Part 1 · Speaking & Writing · DI
Describe Image: Speaking & Writing PTE question type
An image appears — a graph, chart, table, photograph or map — and you have to describe what it shows aloud.
The image is shown before the recording plays and stays on screen while you speak, so you can prepare a structure in advance. You are describing data, not telling a story about it.
Scoring
How Describe Image is scored
Content runs 0 to 6 and covers what the image contains and what it shows. Pronunciation and oral fluency are scored alongside it, but content is where the points are.
- Skills scored
- Speaking — contributes to your Speaking score
- Questions per test
- 5–6 in Speaking & Writing
- Traits Pearson rates
- Content · Pronunciation · Oral Fluency
Watch out
Common Describe Image mistakes
- 1Starting at the top-left and reading every label, which runs out of time before the trend.
- 2Naming the axis values without saying what they mean.
- 3Describing what the image feels like instead of what it shows.
Strategy
Questions
Describe Image questions, answered
How many Describe Image questions are on the PTE Academic?
A PTE Academic has 5–6 Describe Image items in the Speaking & Writing section. Each one counts towards your Speaking score.
How is Describe Image scored?
Content runs 0 to 6 and covers what the image contains and what it shows. Pronunciation and oral fluency are scored alongside it, but content is where the points are.
What goes wrong most often on Describe Image?
Starting at the top-left and reading every label, which runs out of time before the trend.
Keep going
Related speaking & writing question types
- Read Aloud
6–7 per test · Speaking
- Repeat Sentence
10–12 per test · Listening + Speaking
- Re-tell Lecture
2–3 per test · Listening + Speaking
- Answer Short Question
5–6 per test · Listening
All Speaking & Writing question types · tips for all 22 types · full test format · how PTE scores work.
Scoring figures on this page follow the current PTE Academic official guide. This is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with Pearson.