PTE Describe Image Template 2026: Techniques and Sample Answers
Describe Image worries many PTE students because you get only a few seconds to make sense of a chart and then you have to talk about it without stopping. The good news is that it rewards a clear, repeatable approach. In this guide we share a flexible PTE describe image template for 2026, explain how Pearson scores the task, and walk through two sample answers: one for a bar chart and one for a process diagram.
How Describe Image works in PTE Academic
Describe Image sits in Part 1 (Speaking and Writing) of PTE Academic. An image appears on screen and you have 25 seconds to study it and prepare. After a short tone the microphone opens and you have 40 seconds to describe it. You can record your answer only once.
The image can be a bar chart, line graph, pie chart, table, map, process diagram or a photograph. Pearson advises aiming for 30 to 40 seconds of speech.
How your answer is scored
Pearson scores Describe Image on three traits:
- Content: whether you accurately describe the main elements of the image, including relationships, trends and a sensible conclusion or implication.
- Oral fluency: whether your rhythm and phrasing are smooth. Hesitations, repetitions and false starts lower this score.
- Pronunciation: whether your speech is easily understood. Indian and other regional accents are fine as long as you are clear.
One rule matters more than any other. Pearson warns that memorised responses or templated sentences that are not about the image can earn zero for content, and if content scores zero, fluency and pronunciation are not scored either. So a “template” must be a structure you fill with real details from the image, never a paragraph you recite.
A flexible PTE describe image template for 2026
Think of the template as four slots. Each slot is a job to do, and the words you use change with every image.
- Topic sentence (about 5 seconds): say what the image shows, using its own title and labels. “This bar chart compares the number of international students in four Australian cities in 2015 and 2025.”
- Main feature (about 10 seconds): the single most important point. The highest value, the biggest change or the first stage of a process.
- Two or three supporting details (about 15 to 20 seconds): a comparison, a lowest value, a trend or the next stages. Use real numbers from the image.
- Conclusion or implication (about 5 seconds): a short, logical takeaway. “Overall, the figures suggest that demand grew fastest in Melbourne.”
You do not need to mention everything. Three or four key data points are enough. Pearson also advises against spending too long on labels or adding personal opinions.
Useful phrases you can adapt
- Comparing: “is roughly twice as high as”, “is slightly lower than”, “the gap between X and Y is about 20 per cent”.
- Trends: “rose steadily from … to …”, “fell sharply after …”, “remained stable at around …”.
- Processes: “The process begins with …”, “Next …”, “Once this is done …”, “Finally …”.
- Conclusions: “Overall, it is clear that …”, “This suggests that …”.
These phrases are building blocks for your PTE describe image template, not a script. Combine them with the actual figures and labels in front of you.
Sample answer 1: bar chart
Image: a bar chart titled “Daily screen time of students by age group”, showing hours per day for four groups: 10 to 12 years (3 hours), 13 to 15 years (5 hours), 16 to 18 years (6.5 hours) and 19 to 21 years (5.5 hours).
This bar chart shows the average daily screen time of students in four age groups. The highest figure is for students aged 16 to 18, who spend about six and a half hours a day on screens. In contrast, the youngest group, aged 10 to 12, spends only around three hours, which is less than half of that. Screen time rises sharply from 10 to 18 and then drops slightly to about five and a half hours for students aged 19 to 21. Overall, the chart suggests that screen use peaks in the late school years and falls a little once students reach college age.
This answer is about 95 words, which fits in 40 seconds at a calm pace. It follows the template exactly: topic, highest value, comparison and trend, then an implication.
Sample answer 2: process diagram
Image: a diagram titled “How tea is produced”, showing five stages: plucking leaves, withering, rolling, drying, and packing for sale.
This diagram illustrates how tea is produced, in five main stages. The process begins with plucking fresh leaves from the tea plants. Next, the leaves are withered to reduce their moisture, and after that they are rolled to break them and release their flavour. Once rolling is complete, the leaves are dried, and finally the finished tea is packed and sent for sale. Overall, the diagram shows a simple step-by-step process that turns fresh leaves into a product ready for the market.
For a process image, the main feature is the number of stages. Sequencing words carry the structure, so you do not need numbers.
Six techniques that lift your score
- Use the 25 seconds well. Read the title, find the biggest or most important feature, and note two or three numbers on your erasable noteboard.
- Start the moment the microphone opens. A long silence hurts fluency.
- Choose fluency over perfection. A small grammar slip costs less than stopping to correct yourself. Keep going at an even pace.
- Avoid fillers. “You know”, “like” and long “umm” sounds break your rhythm.
- Finish before 40 seconds. Aim to end around the 35 to 38 second mark so you are not cut off mid-sentence.
- Practise with real images. Apply your PTE describe image template to official practice material and charts from newspapers. Record yourself and listen back.
Where Describe Image fits in the wider test
Describe Image is one of several speaking tasks in PTE Academic, alongside Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Retell Lecture, Answer Short Question and the two tasks added in 2025, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Organising ideas quickly and speaking without hesitation helps in all of them. If you are still deciding which test suits you, our guide on why the PTE exam is popular in Kerala compares PTE and IELTS honestly, and our post on PTE listening note-taking covers a skill you will use in Retell Lecture too.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use a template for PTE Describe Image?
A structure is safe; a memorised script is not. Pearson states that memorised or templated responses can score zero for content, which also cancels your fluency and pronunciation marks. Use the four-slot structure in this guide and fill it with the real title, labels and numbers from each image.
How many seconds should I speak in Describe Image?
You have 40 seconds. Pearson recommends aiming for 30 to 40 seconds. In practice, finishing around 35 seconds gives you a safe margin and enough time to cover the main feature, a few details and a conclusion.
What should I do if I do not understand the image?
Describe what you can see clearly: the title, the highest and lowest values or the first and last stages. Keep speaking smoothly and end with a simple conclusion. That scores better than silence.
If you would like one-on-one feedback on your Describe Image answers, our PTE coaching in Kochi runs fully online with customised study plans, flexible sessions and regular feedback on every recording. Casper Academy of Excellence has 25+ years of English test coaching experience, and many of our students have scored 90 in all sections. Message us on WhatsApp or call +91 81 36 835 444 to plan your preparation.
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