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Pte Describe Image + Retell
Pte Describe Image + Retell
If you want to check your level of preparation before appearing the PTE mock test or
the PTE test, free PTE practice will come handy to highlight your mistakes and
improve on.
1. Bar Graph
2. Line graph
3. Table
4. Maps
5. Pie chart
6. Flowchart diagram
7. Venn Diagram
8. Pictures
A total of six different images will be asked during the PTE academic exam. Let look
into a template which you should follow to improve your PTE describe image score.
But, firstly we will look into what PTE requires from the test takers. PTE evaluation
algorithm will look into the sentence formation and paragraph formation. A
description of any image or thing is only completed when it has three ingredients.
First, introductory statement; Second, key highlight point; Third, the conclusion. If
you have included these three points while describing the image, then chances are
high that the PTE algorithm will give you better marks then the image described
randomly. In the PTE describe an image, your response is judge based on oral fluency
and pronunciation. Let’s look at the format which you should remember for the
described image:
You will hear a lecture and then have to “re-tell” it or in other words describe
what it was about. How well you score depends upon your ability to listen and
comprehend spoken text and on your ability to give a well structured response
containing the key points from the text.
Negative marking No
Time to answer Lecture starts playing after 3 seconds. Once it ends, you will have 10 secon
another 40 seconds to record your response.
The best way to approach Re-tell Lecture questions is to just treat them like a
normal classroom or work conversation. Don’t stress about capturing each
and every piece of information in the audio. As long as you are able to get the
main idea and couple of important points, you will do fine.
Most of the times you will have an accompanying picture with the audio.
These days Pearson has also started giving video lectures. In either case you
have a visual beforehand to look at and understand what the lecture might be
about. Don’t ignore it! Even if your mind gets a little hint about the audio, it will
pick up the information much better.
Once the audio starts, try to understand the theme and the main points. Take
some notes. All you need is 2~3 good points to give a good response. Look
out for words that refer to a person, place, thing, event, incident, etc. Words
that indicate the beginning of an explanation, a relationship between different
parts or an example are also important. Which are these words? Some of
these are – because, therefore, however, but, for instance, for example, firstly,
secondly, finally, etc.
There is a complete lecture on the signpost and connecting words that you
can use in PTE Academic, in the Premium course.
Once the audio ends you will have 10 seconds to organize your response
before speaking. Having a template in mind helps to quickly organize the
response. If you already know how to begin the first sentence, how to end
your response and how to include the main points in between, you will be able
to deliver a well-structured response quickly.
Have a structure that you will use to deliver your response ready in your mind.
Practice speaking the opening sentence and the concluding sentence again
and again. In the exam if you spend time thinking too much about how to
organize your response, how to begin, how to connect or how to conclude, it
will reflect adversely in your spoken response. Your fluency will suffer as a
result. Don’t let that happen!
Make sure to have 2~3 good points and then speak about them properly in
your response. You don’t need too many points. You should also not make
the mistake of repeating the same thing again and again. The only exception if
when you don’t have anything else to talk about. In that case definitely repeat
the point, but if possible, in different ways.
Keep an eye on timer always. If you see the time is running out, instead of
speaking only half a point, try to move to the concluding statement. It is
important to demonstrate that you know how to begin and end an explanation.
Often the picture with the lecture can tell you quite a bit. In case you find the
lecture very difficult, you can speak a few points based just on the picture.
Don’t ignore it. Also look at it when listening to the lecture. Try to understand
how the audio relates to the picture. This way you will understand much
better.
Don’t worry so much about “what to say” that you ignore “how to say” it. Keep
your response simple. You don’t need to dig out every single point that might
seem important. Follow a simple approach and focus on delivering the
response properly.
This goes hand in hand with the use of templates. Prepare a few generic
statements to use in your Re-tell lecture responses. When you can’t think of
anything else to say, you can use these statements. For e.g. – “The lecture
gives very insightful information about the topic in question.”