PTE Describe Image: A Beginner's Guide
Describe Image appears 3-4 times in PTE Academic . You get 25 seconds to prepare and 40
seconds to speak . The task contributes only to your Speaking
score .
What the Examiner
Actually Wants
Your
response is scored on three separate traits, each out of 5:
|
Trait Max What It Measures |
||
|
Content |
5 |
Did you describe the actual key information in this specific image? |
|
Oral Fluency |
5 |
Smooth speech, steady pace, no long pauses |
|
Pronunciation |
5 |
Clear sounds, correct stress |
Critical warning: If you use a memorised template, your Content
score can drop to 0 — and when that happens, Fluency and
Pronunciation are not scored at all. Your entire response for that
task scores zero .
The 3-Step
Strategy That Works
Instead
of memorising sentences, use a flexible structure. The steps
stay the same; the words change with each image .
|
Time What You Do |
|
|
0–5 sec |
Say what kind of image it is and what it shows |
|
5–20 sec |
State the most significant feature
(highest, lowest, biggest change) |
|
20–35 sec |
Give 2–3 specific details
(numbers, labels, comparison) |
|
35–40 sec |
One short conclusion sentence |
Do not try to mention every single number. You only have 40 seconds. Pick the most important
points .
PTE Describe Image
Describe
Image is an important Speaking task in PTE
Academic. You will see an image on the screen and you need to describe the
important information in your own words.
According
to Pearson, you get 25 seconds to study and prepare and 40 seconds to
speak. You can make short notes during preparation and then start speaking
after the tone.
Current PTE Academic Format
|
Item |
Information |
|
Question type |
Describe Image |
|
Section |
Speaking & Writing |
|
Current scored questions |
5 |
|
Preparation time |
25
seconds |
|
Speaking time |
40
seconds |
|
Skills assessed |
Speaking |
|
Maximum raw item score |
15 |
|
Content |
5 |
|
Oral Fluency |
5 |
|
Pronunciation |
5 |
Pearson's
published July 2025 concordance material lists 5 scored Describe Image tasks
and approximately 31.3% of Speaking weighting for this task type.
Important: The number of questions can vary in older preparation
materials, so use the current Pearson format when preparing for the test.
🎯 What Do You Need to Do?
You
will see an image such as:
- Bar chart
- Line graph
- Pie chart
- Table
- Process diagram
- Map
- Mixed chart
- Other visual information
Your
job is not to explain every small detail.
Your
job is to identify:
1. What is the image about?
2. What is the most important information?
3. What are 2–3 important details?
4. What is the overall trend or conclusion?
Pearson
specifically recommends focusing on the main information and significant
trends, rather than trying to mention every feature.
⭐ The Easy 4-Part Strategy
Use
this simple structure:
1. Introduction
Say
what the image shows.
Examples:
- "This bar chart
shows..."
- "This line graph
shows..."
- "This pie chart
shows..."
- "This table
presents..."
- "This diagram
shows..."
- "This map
illustrates..."
Do
not use a long memorized opening.
2. Main Feature
Find
the most important point.
Look
for:
- Highest
- Lowest
- Biggest increase
- Biggest decrease
- Main category
- Largest percentage
- Overall trend
- Important process
Examples:
"The
highest figure is..."
"The
lowest figure is..."
"The
number increased significantly..."
"The
largest proportion is..."
3. Supporting Details
Give
2–3 useful details.
Mention:
- Numbers
- Percentages
- Years
- Categories
- Comparisons
- Trends
For
example:
"The
figure increased from 20 to 50."
"A
is higher than B."
"Sales
were highest in 2024."
4. Conclusion
Finish
with one short overall statement.
Examples:
- "Overall, the trend is
upward."
- "Overall, A has the
highest figure."
- "Overall, the process has
several simple steps."
- "Overall, the chart shows
a clear increase."
- "Overall, the northern
region has the highest value."
⏱️ How to Use Your 25 Seconds
Do
not waste your preparation time.
First 5 seconds
Identify
the image type.
Bar?
Line? Pie? Table? Map? Process?
Next 10 seconds
Find
the most important information.
Ask:
What
is highest?
What
is lowest?
What
changes?
Last 10 seconds
Choose
2–3 supporting details.
Write
only short keywords.
For
example:
Bar
– students – USA highest – Australia second – NZ lowest
Do
not write complete sentences.
Pearson
recommends using the preparation time to identify key trends and the most
significant trend.
🗣️ How Long Should You
Speak?
Try
to speak for approximately 30–40 seconds.
Do
not stop after 10–15 seconds.
You
have enough time to give:
Introduction
+ Main Point + Details + Conclusion
Pearson
specifically advises candidates to speak for 30–40 seconds and use
numbers from the image when appropriate.
🧠 What Should You Look For?
For a Bar Chart
Look
for:
- Highest
- Lowest
- Second highest
- Big differences
- Similar values
Useful
words:
highest,
lowest, more, less, higher, lower, similar, compared with
For a Line Graph
Look
for:
- Increase
- Decrease
- Peak
- Drop
- Stable period
- Overall trend
Useful
words:
increase,
decrease, rise, fall, grow, decline, peak, remain stable
For a Pie Chart
Look
for:
- Largest percentage
- Smallest percentage
- Similar percentages
- Main category
Useful
words:
percentage,
proportion, share, largest, smallest, account for
For a Table
Look
for:
- Highest number
- Lowest number
- Comparison
- Important differences
For a Process
Look
for:
- First step
- Next step
- Middle steps
- Final step
Useful
words:
first,
next, then, after that, finally
For a Map
Look
for:
- North
- South
- East
- West
- Highest area
- Lowest area
- Changes or distribution
Useful
words:
north,
south, east, west, area, region, located, distributed
🚫 Important Mistakes to
Avoid
1. Do Not Memorize One Full Template
Avoid
long memorized sentences such as:
"The
given image provides valuable information regarding..."
Pearson
warns against memorized responses or templated sentences. A response that
receives 0 for Content will not receive scores for fluency and
pronunciation for that task.
Use
a flexible structure, not a fixed paragraph.
2. Do Not Mention Every Number
You
only have 40 seconds.
Choose
the important numbers.
For
example:
❌
Do not read 10–15 numbers one after another.
✅
Mention the highest, lowest, and 2–3 important figures.
3. Do Not Give Your Personal Opinion
Describe
what you can see.
❌
"I think this is a very good situation."
❌
"In my opinion, this is important."
✅
"The percentage increased from 30% to 50%."
Pearson
advises candidates to avoid adding personal opinions and focus on the elements
shown in the image.
4. Do Not Speak Too Fast
Speak
clearly.
You
do not need difficult vocabulary.
Simple
+ clear + fluent English is better than complicated English with many pauses.
5. Do Not Stop Too Early
Try
to use most of the 40 seconds.
If
you finish your main points early, add another relevant comparison or trend.
🏆 Simple Formula
Remember:
I + M + D + C
I = Introduction
What
is the image about?
M = Main Feature
What
is the most important point?
D = Details
What
are 2–3 supporting details?
C = Conclusion
What
is the overall message?
Example:
"This
bar chart shows the number of students in four countries. Overall, Country A
has the highest number, while Country D has the lowest. Country A has 80
students, followed by Country B with 60. Country C has 45 students, while
Country D has only 20. Overall, there is a clear difference between the highest
and lowest figures."
📸 10 Practice Pictures with
Simple Answers
Picture 1: Bar Chart – Students in Four Countries
Image
information:
- USA – 80 students
- Australia – 60 students
- Canada – 45 students
- New Zealand – 20 students
Answer:
"This
bar chart shows the number of students in four countries. Overall, the USA has
the highest number, with 80 students. Australia is second with 60 students,
while Canada has 45. New Zealand has the lowest figure, with only 20 students.
The difference between the USA and New Zealand is quite large. Overall, the
chart shows that the USA has the highest number of students."
📸 Picture 2: Line Graph –
Internet Users
Image
information:
- 2020 – 40%
- 2021 – 50%
- 2022 – 60%
- 2023 – 70%
- 2024 – 80%
Answer:
"This
line graph shows the percentage of internet users from 2020 to 2024. The figure
was 40 percent in 2020 and increased to 50 percent in 2021. It continued to
rise to 60 percent in 2022 and 70 percent in 2023. Finally, it reached 80
percent in 2024. Overall, the graph shows a clear and steady increase in
internet use."
📸 Picture 3: Pie Chart –
Family Spending
Image
information:
- Food – 40%
- Rent – 30%
- Education – 15%
- Transport – 10%
- Other – 5%
Answer:
"This
pie chart shows family spending in five categories. Food takes the largest
share at 40 percent. Rent is the second largest category at 30 percent.
Education accounts for 15 percent, while transport represents 10 percent. Other
expenses make up only 5 percent. Overall, food and rent are the two main areas
of family spending."
📸 Picture 4: Table – Monthly
Sales
|
Month |
Sales |
|
January |
200 |
|
February |
250 |
|
March |
300 |
|
April |
450 |
Answer:
"This
table shows monthly sales from January to April. Sales were 200 units in
January and increased to 250 in February. In March, the figure reached 300
units. The highest sales were recorded in April, at 450 units. Overall, the
table shows a steady increase in sales during the four months, with the biggest
figure in April."
📸 Picture 5: Process Diagram
– Making Coffee
Image
information:
Boil
water → Add coffee → Add milk → Add sugar → Serve
Answer:
"This
process diagram shows how to make a cup of coffee. First, the water is boiled.
Next, coffee is added to the cup. Then, milk and sugar are added according to
preference. After that, the ingredients are mixed well. Finally, the coffee is
ready to serve. Overall, this is a simple five-step process."
📸 Picture 6: Map –
Population Distribution
Image
information:
- North – High population
- Central – Medium population
- South – Low population
Answer:
"This
map shows population distribution in three regions. The northern region has the
highest population. The central region has a medium level of population, while
the southern region has the lowest. There is a clear difference between the
three areas. Overall, the population decreases from north to south."
📸 Picture 7: Bar Chart –
Daily Activities
Image
information:
- Sleeping – 8 hours
- Working – 8 hours
- Studying – 4 hours
- Exercise – 2 hours
- Other activities – 2 hours
Answer:
"This
bar chart shows the number of hours people spend on different daily activities.
Sleeping and working take the largest amount of time, with eight hours each.
Studying takes four hours, while exercise and other activities take two hours
each. Overall, sleeping and working are the two main daily activities."
📸 Picture 8: Line Graph –
Company Profit
Image
information:
- 2021 – $20,000
- 2022 – $25,000
- 2023 – $30,000
- 2024 – $45,000
Answer:
"This
line graph shows the profit of a company from 2021 to 2024. The profit was
20,000 dollars in 2021 and increased to 25,000 in 2022. It reached 30,000
dollars in 2023. The biggest increase happened in 2024, when the profit reached
45,000 dollars. Overall, the company experienced strong growth over the four
years."
📸 Picture 9: Pie Chart –
Energy Sources
Image
information:
- Solar – 35%
- Wind – 25%
- Hydro – 20%
- Coal – 15%
- Other – 5%
Answer:
"This
pie chart shows different sources of energy. Solar energy has the largest share
at 35 percent. Wind energy accounts for 25 percent, followed by hydro energy at
20 percent. Coal represents 15 percent, while other sources make up only 5
percent. Overall, solar is the most important energy source in this
chart."
📸 Picture 10: Mixed Chart –
Transport Use
Image
information:
|
Transport |
Users |
|
Bus |
40% |
|
Car |
30% |
|
Train |
20% |
|
Bicycle |
10% |
Answer:
"This
chart shows the percentage of people using different types of transport. The
bus is the most popular option, used by 40 percent of people. Cars are second
at 30 percent, while trains account for 20 percent. Bicycles are the least
popular, at 10 percent. Overall, public transport, especially buses, is widely
used in this chart."
🗣️ Useful Vocabulary for
Describe Image
Comparison
- higher
- lower
- more
- less
- greater
- smaller
- similar
- different
- compared with
- followed by
Examples:
"A
is higher than B."
"B
is lower than C."
"A
is followed by B."
📈 Increase Vocabulary
- increase
- rise
- grow
- go up
- climb
- improve
Examples:
"The
number increased from 20 to 50."
"The
figure rose significantly."
📉 Decrease Vocabulary
- decrease
- fall
- decline
- drop
- go down
- reduce
Examples:
"The
number decreased from 80 to 60."
"There
was a sharp drop in the figure."
📊 Highest and Lowest
Highest
- highest
- largest
- greatest
- maximum
- peak
Lowest
- lowest
- smallest
- least
- minimum
Examples:
"The
USA has the highest figure."
"New
Zealand has the lowest figure."
🔗 Useful Connecting Words
- Overall
- In addition
- Similarly
- However
- While
- Whereas
- Compared with
- In contrast
- Finally
- Therefore
For
beginners, these simple connectors are enough.
5 Sample Answers by Image Type
1. Bar Chart —
International Students by Country
Image:
Bar chart showing international student numbers in five countries. US = 1
million, Australia = 800k, Canada = 650k, UK = 550k, New Zealand = 150k.
Answer:
"This bar chart shows the number of international students in five
countries. Overall, the United States has the highest number at one million.
Australia is second with eight hundred thousand. Canada and the UK are in the
middle, with six hundred and fifty thousand and five hundred and fifty
thousand. New Zealand has the lowest, at one hundred and fifty thousand. In
conclusion, the US is clearly the most popular destination."
2. Line Graph —
Library Visits
Image:
Line graph showing library visits from 2018 to 2022. 2018 = 3 million, 2019 =
3.5 million, 2020 = 2.5 million, 2021 = 4 million, 2022 = 5 million.
Answer:
"This line graph shows library visits over five years, from 2018 to 2022.
The number started at three million and rose to three point five million in
2019. Then it dropped to two point five million in 2020. After that, it
increased sharply to five million in 2022. Overall, the trend is upward, with a
dip in 2020."
3. Pie Chart —
Company Spending
Image:
Pie chart showing a company's expenses. Salaries = 50%, Rent = 20%, Equipment =
15%, Other = 15%.
Answer:
"This pie chart shows a company's spending across four categories.
Salaries take up the largest share at fifty percent. Rent is the second largest
at twenty percent. Equipment and other costs each account for fifteen percent.
Overall, salaries are by far the biggest expense, taking up half of the company's
spending."
4. Process
Diagram — Making Tea
Image:
Flowchart showing steps to make tea: Boil water → Add tea leaves → Pour water →
Wait 3 minutes → Drink.
Answer:
"This process diagram shows how to make tea. First, water is boiled. Next,
tea leaves are placed in a cup. Then, the hot water is poured over the leaves.
After that, you wait for three minutes. Finally, the tea is ready to drink.
Overall, it is a simple five-step process."
5. Map — Rainfall
Distribution
Image:
Map showing rainfall across a country. North = high, Central = moderate, South
= low.
Answer:
"This map shows rainfall distribution across a country. The northern
region has the highest rainfall. The central part shows moderate rainfall. The
southern area has the lowest rainfall. Overall, rainfall clearly decreases from
north to south across the country."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using memorised openers. Sentences like "The given image provides
valuable information regarding..." are now flagged as templates and can
zero out your Content score .
Reading every number. This wastes time and shows no understanding of
relationships .
Speaking for less than 20 seconds. You cannot cover key points in that time, and your
Content score will suffer .
Stopping before the 40 seconds are up. Aim to speak for 30–40 seconds to demonstrate fluency
.
A Simple Practice Method
1.
Find
any chart online (bar, line,
pie).
2.
Set
a 25-second timer — write only:
image type, highest value, lowest value, one trend.
3.
Speak
for 40 seconds using your notes.
4.
Record
yourself and listen for pauses
or hesitation.
5.
Repeat
with different images — never
use the same sentences twice .
Beginner's Golden Strategy
When
you see the picture, immediately ask yourself:
Question 1:
What
type of image is it?
Question 2:
What
is it about?
Question 3:
What
is the highest value?
Question 4:
What
is the lowest value?
Question 5:
Is
there an increase or decrease?
Question 6:
What
are two important numbers?
Then
speak:
Introduction → Main Feature → Details → Conclusion
🎯 Final 5 Rules
Rule 1
Understand
the picture first.
Rule 2
Focus
on the main information.
Rule 3
Mention
important numbers.
Rule 4
Speak
clearly for about 30–40 seconds.
Rule 5
Use
your own words, not a memorized paragraph.
Pearson's
current guidance emphasizes understanding the image, organizing the response,
identifying key trends, using relevant numbers, speaking for 30–40 seconds, and
avoiding memorized responses.
Easy Formula to Remember
25
seconds preparation:
TYPE
→ TOP → LOW → DETAILS → TREND
40
seconds speaking:
INTRODUCTION
→ MAIN POINT → 2–3 DETAILS → CONCLUSION
Keep
it simple. Keep speaking. Describe what you can actually see.
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