This blog is about Describe Image Question Type: its format, scoring criteria, preparation tips, strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and useful keywords to help you boast your score.

Understanding the Describe Image Task

It is the third type of question in a speaking module. In this task, an image will appear on a screen. You will be provided 25 seconds to analyze the image and prepare your response accordingly. Then recording will start after a short beep tone, so start speaking the main points of the image. You will have about 40 seconds to record your answer.

It is also an important scoring question among all question types. It assesses only Speaking skills. 

IMPORTANT: The recording will stop if you remain silent for longer than 3 seconds.

Task Format

In the Describe Image task:

• Prompt Length: Not Applicable
• Preparation Time: You will have 25 seconds to prepare before speaking.
• Speaking Time: Around 40 seconds to describe the image.
• Skills Assessed: Speaking
• Skills Profile: Extended Speaking
• No. of Tasks: 3-4

Scoring Criteria

Describe Image score is based on three factors:

Content: It is in the range of 0-5, score depends on the. Try to explain all the main elements of the image and even emphasize on the comparison and relationship with possible development in the task to score high in the content. There is no negative marking for extra spoken words.

Pronunciation: it is in the range of 0-5. Score depends on the clarity of the speech, the clarity in vowels and consonants and how well the stress has been on words and phrases. Overall, the responses should be understandable.

Oral fluency:  It is in the range of 0-5. Score depends on your rhythm, phrasing and stress which have to be smooth. The rate of speed has to be natural with appropriate phrasing. There should be no hesitation or repetitions and false start, these all will reduce your score.

Describe Image carries around 13-15 points in Speaking. Points will depend on the range of questions comes in the test.

PTE Academic recognizes regional and national varieties of English pronunciation to the degree that they are understandable to most regular speakers of the language.

Tips & Tricks for Describe Image

• Practice different types of images that you see in news stories or on internet.
• Practice taking brief notes of the main points using different keywords, it will help you to add content and vocabulary in your image.
• Practice giving an overview of the graph for 20 to 25 secs, this will provide you, more content to speak and even will make you fluent in your speaking.
• Record your response and then compare it with the actual response, selfanalysis will help you to be better in description.
• The microphone starts after 25 seconds of preparation. There will be a short tone, indicating to start speaking on the given chart. Start with the introduction to the image then overview and in the last explain the main points by comparing the data.
• Try to speak clearly and fluently.
• Once the bar reaches the end, word “Recording” gets replaced with “Completed”.
• The response will be recorded once only, there is no replay in it.

Test tips

• Practice the images like Pie chart, Line graph, Bar Chart, Flowchart and Lifecycle or Process Chart from the journals, magazines, newspaper or from the internet.
• Add introduction and overview before the explanation, this will provide you more content to speak.
• Practice using different type of words and phrases to describe amount and trends.
• Always set the timer to 40 seconds while describing the image, this will help you to complete your all the main points within provided time limit.
• In 25 seconds try to analyze the picture either clockwise or anticlockwise, this will help you to cover all the main points.

Note:

• Partial credits are applied in Describe Image scoring but if the student has not spoken anything or has given the irrelevant answer that doesn’t cover anything about the image then no credit is given for no response or an irrelevant response. This will not only reduce the scoring in content but also of the scoring of pronunciation and fluency will be affected negatively.
• Only Speaking Skills are tested in this type of question.

Test Day Strategies for Describe Image

Preparation Time

Quick Glance: Briefly look at the picture to see what it is all about.

Identify Key Elements: Note the main features, like main objects, graphs, data points

Organize Your Description: How you will explain the picture from the most striking features and moving to the details.

During the Task

Steady Pace: Maintain a steady and medium pace as you describe the image. Try not to hurry or speak too fast or too slow.

Clarity and Accuracy: Ensure that you have a well-defined description of what you are perceiving. Be detailed about the thing you see with no assumptions.

Stay Composed: Compose yourself and be calm. Take a deep breath before you begin as it reduces nervousness and gives better performance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-Description: Keep a simple description of what is in the picture. Try to avoid details that are irrelevant.

Irregular Pace: Speaking at a very fast or very slow pace will also negatively impact your fluency score. Try to speak at an average, natural and consistent pace.

Ignoring Key Details: Make sure to include the main elements of the image when giving your description. Skipping recognizable parts can result in an incomplete description.

Getting Stuck: If you have trouble describing some part of the picture, do not stick there too long. Continue on to describe as best you can to keep fluency.

Fast Speech: If you speak at a very high rate, this will also tend to lead to errors and is difficult to follow in any case. Focus on clear & deliberate speech for easy comprehension.

Describe Image Practice 

Now, practice the mock test on ptepanacea.com. You will realise your strengths and weaknesses in the four PTE skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading & Listening. We are here with real exam simulations and question-wise practices especially for Describe Image to concentrate on weak areas. If you compare our material closely, it closely resembles actual PTE content. You get the same format and question types in time limits. Such comprehensive practice will help you to be very well prepared and confident enough to ace the Read Aloud test item and the whole PTE exam.

Click here for Free PTE Mock Test & Question Wise Practices