PTE guide

    PTE Describe Image template — score 79+

    Updated 29 May 2026 · 5 min read

    Describe Image is where most candidates panic. You get an image (bar chart, line graph, map, process diagram) for 25 seconds of prep, then 40 seconds to describe it. Most candidates ramble for 15 seconds and then go silent for 25 — and score 30/90.

    The fix is a template. One memorized 4-part structure that fills exactly 38–40 seconds, regardless of what image you get. This page gives you the template, working examples, and the variants for each image type.

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    The universal template (works for any image type)

    Part 1 — Introduction (5 seconds): 'The image illustrates...' or 'The given diagram shows...'

    Part 2 — Key features (15 seconds): Highest value, lowest value, biggest change, most surprising data point. Always include 2–3 specific numbers.

    Part 3 — Comparison (12 seconds): 'In contrast...', 'Whereas...', 'Compared to...'. Connect at least two data points.

    Part 4 — Conclusion (6 seconds): 'Overall, the image suggests...' or 'In conclusion, the trend indicates...'

    Total: 38 seconds. Stop talking when you hit the conclusion — silence at the end is better than rambling past the recording cut-off.

    Variants by image type

    Bar/line/pie charts: Use the template as-is. Always mention units (percent, dollars, years).

    Maps: Replace 'highest/lowest' with 'in the north / south / east / west'. Mention scale if shown.

    Process diagrams: Use sequence words: first, then, next, finally. Skip the comparison step.

    Photographs: Describe foreground, background, main action, time of day. Skip specific numbers.

    Tables: Pick 2 rows and 2 columns. Don't try to describe the whole table.

    Common mistakes that cap your score at 50

    Silence in the first 3 seconds (always start talking immediately). Reading numbers verbatim ('the value is twenty-three point four percent in two thousand and seventeen' — say 'about 23% in 2017'). Not finishing a sentence before the cut-off. Using filler words ('umm', 'uh') instead of memorized transitions. Ignoring the image and describing something else.

    Frequently asked questions

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