PTE Core Speaking: Describe Image

The Describe Image task is a PTE Core Speaking question type that tests your ability to look at an image, understand the main information, and describe it clearly in spoken English.

You may see different types of images, such as a picture, line graph, bar chart, pie chart, table, map, diagram, or flowchart. Your answer should be organized, fluent, and easy to follow.

Describe Image Scoring

Task Format

During the preparation time, quickly identify the type of image, find the most important information, and decide how to organize your answer. When the microphone opens, describe the image clearly and confidently.

A Simple Structure to Use

You do not need to describe every detail. A strong response usually follows this structure:

• Introduction: Say what the image shows.
• Key details: Describe at least 3 important features, trends, numbers, or actions.
• Conclusion: Give a short overall summary.

To aim for a high score, especially 80+, try to speak for most or all of the available 40 seconds while staying clear, fluent, and organized.

You can use this simple template:

Example 1: Describing a Picture

Let's first look at a picture-based Describe Image task.

The image shows people waiting on a subway platform while a train is stopped beside them. Several passengers are standing near the edge of the platform, and some of them are looking at their phones. The setting appears to be a busy underground station.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Image

This is a picture, not a graph or chart. For a picture, focus on:

• the main setting
• the people or objects
• the actions
• the overall atmosphere

In this example, the setting is a subway station, the main objects are the train and the passengers, and the main action is people waiting or using their phones.

Step 2: Scan for Key Details

For this image, you can notice these important details:

• There is a train on the right side of the image.
• Several people are waiting on the platform.
• Some passengers are looking at their phones.
• The station sign says Gloucester Road.
• The scene looks like a normal public transportation setting.

Do not spend time describing every person, every color, or every sign. Choose the details that help the listener understand the image clearly.

Step 3: Organize Your Response

For a picture, you can organize your response like this:

Example 2: Describing a Line Graph

Now let's look at a graph-based Describe Image task.

The image is a line graph titled "How many hours per day do you watch TV?" It compares the average number of hours per day spent watching TV by Democrats and Republicans across several time periods.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Image

This is a line graph. For a line graph, focus on:

• the title
• the groups being compared
• the units
• the main trend
• the highest or lowest points
• the final or total values

In this example, the graph compares Democrats and Republicans, and the unit is hours per day.

Step 2: Scan for Key Information

Back to the same graph, the most important details are:

• Democrats watched more TV than Republicans across all periods.
• The Democratic line stays around 3 to 3.3 hours per day.
• The Republican line stays around 2.5 to 2.8 hours per day.
• The total values are about 3.2 hours for Democrats and 2.7 hours for Republicans.
• Both lines show only small changes over time.

You do not need to mention every year or every data point. Focus on the overall comparison and the main trend.

Step 3: Organize Your Response

For a graph, you can organize your response like this:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Describing too many small details
  Trying to mention every number, object, or label can make your answer unfocused.
  Choose the most important features and organize them clearly.

• Ignoring the title or main topic
  If you do not mention what the image is about, your response may sound incomplete.
  Start with the title or the main subject of the image.

• Listing details without structure
  Randomly describing parts of the image can make your answer hard to follow.
  Use a simple structure: introduction, key details, and conclusion.

• Speaking too slowly
  Slow speech and long pauses can reduce fluency and make you run out of time.
  Speak at a natural pace and keep your response moving.

• Overloading the response with numbers
  Giving too many exact numbers can make your answer sound mechanical.
  Focus on the main trends, comparisons, or highest and lowest points.

• Inventing information
  Adding details that are not visible in the image can hurt your content score.
  Describe only what you can clearly see in the image.

• Ending without a conclusion
  Stopping suddenly can make your response feel incomplete.
  Finish with a short overall sentence that summarizes the image.

Practice more Describe Image questions to build a clear structure, stronger fluency, and more confidence describing different image types under test conditions.