This task tests your ability to describe an image related to an academic theme. The image will be a graph, a map, a chart or a table. You have 25 seconds to study the image, then 40 seconds to describe it in detail. Only your speaking skills are tested.
Tips
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Know the type of image you are looking at (is it a graph, picture, map, chart or table?), as each one will be described slightly differently.
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Take notes if you need to during the 25 seconds preparation time. You won’t have time to write full sentences, just jot down the important features.
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If it is a graph, chart or table make sure you know what is being measured.
For example
Is it frequency of cinema visits, or numbers of tourists, or costs? Also make sure you know what units it is being reported in. For instance, is it dollars, is it millions of tonnes?
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Determine the main point of the image. Ask yourself, “What is it mainly showing?”.
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Maps and pictures may already have certain features highlighted. Use language that describes the locations of features, such as: on the left, to the right of, to the left of, next to, adjacent to, below. If important objects in the image are different colors, identify them by saying, for example: the city marked as blue, the green areas. Same for sizes and shapes, such as: the biggest square, the small rectangle, the largest building.
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Graphs, charts and tables typically show trends or changes. Use language that describes these trends or changes. For example: increase, decrease, rise, fall, remain stable, fluctuate. You might also need to describe the speed of change, for example: a rapid rise, a slow decline.
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Pie charts show the proportions of what ever is being measured. The size or value of each piece of the pie is usually already provided. If any pieces are the same size use language such as: equal, similar, about the same. If the values are different use language such as: the smaller of the two, the largest group, the least popular, the most common.
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For graphs, charts, and tables identify any extreme values and describe them by using words and phrases like: the highest and lowest, the most and least expensive, the heaviest and lightest.
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Understand that, if at any stage of this task you don’t know what to say or your mind goes blank, the microphone automatically switches off after 3 three seconds of silence. The solution is to use fillers such as: um, ah, let’s see. Don’t rely on these, though, or over-use them. The best solution is to do plenty of practice describing images so that you Do know what to say in the test!
