Speaking · ASQ
Answer Short Question: PTE guide and practice
Answer Short Question asks for a brief and accurate response to a spoken general-knowledge question.
- Section
- Speaking
- Practice time
- About 1 minute per item
- Official format
- Pearson PTE
Direct answer
What is Answer Short Question in PTE?
Listen to the question and answer directly, often with one or a few words. A longer response does not earn extra credit.
What it measures
Which skills does Answer Short Question assess?
Listening comprehension and the accuracy of the answer.
Step by step
How should you approach Answer Short Question?
- Listen for the question word and subject.
- Give the shortest complete answer you are confident about.
- Use a natural phrase when a single word would sound unclear.
Avoid these
Common Answer Short Question mistakes
- Giving a long explanation instead of the answer.
- Repeating the question while the response window is open.
Scoring focus
What matters in your Answer Short Question response?
Answer Short Question is scored for whether the spoken answer is correct. A short, direct response is usually stronger than an explanation that introduces uncertainty.
Worked example
See the strategy in a short practice example.
Illustrative The Panel practice example. Not official Pearson test material.
- Prompt or source
- What instrument is used to measure temperature?
- Response
- A thermometer.
- Why it works
- The answer is complete, immediate and contains no extra language that could change its meaning.
Teacher review
One adjustment to practise next.
Use the question word to predict the answer type: who suggests a person, where a place, and what instrument an object.
Before submitting
Use a final Answer Short Question check.
- I answered the exact question.
- My response is brief and audible.
- I avoided repeating the prompt.
Official reference
Use The Panel for guided preparation and practice. Confirm official test rules and scoring details on the Pearson PTE Speaking format page.
Build the full skill
Continue with related speaking tasks.
Connect question practice with scoring, study planning and timed test preparation.
Read Aloud
Read Aloud asks you to speak a written passage clearly and naturally after a short preparation period.
Repeat Sentence
Repeat Sentence asks you to listen once and repeat the sentence as accurately and fluently as possible.
Describe Image
Describe Image asks you to give a clear spoken overview of the important information shown in an image.
Put the guide into practice
Try a focused Answer Short Question session.
Open the matching module in The Panel practice portal and apply the steps while they are fresh.