How Many Short Answer Questions are asked in PTE

The PTE Speaking section consists of an answer short question type. But many candidates are doubtful about how many short questions are in the PTE or what is the purpose of the PTE answer short question. They even ask questions like how to attempt the answer short question section in the PTE and how short questions in PTE are scored. To know all these important details and more, read below.

In the Speaking section of the PTE, you will come across the Answer Short questions type. Here, the test-taker will be asked to answer a short question – unusually in one or two words. There will be around 10 to 12 answer short questions in total, and you will be awarded +1 Mark for each correct answer. There will be no negative marking for incorrect answers, so it would be prudent to attempt all the questions in this section. In the PTE, Answer Short Questions is the last part of the Speaking module.

To prepare for the Answer Short Questions section, one must brush up on their common knowledge repository as well as on current events and news. To do so, follow the suggestions by our experts:

• Watch TV news reports for half an hour daily – follow both morning and evening news.
• Read well-respected and reputable newspapers & magazines – such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine etc.
• Practice General Knowledge quizzes and similar exercises.
• Watch documentaries and TED Talks and follow Knowledge channels on Youtube.
• Follow yearly book publications on current affairs for a quick refresher.

Here are some Sample Answer Short Questions for practice:

What is the capital of France? 

Paris

What is the first paragraph of an essay? 

Introduction

What do we call the thread in the centre of the candle?

Wick

What are the mountains that can erupt?

Volcanoes.

What are the people who study history and historical evidence?

Historian.

Which symbol is used to complete a sentence?

Full stop/period

Where does a camel normally live?

Desert.

A document protecting someone’s intellectual property? 

Copyright.

What is the job title for someone who makes meals in a restaurant? 

Chef/Cook

Which part at the end of the book can be used for further reading? 

Bibliography

What does a Sundial measure?

Time

How many years are there in a passage of a decade?

10 years

Who sits in the cockpit of an aeroplane?

Pilot.

When your bone is injured and broken, what would you say you have?

Fracture.

What do you call the people who work for a company? 

Employees.

Which one is more fuel efficient, a small car or a large truck? 

A small car.

What is the big musical instrument that has 88 black and white keys? 

Piano.

What is the meaning of “post” in the word “postgraduate”?

After

How many days are there added in February during a leap year? 

1 day

What do you call a doctor who can sell prescribed medicines in a hospital?

Chemist/Pharmacist

Which one would a vegetarian most likely eat, egg sandwiches or fruit salad?

Fruit salad.

Which one has lower humidity, a desert or a rainforest?

A desert.

If you have a toothache, do you go to a surgeon or a dentist? 

Dentist.

Animals with white ivory and long trunk?

Elephant

How many years does a centennial celebrate?

100 years.

What do you call a list in front of a book which outlines the structure of a book?

Table of Contents

Which one has higher humidity, a desert or a rainforest?

A rainforest.

Under which circumstance would you describe the economy as a good one, the one with high unemployment or low unemployment?

Low unemployment.

What do you call the book where you collect all your photos together?

Album.

How many days are there in February during a leap year?

29days.

When you use Microsoft Word, what does “Times New Roman” mean?

Font.

Which organ is the blood pumped from?

Heart.

How would you describe someone who can speak two languages? 

Bilingual

What is the outer part that protects fruits like oranges and bananas? 

Peel.

Where can students borrow reference materials in school?

library.

How do you call the money that citizens must contribute to the government for public use?

Tax.

What kind of clothes and shoes do you wear to keep it comfortable when hiking?

Hiking outfit.

What is the hardest/toughest part of your hand?

Nails

What is the natural material used to make a car tire?

Rubber

What does the chemical symbol H2O stand for?

Water.

A newspaper is published every day, and a journal is published every month. What do you call the publication that is published four times a year?

Quarterly.

What do we call a period of 10 years?

Decade

What do we call a period of 100 years?

Century

What do we call a period of 1000 years?

Millennium

What is a painting of a person’s head usually called?

Portrait

Where would you find an urban area: in a city or in the countryside?

a city

What do we call it when the Moon completely blocks out the light from the Sun?

A Solar Eclipse

What point of the compass is directly opposite to East? 

West

Where do you pay for your purchases at a supermarket?

Till or checkout

 What features do pianos and computers have in common? 

Keyboard