PTE Academic, Speaking and writing
PTE Answer Short Question
You hear a simple general-knowledge question and answer with one or a few words.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | None: start speaking straight away |
| Response time | Up to 10 seconds |
| How it's scored | Scored on whether your answer is appropriate. It also feeds your listening score. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 4% of your speaking score |
How to answer Answer Short Question
- 1Listen for the question word: what, which, who, where.
- 2Answer with the word or short phrase only.
- 3Speak clearly straight after the tone.
Common mistakes
- Answering with a full sentence, which wastes time and adds risk.
- Waiting too long before answering.
Sample question
Instrument for air pressure
This is a listening question: open it in the app to hear the recording.
Show a model answer (90 / 90)
A barometer.