library
16	What do we use to see things clearly?	Glasses/Eyes
17	What do we use to listen to music?	Headphones/Ears
18	What do we use to eat soup?	Spoon
19	What do we use to cut vegetables?	Knife
20	What do we use to cook food?	Stove/Oven

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Set 3: Body & Health

#	Question	Answer
21	Which organ pumps blood throughout the body?	Heart
22	Which organ do we use to breathe?	Lungs
23	Which organ do we use to see?	Eyes
24	Which organ do we use to hear?	Ears
25	Which organ do we use to smell?	Nose

📚 General Knowledge & Everyday Life

Set 3: Body & Health (Continued)

#	Question	Answer
26	What is the largest organ in the human body?	Skin
27	How many bones are in the adult human body?	Two hundred six
28	What is the hardest substance in the human body?	Enamel
29	What is the most common blood type?	O positive
30	What do we call a doctor who treats animals?	Veterinarian

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🌍 Geography & Places

Set 4: Countries & Capitals

#	Question	Answer
31	What is the capital of France?	Paris
32	What is the capital of England/UK?	London
33	What is the capital of Japan?	Tokyo
34	What is the capital of Australia?	Canberra
35	What is the capital of Germany?	Berlin
36	What is the capital of Italy?	Rome
37	What is the capital of Spain?	Madrid
38	What is the capital of Canada?	Ottawa
39	What is the capital of India?	New Delhi
40	What is the capital of China?	Beijing

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Set 5: Geography Facts

#	Question	Answer
41	What is the largest country in the world?	Russia
42	What is the smallest country in the world?	Vatican City
43	What is the largest ocean in the world?	Pacific
44	What is the longest river in the world?	Amazon/Nile
45	What is the tallest mountain in the world?	Everest
46	Which continent has no countries?	Antarctica
47	Which is the largest continent?	Asia
48	Which is the smallest continent?	Australia
49	Which country has the most people?	India
50	What is the largest desert in the world?	Sahara

Set 6: Language & Nationality

#	Question	Answer
51	What language is spoken in Brazil?	Portuguese
52	What language is spoken in Japan?	Japanese
53	What is the national language of China?	Mandarin
54	What language is spoken in Spain?	Spanish
55	What language is spoken in France?	French
56	What language is spoken in Germany?	German
57	What language is spoken in Egypt?	Arabic
58	What language is spoken in Russia?	Russian
59	What is the most spoken language in the world?	Mandarin/English
60	What language is spoken in Italy?	Italian

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Set 7: Science & Chemistry

#	Question	Answer
61	What is H2O commonly known as?	Water
62	What is CO2 commonly known as?	Carbon dioxide
63	What is the chemical symbol for gold?	Au
64	What is the chemical symbol for silver?	Ag
65	What is the chemical symbol for iron?	Fe
66	What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?	Diamond
67	What is the center of an atom called?	Nucleus
68	What do we call animals with backbones?	Vertebrates
69	What do we call animals without backbones?	Invertebrates
70	What is the study of living organisms called?	Biology

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Set 8: Space & Astronomy

#	Question	Answer
71	Which planet is known as the Red Planet?	Mars
72	Which planet is the largest in our solar system?	Jupiter
73	Which planet is closest to the Sun?	Mercury
74	Which planet is known as the Blue Planet?	Earth
75	What is the name of our galaxy?	Milky Way

Set 8: Space & Astronomy (Continued)

#	Question	Answer
76	What is the study of stars called?	Astronomy
77	What do we call a person who studies stars?	Astronomer
78	What is the largest planet in our solar system?	Jupiter
79	What is the smallest planet in our solar system?	Mercury
80	What do we call the path of a planet around the Sun?	Orbit

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Set 9: Weather & Environment

#	Question	Answer
81	What is the study of weather called?	Meteorology
82	What do we call the process of water turning into vapor?	Evaporation
83	What do we call water falling from clouds?	Rain
84	What do we call a very strong storm with wind?	Hurricane/Cyclone
85	What is the main gas in Earth's atmosphere?	Nitrogen
86	What gas do plants absorb from the air?	Carbon dioxide
87	What gas do plants release into the air?	Oxygen
88	What do we call the layer of gas around the Earth?	Atmosphere
89	What causes tides in the ocean?	Moon
90	What do we call frozen water falling from the sky?	Snow

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🏛️ History, Arts & Culture

Set 10: History & Famous People

#	Question	Answer
91	Who wrote Romeo and Juliet?	Shakespeare
92	Who painted the Mona Lisa?	Da Vinci
93	Who discovered America in 1492?	Columbus
94	What is the name of the British flag?	Union Jack
95	What is the name of the national anthem of the UK?	God Save the King
96	Which ancient civilization built pyramids?	Egyptians
97	What do we call the period of European history after the Middle Ages?	Renaissance
98	Who is known for the theory of relativity?	Einstein
99	What instrument has 88 keys?	Piano
100	What do we call the fear of heights?	Acrophobia