PTE Academic, Speaking and writing
PTE Describe Image
You see a chart, graph, map, process or picture and describe it in detail. A clear template lets you speak without stopping.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 25 seconds |
| Response time | Up to 40 seconds |
| How it's scored | Scored on content, oral fluency and pronunciation. Fluency and pronunciation carry most of the marks. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 22% of your speaking score |
How to answer Describe Image
- 1In the preparation time, find the title, the highest and lowest values and the overall trend.
- 2Introduce the image, give the overall picture, then two or three key details.
- 3Use comparison language: by contrast, meanwhile, whereas.
- 4Finish with a one-sentence conclusion before time runs out.
Describe Image template
- 1The chart type illustrates topic in place between start time and end time.
- 2Overall, main trend, with top category remaining the highest throughout the period.
- 3Top category reached a peak of highest figure in time.
- 4By contrast, lowest category accounted for only lowest figure.
- 5Meanwhile, another category rose / fell / fluctuated from figure to figure.
- 6In conclusion, the chart type shows that overall implication.
Common mistakes
- Trying to read out every number and pausing to do it.
- Stopping early instead of filling the speaking time with a conclusion.
Sample question
Household recycling rates by material
Household recycling rates by material, 2015 and 2025. 2015: Paper & card 62%, Glass 55%, Metals 48%, Plastics 24%, Food waste 12%. 2025: Paper & card 74%, Glass 68%, Metals 61%, Plastics 39%, Food waste 35%.
Look at the chart below. In 25 seconds, please speak into the microphone and describe in detail what the chart is showing. You will have 40 seconds to give your response.
Show a model answer (90 / 90)
The bar chart compares household recycling rates for five materials in 2015 and 2025. Overall, every category improved over the decade. Paper and card remained the most recycled material, rising from sixty-two to seventy-four per cent, while glass climbed from fifty-five to sixty-eight per cent. The most dramatic change was in food waste, which almost tripled from twelve to thirty-five per cent. Plastics, however, stayed the weakest of the recyclable materials, reaching only thirty-nine per cent. In conclusion, recycling has expanded steadily, but plastics still lag well behind.