100+ Commonly Asked PTE Short Answer Questions List 2026
Last updated: Jan 5, 2026
It is well said that sometimes a short response says a lot about the situation, and this is especially true in the PTE Academic. Sounds confusing, right? Let's make it clear. The speaking section of the exam features PTE short answer questions, a unique task that tests your ability to listen thoroughly, think quickly and provide an accurate response under timed conditions. In this comprehensive guide, you will discover the short answer questions PTE task with the help of 100+ samples and some expert tips to answer them.
Before delving into the commonly asked short answer questions, it is important to learn about what the actual task is and what you can expect on your exam day. Here are the detailed insights to help you start effectively.
The PTE Short Answer Questions is a task type that features in the speaking section of the test.
The task includes students hearing a question and providing a precise answer in a few words.
The task is AI-driven, and the prompt/question is played for 3–9 seconds. After this duration, you will have 10 seconds to think and provide a precise answer.
After the audio, your microphone opens, and the status of the question changes to 'recording'. Here, you have to speak into the microphone, as after 10 seconds, the question will be displayed as 'completed'.
This question type affects your overall listening score and does not majorly evaluate speaking and writing skills.
What is the Correct Approach to PTE Short Answer Questions?
The PTE short answer questions task is AI-driven, and for strong results, it is important for you to follow the correct approach. Simply, there are key areas you have to focus on before appearing for the test. It will help you answer the questions in the correct manner.
The audio for the task plays automatically; just wait for a few seconds.
The audio cannot be replayed, listen to the question carefully so you don't miss any information.
The time duration for PTE short-answer questions only allows for a few words, so focus on providing a precise answer using 2-3 words.
Provide an answer to your question as soon as the recording stops, as the status of the question automatically changes to 'completed'.
The re-record option is not available, so you only have one chance after it’s done.
There is no negative marking for incorrect answers, so aim to answer all questions.
Here is a list of 50+ short answer questions to give you an insight for what type of question you come across in the PTE speaking section of the exam:
In which article of Indian constitution, right to live with dignity defines? Art. 21
What do we call the political ideology where private individuals or companies own the means of productions? Capitalism
A set of fundamentals principles that draws basic structures, powers and duties for the citizens and government called as? Constitution
What do we call a system where power is shared between a president and a prime minister, responsible to the legislature? Semi-presidential republic
Which power is used by the president to reject or hold a bill? Veto
How many countries in Asia are land locked? 12
Which country has the maximum active volcanoes in the world? Indonesia
Which continent is known as the “Dark Continent”? Africa
What do you call a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses? Isthmus
Where is the Great Barrier Reef located? Off the coast of Queensland, Australia
What is the capital of Egypt? Cairo
Which mountain range separates Europe and Asia? The Ural Mountains
Which river flows through the city of Paris? The Seine River
Who is considered the founder of microeconomics? Adam Smith
Goods produced to produce yet other goods are known as? Capital
Which form the following economics resources cannot be converted into commodity? Labour
Subsidies are used to encourage? Production
Which economic term is used to measure the overall performance of an economy? GDP
Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination? Cerebellum
Which gas do plant take during photosynthesis? Carbon dioxide
What is the Ph level of pure water? 7
What force opposes motion between two surface in contact? Friction
What type of wave requires a medium to travel through? Mechanical wave.
Which is the rarest blood group? AB negative
Which type of sugar is found in honey? Fructose
How many chromosomes are in the human gene? 46
The longest and largest bone in the human body is? Femur
What is the chemical name of washing soda? Sodium carbonate
How many biodiversity hotspots exist in the world? 36
When is World Environment Day celebrated? 5th June
Name the sea that is commonly referred to as an oceanic desert- Sargasso Sea
Who discovered the term "ecosystem'? Arthur G Tansley
Which is the following is the largest ecosystem in the world? Ocean Ecosystem
Which ecosystem constitutes a link between terrestrial and marine ecosystems- Mangrove forest
What is the smallest unit of data in a computer? Bit
What type of software is used to surf the web? Web browser
What does SSD stand for? Solid-state drive
Which key is used to refresh a webpage? F5
What does FTP stand for? File Transfer Protocol
How many years are there in one Millennium? 1000 Years
Name a bird that lays the largest eggs? Ostrich
Who gave the theory of relativity? Albert Einstein
In which year did the Titanic sink? 1912
What is the boiling point of water? 100 degrees Celsius
Who painted the Mona Lisa? Leonardo da Vinci
Which animal is known for its intelligence and ability to use tools? Chimpanzee
At which place on earth are there days and nights of equal length always? Equator
Which ancient civilization is known for its pyramids? Egyptian Civilization
Who wrote the famous book " Harry Potter”? J.K. Rowling
Who is known as the 'father of modern Indian art’? Raja Ravi Verma
The Hundred Years’ War was fought between which two countries? England and France
Hitler was the dictator of which country? Germany
Which is the largest river island in the world? Majuli Island
Which country is called the ‘Coffee Bowl of the World’? Brazil
In which year was the paper currency first introduced in India? 1861
Who was the first woman to head a democratic government in Pakistan? Benazir Bhutto
Where is the Cape of Good Hope located? South Africa
Most of the Amazon River flows through which country? Brazil
Which strait divides Europe from Africa? Gibraltar
Which mountain is located between India and Nepal? Kanchenjunga
Where is Mount St. Helens located? USA
What is the name of the first Indian missile? Prithvi
Which country has decided to leave the International Space Station in 2024? Russia
Which location was declared the Eighth Wonder of the World in November 2023? Angkor Wat
Which organisation releases the Human Development Index (HDI)? UNDP
The last remaining habitat of the Asiatic Lion is? Gir National Park
Which plant hormone helps in cell division? Cytokinin
Which of the following kingdoms consists of prokaryotic cells? Monera
In how many groups are plants divided? 5
The essential organs in a flower for reproduction are The stamen and pistil.
A person with high blood pressure is advised to reduce the intake of - Sodium.
Which cells of our body cannot respire anaerobically? Mature RBC.
Which blood group is known as the universal donor? O negative
One can save the lives of twelve people by donating blood how many times a year? Four
Calcium deficiency in old age leads to which disease? Osteoporosis
Which vaccines are 85% effective against monkeypox? Jynneos
Colour blindness and Haemophilia disease in humans are due to - Recessive genes present on the X chromosome.
The BCG vaccine for tuberculosis immunization was developed by? Albert Calmette and Camile Guerin
Which of the following is called the first line of Immunity? Innate Immunity
Which food component helps in protecting the body from infections? Vitamins and minerals
Which semi-essential amino acid plays an important role in your body’s immune function, digestion, sleep and sexual function? Histidine
What is the chemical name for Vitamin B7? Biotin
Napoleon Bonaparte is known by the nickname? Man of Destiny
Bhupen Hazarika, Bharat Ratna winner, is related to which field? Art
In the first cabinet of independent India, who held the portfolio of commerce? C.H. Bhabha
Who has become the first woman officer, hailing from Rajasthan, to be posted at the world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier? Capt. Shiva Chauhan
The race of my life is the autobiography of a famous Indian athlete. - Milkha Singh
Which famous cricketer authored the book ‘Straight from the Heart’? Kapil Dev
Individuals who are the founders of the business and conceptualise a business plan by putting effort into making the plan a success are known as? Pure Entrepreneurs
Which country, as represented by the Global Entrepreneurship Index, has the highest level of entrepreneurial activity? The USA
In which year was the communication in 2G launched in the market? 1988
Which of the following protocols enables access to the internet from a mobile device? Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
A 4G communication supports the data rates of? 1024
In the context of mobile communication, what is the full form of LTE? Long Term Evolution
What company does Sundar Pichai serve as CEO of? Alphabet (Google)
George Kurian, who is an Indian- American business executive, serves as the CEO of which organization? Net App
The inspirational leader behind the founding of the All India Women’s Conference was? Margaret Cousins
Who has written the book named ‘Gulamgiri’? Jyotirao Phule
Which space agencies use a spacecraft named Hayabusa? Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
100.Which woman astronaut has set the world record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman? Christine Koch
Now that you've checked out the sample questions, you can either practice these or appear for a free PTE mock test to check your progress. When you turn to professionals, they can help you prepare for all question types like describe image, retell lecture, and more. Moving back to short answer questions, you can check out the tips shared by experts in the section below!
Now that you have explored the most asked 100+ PTE short answer questions and the correct approach, it's time to explore some expert tips, which will be helpful for your overall PTE exam preparation.
Preparation Phase
Since the task is designed to assess your speaking abilities, focus on building your vocabulary and learning new words daily.
Pronunciation is undoubtedly one of the core areas you must master for better results.
Make use of various online practice materials like free mock tests and PTE short answer questions with answers PDF to enhance your preparation.
Practice regularly and track your improvement in intervals to make sure you are progressing every day.
Exam Day Tips
For this task, your listening skills are equally important as your speaking skills, given that you will only get one chance to hear the question. In this case, employ full concentration and focus on any keywords.
With a response time of 10 seconds, thinking quickly is one of the core tips that you focus on. Avoid wasting time on long answers and focus on saying the correct word.
The questions asked are not tricky and revolve around general knowledge and everyday situations, which can be enhanced by taking regular PTE tests.
What’s Next?
Once you master short answer questions, it is important to move ahead and practice the various other task types that are equally important to ace your PTE speaking section. Here are the other task types that you must focus on for effective PTE Exam Preparation:
Each of these tasks assesses your speaking ability through a different dimension, and mastering them can be the key to your dream score. For preparation guidance, reach out to experts through online PTE coaching and get your personalised study plan for free.
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All things considered, this ends our informative journey of learning about PTE short answer questions. Mastering this task type requires you to have strong listening and quick thinking skills, which helps improve your accuracy and confidence for the test. The 100+ commonly asked questions provided above can be of great help to prepare for your big day. However, for comprehensive practice sessions, you can take up our free PTE mock tests, which will provide a clear picture of your preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Much Time Do I Have to Answer the Question?
You have 10 seconds to record your answer, but you shouldn't be silent for more than three seconds at the beginning or one second at the middle of the answer. Otherwise, the recording will be marked as completed.
How Long Should My Answer Be?
Your answer should be one or a few words. Moreover, it should be completed in 10 seconds.
What If I Don't Know the Answer?
Try to focus on the question and find out if anything sounds familiar. Even if you do not know the right answer, you can attempt the question as there would be no negative marking.
How to Improve My Chances of Scoring Better?
Read books and newspapers regularly. You can also give mock tests to track your progress. This way, you can improve your practice and learning.
What to Do If I Give a Wrong Answer?
You cannot re-record your answer; so, you must do it carefully. However, if you give the wrong answer, then just move on to the next question.
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