Describe Image PTE Template 2026 – Updated Guide With Example
If you’re preparing for the speaking section of the PTE Academic (or PTE Core), mastering the “Describe Image” (DI) task is a must. In this guide — updated for 2026 — we’ll walk you through what the task involves, how the template works, scoring criteria, common mistakes to avoid, and practical advice for success. This draws heavily on the template and insights from the recent post “PTE Describe Image Template 2025 – Practice with 50 Examples” from Gurully
What is “Describe Image” in PTE?
The Describe Image task is one of the speaking prompts in PTE. In this task:
You are shown an image, which could be a chart (bar, line, pie), a graph, a table, a map, a diagram, a process flow, or even just a photo
You have 25 seconds to prepare (study the image and jot down notes), then your microphone will open for ~40 seconds to describe what you see.
There are usually 5–6 questions of this type in the PTE Academic version.
Because you have very limited time (both to prepare and to speak), having a clear structure and a flexible template helps greatly.
The 2026 Describe Image Template
Here is an updated and cleaner version of the template, adapted from Gurully’s structure. Use it as a flexible framework — not a rigid script.
“The image provided is a [type of image — e.g., bar graph/line chart/map/diagram/photo] that illustrates [main topic or subject].”
2. Key Features / Main Observations
“The most prominent feature is [what stands out — highest value / biggest portion / main trend].”
“Another significant observation is [secondary detail — a contrasting value, a pattern or trend].”
“It also shows [an additional detail or pattern — maybe a lesser trend, a small value, an exception].”
3. Relationships or Patterns (if applicable)
If relevant (e.g. for graphs, comparisons between categories):
“There appears to be a relationship between [item A] and [item B] — for example, [how they compare or change relative to each other].”
4. Conclusion / Summary
“Overall, the image provides valuable insights into [overall message or trend].”
Why This Template Matters: Scoring & What Examiners Look For
On the speaking task, your performance is evaluated across Content, Oral Fluency, and Pronunciation.
Content score depends on whether you described the image thoroughly and meaningfully. The highest marks go to answers that let listeners “visualize the image without seeing it.”
Fluency & Pronunciation matter too — you must speak clearly, avoid long hesitations or filler words (“um,” “uh”), and maintain rhythm.
The template helps structure your answer logically (which helps with content) and gives you a mental roadmap so you can speak fluently under time pressure.
Types of Images You May Encounter
The image in a DI task can take many forms — being prepared for all increases your readiness. According to Gurully, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, tables, maps, process/flow diagrams, system diagrams, mixed charts, and even photos.
Because of this variability:
For graphs/charts, focus on trends, extremes (highest/lowest), comparisons.
For process diagrams or flowcharts, describe the steps, flow, or system logic in sequence.
For maps or photos, highlight prominent features, layout, relationships (location-based or conceptual).
The template is flexible enough to adapt to all these.
✅ How to Maximize Your Score: Tips & Best Practices
From Gurully and other PTE guides, here are practical do’s (and don’ts) for Describe Image.
Make the most of the 25-second preparation time: Quickly scan the image’s title, labels, axes (if any), and identify the most prominent elements (biggest bar, highest value, most striking color etc.). Don’t try to note everything — just 3 or 4 key points.
Stick to a clear structure (intro → key points → pattern/relationship → conclusion). This gives your answer clarity and helps the examiner follow.
Use simple, precise language, especially under time pressure: words like “increase”, “decrease”, “stable”, “peak”, “lowest”, “fluctuate”, “compared to”, etc. These are reliable fillers for data description.
Speak smoothly and with confidence — avoid fillers (“um”, “uh”), long pauses, or recitations that sound memorized. Fluency and natural delivery matter a lot.
Don’t get bogged down in minor details — especially if the chart is busy. Focus on main trends or key points, so the listener can visualize the big picture.
10 PTE Describe Image Examples with Answers
Example 1
Sample Answer
The bar graph compares the percentage of renewable energy consumption across several countries. There is a significant disparity in the utilization of renewable energy sources among these nations. Sweden exhibits the highest percentage of renewable energy consumption, followed by the rest of the world. In contrast, the European Union and the USA have considerably lower percentages. The graph highlights the need for increased adoption of renewable energy sources globally.
Example 2
Sample Answer
The given image represents the distribution of continents around the globe. It can be seen from the image that the globe is divided into seven continents: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and many more. Furthermore, Asia is the biggest continent in terms of area, shown in orange. At the same time, Australia is the smallest continent of all, shown in green. Overall, the maximum area is covered by water around the globe.
Example 3
Sample Answer
This Pie chart represents the composition of the air in approximation. It can be seen that the air is mostly composed of Nitrogen by nearly 80%. On the other hand, the percentage of oxygen in the air is only 20%. While 1% of other gases also contribute to the composition of air. Overall, the air is mainly composed of nitrogen gas.
Example 4
Sample Answer
This pie chart represents the percentage distribution of different sizes of small, medium, and large businesses. It can be seen that the medium-sized business owned the maximum percentage of the enterprise was 36%. At the same time, the minimum percentage was for large businesses, at 30%. Furthermore, the percentage for small businesses was 34%. Overall, there was only a marginal difference in the sizes of enterprises.
Example 5
Sample Answer
This bar graph depicts the percentage of drinking habits by age in the US. It can be seen that the highest percentage in every age group was never drinkers, with a maximum of 62% in the age group between 16 and 24. The ratio of heavy drinkers was least with only 5% for the 65-74 age group. Overall, there was a vast difference between the percentage of heavy drinkers and never drinkers.
Example 6
Sample Answer
The pie chart represents the percentage of Hotel revenues by class, such as luxury, upper-upscale, and others, for several hotels. It can be seen that precisely 75% of the revenue was generated from 80 upper-upscale hotels, which had 45912 rooms. On the other hand, only 23 percent of the income came from 23 luxury hotels. Overall, a large sum of revenue originated from upper-upscale hotels.
Example 7
Sample Answer
This bar graph represents the percentage of eligible pension recipients by Health Area in Sydney in 2004. It can be seen that more than 73 percent of the population was entitled to get the age pension in Sydney Southwest. In contrast, only 7 percent of people were eligible for disability pension. And the figures stood almost the same at Southeastern Sydney and Illawarra. Overall, the percentage of eligible age pension beneficiaries was remarkably higher than the percentage of recipients of disability pensioners.
Example 8
Sample Answer
This diagram shows the process of hydroelectric power generation. The process starts with the evaporation of seawater, which is followed by the collection of rainwater in reservoirs and dams. After that, with the help of a pump and turbine, the electricity is generated and passed through high-voltage cables to the transformer stations. Finally, with the help of underground wires, hydroelectric energy is distributed to the residential and industrial areas. Overall, several stages are involved in the electric production of seawater.
Example 9
Sample Answer
The bar graph represents the percentage of men and women who made journeys in the United Kingdom in 2006 for various purposes like commuting and business, shopping and walking. It can be seen that for men, the maximum percentage of the journey was done for commuting and business, which was around 24%, and this ratio stood the same for women, but the purpose was shopping. On the other hand, only 4% of the journeys were made for walking and holiday trips by both men and women. Overall, the main reasons were commuting, business, and shopping for both men and women.
Example 10
Sample Answer
The Pie chart here represents the desktop browser share for the year 2018. Various browsers like Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and other are listed here. It can be seen that the maximum number of users, i.e., 61 %, preferred Google Chrome. Firefox is observed to be the second most popular after Chrome.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using a template doesn’t guarantee success if you misuse it. Here’s what many candidates mess up:
Listing points without connecting them — e.g., naming values/trends but not explaining relationships or significance — makes it hard for the listener to form a mental image.
Trying to describe every tiny detail: irrelevant data or small fluctuations often don’t matter and waste your precious 40 seconds.
Over-memorizing a rigid script, without adapting to the image, leads to unnatural delivery or inaccurate description if the image doesn’t fit the template exactly.
Poor time management — starting too early or going over time, or rushing near the end and cutting off abruptly.
Filler-heavy speech or unnatural speed, which reduces clarity, fluency or pronunciation quality.
Practice Strategy: How to Use the Template Smartly
Simulate real exam conditions — give yourself 25 seconds to prepare, then 40 seconds to speak.
Practice with a variety of image types — charts, tables, diagrams, photos — this builds flexibility.
Use the template as a skeleton only, but put in your own words. As you practice more, you’ll get comfortable building descriptions on the fly.
Record yourself (or use a mock test platform) — listen back to check for clarity, missing information, filler usage, and pronunciation.
Focus on fluency and clarity over complexity — simple, correct, well-structured descriptions are better than flashy but confusing ones.
Final Thoughts
The Describe Image task in PTE might seem intimidating — especially when you see a complicated chart or diagram, but it becomes manageable when you have a reliable template and a good strategy. The 2026-updated version of the DI template presented here is designed to give you a clear, quick-to-apply framework: start with an introduction, point out major features, highlight relationships/trends (if any), and wrap up with a brief conclusion.
Used wisely, this template helps you stay structured, cover the important parts, and speak fluently — even under time pressure. Combined with regular mock practice and honest self-review, you can significantly boost your performance in the speaking section. Also Read
- PTE Free Practice Test with AI Feedback – Complete Guide for 2026
- PTE Reading – Tips, Tricks & Practice Materials
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