A process for preparing a polyarylene ether ketone comprises the following process steps: a) reaction of an aromatic dihalogen compound with a bisphenol and/or a halophenol in the presence of alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal carbonate or hydrogencarbonate in a high-boiling aprotic solvent to give a polyarylene ether ketone, b) wet comminution and simultaneous preextraction of the solidified reaction mixture, c) extraction and filtration of the wet-comminuted product in a pressure suction filter and d) drying of the extracted product. This combination enables improved workup of the reaction mixture.