PTE Answer Short Question Practice Online 2026
Answer Short Question plays a short spoken question, and you answer with a single word or a few words within 10 seconds.
It checks general vocabulary and listening. PTEAce uses AI to judge whether your spoken answer is correct and shows you the expected answer.
A free account is needed to see and answer the practice questions.
Answer Short Question at a glance
- Questions in the exam
- 5–6
- Timing
- 3–9s audio, 10s record
- Skills scored
- Listening, Vocabulary
- Marking on PTEAce
- Scored by AI on the PTE 10–90 scale
- Share of PTE Academic score
- About 2%
Tips
- Answer with one word or a short phrase — full sentences are not needed.
- Answer straight away; you have only a few seconds before recording stops.
- Build vocabulary around common topics: science, the human body, geography, time, shapes and everyday objects.
FAQs
Do I need to answer Answer Short Question in a full sentence?
No. A single correct word or short phrase earns the mark.
How is Answer Short Question scored?
It is scored as correct or incorrect and contributes to your Speaking and Listening scores.
More Speaking practice
- Read Aloud — Read a short text aloud after a brief preparation.; 6–7 in the exam; 30–40s prep, 30–35s record; tests Pronunciation, Oral fluency, Reading; about 4% of the Academic score; AI marked. Read Aloud study guide
- Repeat Sentence — Listen to a sentence and repeat it exactly.; 10–12 in the exam; 3–9s audio, 15s record; tests Pronunciation, Oral fluency, Listening; about 7% of the Academic score; AI marked. Repeat Sentence study guide
- Describe Image — Describe a chart, graph, or photo in detail.; 6–7 in the exam; 25s prep, 40s record; tests Pronunciation, Oral fluency, Content; about 15% of the Academic score; AI marked. Describe Image study guide
- Re-tell Lecture (PTE Academic) — Listen to a short lecture and re-tell what you heard.; 1–2 in the exam; 60–90s audio, 10s prep, 40s record; tests Pronunciation, Oral fluency, Listening, Content; about 6% of the Academic score; AI marked. Re-tell Lecture study guide
- Summarize Group Discussion (PTE Academic) — Listen to a multi-speaker discussion and summarise the key points.; 1–2 in the exam; up to 3 min audio, 10s prep, 2 min record; tests Listening, Oral fluency, Pronunciation, Content; about 9% of the Academic score; AI marked.
- Respond to a Situation (PTE Academic) — Hear a real-world situation and give an appropriate spoken response.; 1–2 in the exam; ~20s audio, 10s prep, 40s record; tests Listening, Oral fluency, Pronunciation, Content; about 6% of the Academic score; AI marked.
- Respond to a Situation (PTE Core) — Listen to a short situation and respond appropriately (PTE Core).; 1 in the exam; ~20s audio, 20s prep, 40s record; tests Listening, Oral fluency, Pronunciation; AI marked.