Updated
Answer Short Question appears 5–6 times in Part 1 of PTE Academic and counts towards Listening. Listen to the whole question, because the key word often comes at the end, and answer with just the word or short phrase.
These are BandLadder-original recordings, not official Pearson questions. Play each question once, say your answer aloud, then open the answer. To have a spoken answer checked, practise it on the set page.
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10 PTE Answer Short Question sample questions
Sample 1 · Amphibian Decline and Survival
Young Frog Stage
Speaker: British English · 0:06
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What word refers to the swimming larval form of a frog before it develops legs?
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tadpole
Also accepted: tadpoles
A tadpole is the aquatic larval stage of a frog or toad.
Sample 2 · Atmosphere and Planetary Science
Trapping of Atmospheric Heat
Speaker: Indian English · 0:07
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What common scientific term describes the warming of a planet caused by trapped heat in its atmosphere?
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greenhouse effect
Also accepted: the greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect refers to the process where atmospheric gases trap thermal radiation and warm a planet.
Sample 3 · Comets and Astronomy Basics
Optical Device for Stars
Speaker: Indian English · 0:06
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What optical instrument do astronomers use to observe distant objects in the night sky?
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telescope
Also accepted: telescopes
A telescope is the standard optical instrument used to view celestial bodies.
Sample 4 · Eel Migration and River Journeys
River Mouth Geography
Speaker: British English · 0:05
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What word describes the wide coastal area where a river meets the sea?
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estuary
Also accepted: estuaries
An estuary is the tidal mouth of a large river where the tide meets the stream.
Sample 5 · Jellyfish and Ocean Ecosystems
Backbone Classification
Speaker: Indian English · 0:06
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What general term describes animals that do not possess a backbone or spinal column?
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invertebrate
Also accepted: invertebrates
Animals without backbones such as jellyfish are classified as invertebrates.
Sample 6 · Marine Navigation and Timekeeping
Measuring Passage of Time
Speaker: Australian English · 0:06
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What general term refers to an instrument used for measuring and indicating time?
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clock
Also accepted: clocks, timepiece, watch
A clock is the standard device used to measure and display time.
Sample 7 · Ocean Life and Coral Reefs
Ocean Temperature Measurement
Speaker: Indian English · 0:06
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What common laboratory instrument is used by scientists to measure the temperature of seawater?
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thermometer
Also accepted: thermometers
A thermometer is the standard device used to measure temperature.
Sample 8 · Regional Birdsong Patterns
Auditory Body Organ
Speaker: British English · 0:05
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Which sensory organ do animals and humans use to listen to sounds?
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ear
Also accepted: ears
The ear is the organ used for detecting sound and hearing.
Sample 9 · Standard Time and Railways
Train Movement Surface
Speaker: Indian English · 0:05
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What metal rails do trains travel along when moving between stations?
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track
Also accepted: tracks, railway track, railroad track
Trains run along parallel steel lines known as tracks.
Sample 10 · The Optics of Rainbows
Light Bending Term
Speaker: American English · 0:06
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What scientific term describes the bending of light when it passes from air into water?
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refraction
Refraction is the standard term for the change in direction of a light wave passing between different media.
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Take a free mock →Answer Short Question sample questions: FAQ
What is PTE Answer Short Question?+
You hear a short question and answer it aloud with one word or a few words, within 10 seconds. It is in PTE Academic and PTE Core.
How long is the question, and is there a beep?+
The recording is 3–9 seconds: one question. There is no tone: start right after the question. Recording stops after three seconds of silence, so answer promptly.
How many Answer Short Question questions are in the PTE test?+
Pearson's PTE Academic Score Guide (July 2025) lists 5–6 Answer Short Question items in Part 1.
How is Answer Short Question scored?+
Correct or incorrect: one mark for an appropriate word or phrase, zero otherwise. A short, accurate answer gets full marks; extra words earn no extra credit.
Do I need to answer in a full sentence?+
No. Pearson says one word or a few words is often enough, and extra words earn no credit. If unsure, say your best guess: there is no penalty for a wrong answer.
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