How to Improve Your Answer to Describe a Picture Exam Question

A common question on many English proficiency tests is to look at a picture and describe it. This task assesses your ability to:

Formulate a clear description of what you see.
Convey that description accurately and effectively in English.

Let’s explore practical tips to improve your performance on these questions, focusing on structure, vocabulary, and detail.

1 Overall Takeaways for a Strong Answer
2 Final Thoughts

Overall Takeaways for a Strong Answer

Let’s take a look at the picture below.

Did you describe the picture for 3 minutes without pausing? Most of people feel difficulties to explain the images or picture right away.

Here is advices to improve your answer so that you can get higher score.

Use Conjectural Words

Phrases like “looks like,” “seems to be,” and “might be” help convey ideas without requiring complete certainty.

These words give flexibility, allowing you to make logical guesses even if you’re unsure about specifics.

For example:

It looks like they’re having a picnic.
It seems to be a special day they’re celebrating.
It might be the woman’s birthday.

Follow a Logical Structure
To make your answer clear and organized, use the following flow:

Make an overall guess – What’s happening in the picture?
Describe the setting – Where is it? What’s the environment like?
Describe the people or objects – What do they look like or what are they doing?
Add detailed observations – Any specific items, colors, or actions?

Write in Complete Sentences with Variety
Avoid overly simple or repetitive sentences. Use conjunctions like “while,” “and,” and “because” to connect ideas smoothly and add complexity.

Practical Example: Describing a Picture

Original Answer (Needs Improvement):
“There are two people. They laugh. It looks nice time.

The nature is very very beautiful. They are eating food and having a picnic. It’s springtime. The girl wearing red, and boy wearing green shirt.”

Issues:

Lacks organization and flow.
Overuses short, simple sentences.
Fails to provide a clear overall idea at the beginning.

Improved Answer (Using the Tips):
“The people in the picture look like they’re having a picnic, while sitting in a grassy area surrounded by trees. A man and a woman seem to be enjoying their time in a park or forest.

The woman, who is wearing a red blouse, seems to be holding a piece of fruit, while the man, wearing a green collared shirt, appears to be opening a bag of food. Both are smiling and looking at each other, creating a relaxed and happy atmosphere.”

Improvements:

Used conjectural phrases to make the description more natural.
Followed a logical structure, from the overall guess to the specific details.
Added specific descriptions of the people, environment, and actions.

Step-by-Step Guide for Structuring Your Answer

Make an Overall Guess
Begin by summarizing what the picture is about. This sets the tone and gives your audience an idea of the main topic.
- “The people look like they’re having a picnic.”
- “There are two people sitting in a grassy area, who might be relaxing in a park.”
- “A man and a woman seem to be having an afternoon picnic in a park or forest.”
Describe the Setting
Explain the surroundings to paint a clear mental picture.
- “They’re sitting in a grassy area, surrounded by trees.”
- “By looking at the foreground and background, it may be spring because of the flowers and sunny weather.”
Describe the People or Objects
Mention specific actions, appearances, or interactions of the people or objects in the picture.
- “The man and woman are smiling at each other, while looking at each other.”
- “The woman is wearing a red blouse and seems to be holding some fruit.”
Add Detailed Observations
Provide extra details that enrich your description.
- “The man is wearing a green, collared shirt and seems to be opening a bag with food inside.”
- “They seem to be enjoying the peaceful environment of the park.”