In this blog, we will brief about the Answer Short Question Type: its format, scoring criteria, preparation tips, common mistakes to avoid, and useful resources to help you excel.

Understanding the Answer Short Question Task

It is the fifth type of question in a speaking module. In this task, a short audio of a question plays automatically and there may be an image also on the screen based on the question. Then recording will start without any short beep tone, so answer the question in one or few words into the microphone immediately when the recording bar color changes. You will have about 10 seconds record your answer.

It assesses Speaking and Listening skills. 

IMPORTANT:  If you remain silent for longer than 3 seconds, the recording will stop.

Task Format

In the Answer Short Question task:

• Prompt Length: 3-9 Seconds
• Preparation Time: You will have 1-2 seconds to prepare before speaking.
• Speaking Time: Around 10 seconds to repeat exactly what you hear.
• Skills Assessed: Listening and Speaking
• Skills Profile: Short Speaking
• No. of Tasks: 5-6

Scoring Pattern of Answer Short Question

Answer the question in one or few words, this question assesses your ability to understand the question which has been presented in the audio, the short and accurate response is required for the given question. Your response will be either correct or incorrect. It will assess your vocabulary and the right answer will add score to Speaking and Listening.  There will be no score for no response or incorrect response.

Answer Short Question carries around 1-2 points in Speaking and Listening skills. Points will depend on the range of questions comes in the test.

Tips & Tricks for Answer Short Question

The audio of a question is played automatically and you have to answer it in one or few words once you hear.

The microphone starts 2 seconds after the audio finishes. The audio starts automatically after 2-3 seconds. When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and, on the screen, you can notice the recording status box with a bar moving towards the right-hand side. Once the bar gets highlighted, try to speak the answer immediately into the microphone, as there is no beep before the recording starts.

Try to speak clearly and fluently.

Once the bar reaches the end, word “Recording” gets replaced with “Completed”.

The response will be recorded once only, there is no replay in it.

Test tips
 

• Be attentive while listening to the question to comprehend it since you only 10 seconds to answer it.
• There are 5-6 questions in the test, and the answer has to be in in one or few words. Most of these questions are of general awareness and are with two or three options.
• Each question requires a basic knowledge, don’t overthink what comes first in your mind.
• As these questions are based on general awareness, reading topics based on different activities help you to answer it correctly.
• Answer has to be immediate.
• If there is an image based on the question then it becomes easy to get the correct answer.
• Try to practice questions from the list you have as most of them come from there only.
• As the score is the least in the speaking, so don’t spend much of the time learning the answers of the given questions.
• The answer has to be short as long answer may not be scored.
• For Instance: What type of periodical is published on a daily basis?
  Answer should be: newspaper not try to speak it in a proper sentence.

Notes:
There will be no score for no response or an irrelevant response. This question type has a slight impact on Listening and Speaking module.

Answer Short Question Practice

Now, get a free mock test on ptepanacea.com. You will realise your strengths and weaknesses in the four PTE skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading & Listening. We are here with real exam simulations and question-wise practices especially for Answer Short Question to concentrate on weak areas. If you compare our material closely, it closely resembles actual PTE content. You get the same format and question types in time limits. Such comprehensive practice will help you to be very well prepared and confident enough to ace the Read Aloud test item and the whole PTE exam.

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