PTE DI Prep: How to Look at Images in 25 Seconds—Stop Blindly Grabbing Numbers (2026 Guide) - 优秀PTE博客

I recently went back through Pearson’s official tips for the Describe Image task, and one point I found is getting more and more accurate. Many people struggle with DI not because they can't speak, but because they waste the 25-second prep time way too messily.

You see a picture, your eyes immediately rush to find numbers.
As you stare at them, your mind starts panicking.
By the time the mic opens, your mouth is stuck on just saying the chart shows... and the rest of the answer drifts away.

This is an incredibly common state—a total mess.

Focusing on Numbers Immediately Often Messes Up the Whole Narrative

Pearson’s advice in their Describe Image guide from December 2024 was actually quite blunt: use the prep time to find key trends first, and then the most obvious shift. Don't try to memorize every single number first.

Numbers are inherently frustrating. As soon as you drill into the details, you often go off track:

You remember half the numbers but miss the relationship.
You try to say too many numbers, and your fluency falls apart first.

Many students think they are stuck on English, but it’s actually a sequencing issue. Once the order is wrong, the rest of your speech pretty much stops listening to you.

Use the First 10 Seconds to View the Image as a Simple Story

I now suggest doing one thing with the first 10 seconds: ask yourself "What is the main story of this image?" (What is the change?)

Is it rising or falling? Is it a comparison between two groups or a change over years? Is there a particular peak, or did it drop suddenly in the middle? You have to lock onto this first; otherwise, what do you have to talk about afterwards?

Don't stare at specific small points like 257, 38%, or 2019 at the start. That's like diving straight into deep water as soon as you get in. It's brave, but usually not very stable.

The official tips repeatedly emphasize that candidates should prioritize the most important parts. Simply put: look at the big picture first; that's where the numbers hang their hats.

Use the Middle 10 Seconds to Pick Only Peaks, Troughs, and Biggest Shifts

Many DI images don't need a lot of speaking. In a real exam, you often only need to cover these three types of things:

Who is the highest?
Who is the lowest?
Where is the biggest change?

Enough. Don't be greedy.

If it’s a bar chart, lock onto the highest bar and the lowest one first. If it’s a line chart, look for the overall trend first, then see which section rose the fastest or dropped the hardest. If it’s a pie chart, look for the largest slice and the smallest slice; don't rush to read out every percentage.

I know many people can't help themselves—they feel like they lose points if they don't say all the numbers. But Pearson has also warned against trying to cram every feature. There are only 40 seconds, and the more you try to say everything, the more likely you are to stumble on every sentence.

Wait Until the Last 5 Seconds to Decide Which Numbers to Speak

This order I personally find incredibly effective.

After you've looked at everything, use the final 5 seconds to pick two or three truly worth-saying numbers. Not every number is worth saying, and if you try to read a difficult one, you might mess up. You need to pick ones that help cement the trend.

For example:

The peak value
The trough value
The starting point and the ending point

These three things usually anchor your answer enough to get you through a segment.

There’s also a small detail in the official materials that’s easily overlooked: express numbers specifically, but only if you can say them easily. If you know what 257 means but twist your tongue three times to get it out, you might as well practice reading these common numbers beforehand, otherwise, it is really frustrating under pressure.

Having the Speaking Order Planned Ready Will Be Much Easier Than Thinking on the Spot

I recommend a very simple, "stupid" but effective mental order:

State the chart type.
Describe the overall trend.
Fill in the peaks and troughs.
Finish with one comparison or detail.

You will find this isn't some fancy template at all; it's just an order of speaking. The difference is huge. The former gets you into a rut of memorization; the latter feels like you are actually speaking to the chart.

Pearson also specifically warned against using sentences that sound like you're reading a script, or your content score might suffer. Please don't gamble on that.

Practice Should Also Use the Countdown or You’ll Still Be Flustered During the Exam

Many people practice DI differently from the actual exam. They look at the image slowly, organize their thoughts slowly, and when they mess up, they just start over. While comfortable, this doesn't simulate the pressure of the real test. As soon as the 25 seconds are up, you are still going to be messed up.

So it is best to simulate the same rhythm during your practice sessions: 25 seconds to look, 40 seconds to speak, done and move on—don't immediately re-record. You need to get used to that pressure so that when the mic opens during the real exam, you don't feel like you've been suddenly pushed onto a stage.

If you want to combine DI, RA, and RS practice, I would recommend using Youshow PTE. You can download it from the Apple App Store or visit the homepage https://pte.youshowedu.com/en. The convenient part is that the question types, recordings, and feedback are all in one view, making it easier for you to discover if your image sequence is confused or if you simply get blocked when there are too many numbers.

After Using the Prep Time Correctly, DI Will Stabilize Before It Gets Better

The DI task sometimes isn't about incapability, but anxiety. Rushing to report numbers, rushing to fill the time, rushing to look like a master of chart analysis. The more you rush, the more scattered you become.

First, clear up the 25 seconds:

Look for the main trend first.
Look for the biggest shift next.
Finally pick the numbers.

This sequence isn't cool, and it might even feel a bit "old school." But it works.

Many people see their DI score stabilize later on not because they suddenly had an epiphany, but because they finally stopped rushing in blind at the start. Stop trying to force yourself to sound like a broadcaster. Save the sequence first. Once the order is good, the whole paragraph will behave much better.