PTE Describe Image: template, tips & practice
Describe Image is a PTE Academic Speaking task. You are shown an image, usually a bar chart, line graph, pie chart, table, map, flowchart or picture, and after 25 seconds of preparation you have 40 seconds to describe it. A short tone signals the start of recording. It contributes to your Speaking and, through pronunciation and oral fluency, your overall score, so a repeatable structure matters more than describing every detail.
How PTE Describe Image is scored
Describe Image is machine-scored on content (the key features you mention), oral fluency (a smooth, even pace with no long pauses) and pronunciation. You do not need to interpret the data perfectly; you need to keep talking fluently for the full 40 seconds and name the main trends. Hesitation, false starts and trailing off before the 40 seconds are the biggest score killers.
The PTE Describe Image template
- 1Opening (1 sentence): "The [chart type] shows/illustrates [topic from the title or axes]."
- 2Overview (1 sentence): "The most noticeable feature is [highest bar / clearest trend / largest segment]."
- 3Two key details: "In addition, [second feature]. We can also see that [third feature]."
- 4Closing (1 sentence): "Overall, [the main trend or comparison], which suggests [a simple takeaway]."
Worked example
The bar chart shows the percentage of households owning a car across four cities. The most noticeable feature is that City A has the highest ownership at around 80 per cent. In addition, City B and City C are similar at roughly 60 per cent, while City D is the lowest. Overall, car ownership is higher in larger cities, which suggests a link between city size and car use.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going silent while you study the image, fill the time and start with your opening sentence immediately.
- Trying to read every number, name 2-3 features confidently instead of rushing through ten.
- Stopping at 25-30 seconds, keep speaking until the recording ends to maximise the fluency score.
- Speaking in a flat monotone, vary your stress so the pronunciation engine reads natural rhythm.
PTE Describe Image FAQ
How long do you get for PTE Describe Image?
You get 25 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to record your answer. A short tone marks the start of the recording.
Do I need to describe every detail in the image?
No. Naming the main trend plus two or three key features fluently scores better than rushing through every data point and losing fluency.
How many Describe Image questions are in PTE?
The number varies because PTE is partly adaptive, but Describe Image is a core, frequently-appearing Speaking task, so it is worth drilling with a fixed template.