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PICTURE DESCRIPTION
GUIDELINES, TECHNIQUES & EXAM TIPS

© Mª CRISTINA C. B.
 PICTURE DESCRIPTION GUIDELINES, TECHNIQUES & EXAM TIPS

LET ME SEE…
IN THE BACKGROUND…
AS I SEE IT…
IT LOOKS LIKE…
IT SHOWS…
IN THIS PICTURE..
AT THE TOP…

Here you have some techniques and exam tips I have put
A picture description is an ideal way of practising your
together to help you describe a picture or photograph.
English vocabulary in all sorts of fields. Pictures provide
Study them carefully and decide on how to structure your
serious language practice and can be invaluable in the
picture description. Don´t worry if you find it a bit difficult at
classroom for stimulating discussion and bringing enormous
first, we´ll practise a lot to make things easier in time. I´ve
variety to lessons. They also provide the teacher with a
also included some exercises that we´ll correct in a future
flexible and convenient tool to test many different things in
revision class.
exams.

After all, as the saying has it:

“A picture paints a
thousand words”

M. Cristina C. B.
QUESTIONS TECHNIQUES

What happens when I have to describe a picture?
It´s simple. The examiner gives you a picture and asks you to say 1. Describe where things are in the picture
what you see. He or she may also ask you to give an opinion or
comment on the content of the picture.

Make sure you are familiar with the language used to describe where

What does this test? something is in a picture. Check that you know how to use the
That depends on what the examiner is looking for. It can test fluency, phrases in the boxes below:
vocabulary, stress, pronunciation and rhythms of speech, ability to
communicate, grammatical accuracy and interactive communication.
IN THE TOP AT THE TOP IN THE TOP
And probably it can test them all at the same time. LEFT (-HAND) RIGHT (-HAND)

How should I approach this type of test? CORNER CORNER
Here are some useful techniques and guidelines for describing
pictures. You will not need to use all of them every time but it will be
useful to be familiar with them. ON THE LEFT (-HAND) IN ON THE RIGHT (-HAND)
SIDE THE SIDE
MIDDLE
GUIDELINES
DO DON´T IN THE BOTTOM IN THE BOTTOM

Look carefully at the photos. Think
Don´t worry if you don´t understand LEFT (-HAND) RIGHT (-HAND)
how to describe what you can see. immediately what is going on in the CORNER AT THE BOTTOM CORNER
Take your time to do it. picture.

Be as precise as you can when you
Don´t worry if you don´t know the
describe the photo itself. Use some precise words for what you can see;
‘position’ language if it helps. use alternatives. IN THE BACKGROUND
FOREGROUND

Use present continuous verbs to
Don´t use the present simple to
describe what is happening. describe what is happening.

Fill in the gaps with the correct ‘position’ language:

If there is a person or people in the
Don´t use general language to
photo, you will need to describe describe people. You should use
their appearance. vocabulary of the level required.
1. _____________________

Answer questions as fully as possible.
Don´t give too many one - or two –
Keep talking, give details, explain your word answers. Avoid answers which
2. _____________________
point, ask questions, paraphrase, don´t are single words or lists. Silence is
get stuck on words…. Any device that you enemy! If you are not a talkative
3. _____________________
demonstrates that you can carry a person by nature, you must make an
topic through will help your extra effort for the test.
4. _____________________
performance.

Don´t feel you have to stick rigidly to 5. _____________________

Try to direct the conversation towards the subject. Don´t give complicated
something you are interested in and explanations if you are not sure.
6. _____________________
can talk about easily.

Don´t be shy! This is your chance to 7. _____________________

Speak naturally and be animated! show how well you can speak. Smile
Keep eye contact with the examiner, and relax! 8. _____________________
be friendly and show a positive
attitude. 9. _____________________
2. Don´t be too certain 3. Paraphrase if you don´t know the word

Sometimes you cannot be sure what is happening in a photo or
Don´t worry if there are things in the picture that you don´t know
picture. Use appropriate language to show that you are guessing. the English for. Make sure you know how to talk ‘round’ words you
Use uncertain and speculative language when you aren´t 100% sure. don´t know. These expressions are always useful:

I think / guess/suppose it is… Maybe / Perhaps they are… It´s used to open… / It´s used for opening… / You use it to open…

I´m not sure but, they could be… They seem to be taking part in… It´s what you do when you..(if you don´t know the verb)

It´s not very clear but, probably… It can/could/might be a scene of… I don´t know what you call it, but…(describe or define it)

I can´t quite make it out but, perhaps…. I don´t know what it is called /the word for it, but…

It´s a kind / sort of… It´s like a….. It´s stuff /a thing for

We use expressions with ‘look’ when we are making guesses and

deductions based on (usually visual) evidence:

Study these constructions using ‘look’ : Where necessary correct these sentences :
1. Take it in turns to
choose one of the
1. This looks like the work of a child 1. She looks like hungry objects. Describe the
look like + NOUN object to your
partner but do not
(when it means be similar to) 2. It looks as if it is going to rain
say what it is. Your
partner must guess
3. The boys look like breaking into the car which object you are
describing
2. The boy looks tired and fed up
look + ADJECTIVE 4. He looks like his father

( when it means seem )

5. They look they are in a crowded market

2. Remember to use
6. They don´t look as if happy the expressions
mentioned above to
3. The girl looks as though she is in
her late 20s talk ‘round’ words
look as though/as if + 7. It doesn´t look anyone is living here you don´t know
VERB PHRASE

(similar to 1, but attention must be

paid to the grammatical construction) 8. He looks capable and reliable

* As if and As though are

interchangeable
4.Give your opinion & Use hesitation words 6. What to include

LOCATION (describe where things

are in the picture) What can you see in the picture?

Remember to use the position language Where are things placed in the

Remember you may also be asked to give your opinion on the content of you have learnt so far in order to do it
the picture or topics related to it. To start with, here are some expressions in a proper way. picture?
you can use:

In my opinion As far as I´m concerned

Where is it?
As I see it I would say that PLACE (mention something about
If you ask me Personally
I suppose/believe/think/guess From my point of view the place) What´s the place / scenery like?

In order to play for time, to give yourself time to think, you can use
hesitation words or sounds ( ‘delaying sounds’). Make sure you don´t
use them from your own language. They can sound strange in English! ACTION (describe what is What are the people doing?
happening )
Well,… Er..., Let me see…, Mmm…, Then..., I mean…,
You know (what I mean)

PEOPLE
PEOPLE (speculate about the
characters ) What are the people like?

5.Ask for clarification & Correct yourself Talk about people´s appearance, What are they wearing?
clothes, relationship. If there is not a
main character, focus on the group How are they related?

Don´t be afraid to interrupt and ask if you don´t understand what you are
being told. It´s important to familiarise yourself with the right phrases
to ask for clarification or repetition and be able to go on : What has happened?
Shall I start? IDEAS & OTHER DETAILS
What do you mean? (speculate about the scene) What do you think will happen next?
I don´t (really) understand…
Do you think you could say/explain that again? Give extra information about the scene What is the weather like?
Would you mind repeating it, please? to add further details to your
May/can I ask you a question? description. What else can be interesting in the
I´m not (quite) sure what I have to do…
Can I interrupt or say something?
picture?

Asking the examiner to repeat can actually be the perfect opportunity to
show off some complex language - e.g.:
How do they look?
'I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch the last part…' IMPRESSION (give some
'I didn´t quite get what you said…'
'If I can just check what you are saying, you'd like me to…' impressions and opinions) What is his/her emotional state?

And, be confident to correct yourself if necessary! What are they thinking/talking about?
What I mean… What I´m trying to say…
I don´t think I explained that very well…
PRACTICE 1 PRACTICE 2

Location
Takes after To tell She has got Looks
Might The background Would say Can´t be
Match the phrases on the left with the appropriate places in this
Could be Make it out It looks as though Maybe photograph
Shows Perhaps Looks like

This photo (1) ………………………….. a

young mother and her two kids.

I (2) …………..……… they must be from

somewhere in South America.

(3) ……………………they´re in a crowded

market, although it is difficult 4)……………,

because you can´t see much of

(5)…………

The mother has her hair up in a bun and a

Picture discussion
roundish face. She (6) ……………… fed up,

Look carefully at the photograph and answer the questions.
but this (7) ………………… because she´s
Remember to use the expressions you learn to make suggestions and
tired. (8) ……………………... she´s had a give your opinion.

busy day shopping. A Description

The child with its arm around her neck
1. What can you see in the photograph?
2. How are the eight people in this photograph related?
(9) ………………………. a little boy. 3. What else could you describe to the examiner?
It seems he´s aware of the camera.
B General questions
The little girl (10) …………………… more than three. She´s a little plump, but you can see 1. How many people are there in your family?
2. Would you like to be a twin, a triplet a sextuplet? Why? Why not?
that she really (11) ………………………. her mother. (12) …………………… her mother´s 3. Why do you think parents often dress twins in the same clothes?
mouth and the most beautiful almond-shaped eyes. She´s holding something in her hand
4. From a child´s point of view, what are the pros and cons of being
… part of a big family?
5. From the parents´point of view, what are the advantages and
I can´t really (13) ……………………..… . It (14) ……………………… be a charm or (15) disadvantages of having only one child?
…………………….…it´s a crucifix.
M. Cristina C. B.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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