How to Increase Score in the Describe Image Question in the PTE exam

For the PTE Describe Image question, you are prompted to give a verbal response to a single or multiple images. On average, the number of questions in this section ranges between 3 and 4. You are allowed 25 seconds to prepare your response. However, the length of your response may range from 30-40 seconds. Your response should follow a proper structure and your speaking should display good quality pronunciation, vocabulary, language skills, and fluency. Although there is no negative marking, there are certain parameters on the basis of which you are judged and given marks. Knowing these parameters and how to tackle them can easily help you increase your score. 

This article seeks to elaborate on the different scoring parameters, best practices, do’s and don’ts, and sample question types. 

Score Parameters in the Describe Image Question 

Content

Content generation is the base of any answer. You need to be able to systematically generate content relevant to the question. In fact, the describe image question is scored by addressing all elements related to the image. Therefore, you need to carefully look at the image before giving your response. The image itself will provide cues and pointers to generate content for your response. Although it doesn’t need to be perfect and doesn’t need to include every detail. The content has to be relevant - marks will not be given for content if you speak any irrelevant ideas. Being specific instead of elaborative will help you score better. 

Fluency

Fluency is the ability to speak smoothly and easily. That is the essence of this scoring element. You are marked on the basis of how smoothly and naturally you provided the responses. In this regard, you should avoid speaking too fast because that may leave an impression that you are in a hurry to finish speaking. It can also make you look underconfident. 

Some of the best ways to improve your fluency is to be careful that intonation, phrasing and stressors are smoothly incorporated. Make sure you use the correct rhythm, break the sentence with small pauses and put stress on the important words. For example, if the question is - ‘The bar graph represents the population growth.’  It is clear that population growth is the important keyword. So stress on such words. 

You have to make sure that there is no hesitation in your voice. Avoid repetition of words and sentences. At the same time, there should be no false start. Note that, a false start is when the speaker starts their speech before the recording begins.  You have to start exactly after the short tone.

Pronunciation

You will be scored on how easy your speaking is to understand. While clarity of speech is important, it is necessary to pronounce every word properly. Your pronunciation should be understandable to regular/native speakers, and to everyone, in general. A cardinal part of the correct pronunciation has to do with pronouncing past tense (ed), plurals, vowels and consonants correctly.

Look at a few of these examples: 

• arrived, paid 
• girls, chairs
• poor, shirt

Numbers such as 1990, and 2005 should also be pronounced properly.

Currencies with the amount are quite tricky. Let's take - $20 million - How do you say it? 

This one is 20 million dollars and not 20 dollar millions or dollar 20 millions. Numbers should also be used in a proper way.

The different parameters used in scoring help us identify the areas we need to be careful with when answering the questions. The next section also deals with similar suggestions and strategies that you can use before and during speaking.

Before Speaking

• Recognise the type of image that you will be speaking about. It is important to identify if the image is a table, chart, bar graph or photograph.
• Identify the key points in the image and note them down on the rough notepad given to you. This will help you in content generation and will ensure that you don't miss out on any points. 
• Be mindful of the small intricacies in the image. Any information on the top right, bottom or right side of the screen can be used as an introduction.
• Decide the order in which you want to include the points in your speech 
• Prepare a template of the content that you want to include while speaking.
• Use the Erasable Notepad. Quickly jot down the words that come to your mind or draw a narration of the main points. 
• It is very important to understand the units of measurement or the entity being measured. You need to clearly mention them in a correct manner. 
• You can use specific vocabulary that indicates you are introducing or concluding or highlighting the main points. This will help you to guide the audience. 

While Speaking

• Start with an introduction. The introduction should be short and to the point. It should set the scene for your next part.
• Include all the necessary details and prominent features of the figure. Talk about the highest, the lowest and the median variations. Don't ignore any of the other things that you think are important.
• Focus on the key points, not the details. 
• Club similar points together. This is very crucial for time management and will help you include a wide range of information in a short speaking time. 
• Use the correct vocabulary for comparison, contrast, amounts, trends etc.
• If you get stuck and make a mistake, don’t stop, continue to speak. Since you only get one chance to record your response, stopping in between will completely ruin your recording.
• Always end with a conclusion. Your sentence should signal your decision and should ideally be only one sentence and ideally, it should start with clear phrases like, ‘In conclusion’. In this, you can make a prediction, give a reason or give a summary.
• Keep an eye on the timer and complete it within the given time.

Some Don’ts

• Don't use filler words like "uh", "good", "um". These words decrease your fluency and result in a low score. You want to sound confident and that means only using the words that enhance your sentences.
• Don’t stop too early because if you do that, you might get a penalty, leading to a lesser score. Speak for more than 30 seconds & with fluency.
• Don’t think that practising before the exam is not required. You can use mock or practice tests to evaluate yourself. These mock tests give you a chance to maximise your overall score in the PTE exam.
• Don’t attempt to add words you don’t understand as concentrating on fluency and pronunciation is a must. Use words that you are able to pronounce confidently and in the same manner as are displayed in the image. The better you pronounce your words, the better will be your fluency which will ultimately result in a better score.
• Don’t speak in incomplete sentences. Ensure that it makes sense when you are speaking. You also need to use proper intonation and pronunciation in your speech. 

Types of Images

The types of images the test taker gets may vary, some of the most common ones include-

1. Pie-charts
2. Bar graphs
3. Maps
4. Pictures
5. Mixed Type Images
6. System diagrams
7. Line graphs
8. Process Diagrams, and 
9. Tables

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