PTE Describe Image Guide: Practice Tips & Tricks

In the PTE test, the third task you come across is describe image. This task is independently scoring in speaking only. With the outbreak of this task is the ability to look at a visual and understand it and describe it to others who are not presented. In your studies or your work, you will often find yourself in situations where you have to interpret visual data. E.g. you might be required to make a presentation, with some graphs and charts in it. Or you might have to understand a map and explain it to others. This is essentially what the PTE Describe Image question type is about. You will see an image on your screen and then describe what it is about. The software will assess your response using a number of parameters. The question type can appear quite daunting in the beginning, but with a well-developed strategy and well-practiced method and templates, you can soon start to do very well in it.

Understanding the PTE Describe Image Task

The Describe Image task in PTE-Academic is one of the most challenging parts of the test. Many test-takers find it confusing due to the scoring criteria and the correct way to answer. However, with the right strategy, you can perform well.

How the PTE Describe Image Task Works:

• You have 25 seconds to analyze the image and plan your response. This planning time is crucial.
• After 25 seconds, you will hear a short tone. You must start speaking immediately after the tone.
• You have 40 seconds to describe the image.
• This task only assesses your speaking skills, so focus on clarity, pronunciation, and fluency.

How to Structure Your PTE Describe Image Response:

1. Introduction – First, understand the overall theme of the image. This will help you create a strong opening sentence.
2. Main Content – Focus on 2-3 key points, such as trends, comparisons, highs, and lows. You don’t need to mention every small detail – just highlight the most important information.
3. Conclusion – If time allows, provide a smart insight. If you are unsure, give a general statement that relates to the image type.

PTE Describe Image Format

PTE Describe Image Tips & Tricks

1. Don’t Get Lost In Details 

• Too many test takers try so hard to capture each and every detail in the image that they lose focus and fail to deliver a strong response. 
• You don’t have to sound like someone who is confused and, in a hurry, to read a long list of points. Capture a few points, connect them properly, and deliver them in a well-structured response. 
• That will get you a much better score. 

2. Speak At The Right 

• Some of you think speaking too fast is all you need to do to achieve a high PTE speaking score. 
• Others think speaking slowly and putting a lot of stress on each word is needed. 
• However, what is most important is that you speak naturally! What is natural coming from you might not be the same for someone else. 
• So, you must practice, practice,
•  and practice to determine what is the optimal speed at which you should speak to sound most natural. 

3. Give A Structured Response 

• Your response should have a well-defined beginning, a middle part, and a conclusion if possible. 
• It shouldn’t be like someone has taken separate sentences and is just reading them one after. 
• The points should follow each other naturally and should be well connected grammatically. 

5. Use Templates With Care 

• Templates give you a good way of structuring your response. 
• Since you already know how to begin and end your response, you won’t have to spend time figuring that out. 
• Avoid using the same template for each describe image question.
• Instead, try to have different templates for each describe image type question. 

6. Get Timed Practice 

• Always make sure that you practice only in a timed environment. 
• Responding to a describe image question in 2 minutes is very different from responding in 40 seconds. 
• The quality of your response depends directly on the time you spend. 
• So, if you want the best outcome from your practice, keep a timer near you.

7. Practice Regularly

• The more you practice, the more confident and comfortable you will become with the format of the DI tasks. 
• Try to practice at least once a day, and aim to cover a range of image types, such as graphs, charts, maps, and diagrams.

8. Use Appropriate Vocabulary

• In the PTE Describe image section, it’s important to use appropriate vocabulary related to the image you are describing. 
• For example, if you are describing a graph, you should use words like “increase,” “decrease,” “fluctuate,” and “plateau.”

9. Focus On The Main Points 

• When describing an image, focus on the main points and avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
• Stick to the important information that the image is conveying.

10. Use Connectors

• Using connectors such as “however,” “therefore,” and “meanwhile” can help to link your ideas together and make your response more coherent.

11. Manage Your Time

• In the PTE Describe image section, you have just 40 seconds to describe an image, so it’s important to manage your time effectively. 
• Use the first few seconds to analyse the image and plan your response.
• Speak clearly and concisely to make the most of the time you have.

12. Get Feedback

• After completing a DI task, ask someone to listen to your response and give you feedback. 
• This can help you to identify areas where you need to improve and make adjustments to your approach.

How to Score High in PTE Describe Image?

• Use the initial 25 seconds to identify elements in the image that you are going to talk about.
• Keep the scoring software happy by mentioning the keywords that you see in the image.
• Use filler words/phrases like:
  • “Apart from this, it is also visible that…”
  • “If I look closely at the image, I can say that…”
  • “Moreover, the image also shows that…”
• Avoid pauses, ‘aahs’, and ‘uhms’.
• Use adverb conjunctions like:
  • “In addition,”
  • “However,”
  • “Although,”
• Don’t forget to include concluding remarks like:
  • “In conclusion,”
  • “Overall,”
  • “Finally,”
• Avoid speaking words/phrases that are complicated and can trip you up. 
• You will lose marks in fluency or pronunciation.
• It is fine if you speak for 32-35 seconds, if you:
  • Include all the keywords
  • Use filler words effectively
  • Describe the image properly
  • Conclude appropriately

Conclusion

By following a structured approach and focusing on key details, you can confidently tackle the Describe Image task in PTE-Academic. With regular practice and the right strategy, you can improve your fluency, pronunciation, and overall PTE speaking score.