PTE DI: Strategies to Avoid Template Detection, Simple Version Thinking, Universal Sentences, and High-Score Pitfalls - 优秀PTE博客

If you have been practicing PTE Speaking DI recently and feel anxious while you practice, it is likely due to one of these situations:

You memorized a template, but it makes you sound more like a robot the more you memorize it.
You know that DI cannot be filled with nonsense, but you don't know exactly what to say.
You are looking for a version that is a bit shorter, more stable, and truly usable during the exam.

This article is written for exactly this situation.

I don't want to make this sound too esoteric, nor do I want to provide a bunch of sentences that look high-level but cause you to choke the moment you open your mouth. We are just going to discuss the most core matter: If you want to avoid templates when doing PTE Describe Image, the key isn't "using absolutely no templates," but rather "cutting the fluff and speaking more of the effective information found in the image."

Let's start with the conclusion: What is the most stable way to anti-template DI?

The one-sentence version:

Opening + Middle (Highlight highs/lows/trends/contrasts) + Closing.

That’s it. No need to circle around in a huge loop.

The problem many students face isn't that they don't know how to look at the chart, but that they constantly try to hard-sell a pre-written viral template. This often leads to two issues:

You speak a lot of phrases that fit every image, leaving the content empty.
You haven't memorized the template well enough, so you stutter under pressure, causing your fluency score to drop immediately.

So, you need to remember that what is truly valuable in DI is:

Pronunciation not being too far off.
Consistent speech rate.
Not breaking sentences too frequently.
Speaking about the key points on the image.

Of course, content matters, but this isn't asking you to give a data analysis report. As long as you state the most obvious points in the image, you are already better than those who blindly pile up template content.

Why do many people worry about template detection in PTE DI?

In recent years, everyone has been discussing that overuse of PTE Speaking templates carries a risk.

The most common student worry isn't necessarily "I cannot use a single template sentence," but actually:

Will what I say be too similar to others?
Will the entire text be made of ineffective sentences?
Will I fail to mention much content, but spend half the time on the template instead?

Therefore, the core of anti-template is not about not using fixed sentence structures at all, but rather:

Retain a small amount of universal sentences for the skeleton, but the main content must be truly related to this specific image.

This mindset is the most stable.

4 Practical Principles for Anti-Template in PTE DI

If you just want to take away the most actionable items, remember these 4 points.

1. Speak more about the image content, don't blindly pile words

It is not about randomly throwing out a few numbers you see.

When speaking about data, there must be corresponding points. For example:

Who is the highest.
Who is the lowest.
Rising from year X to year Y.
Which two groups are similar.

As long as what you say is "Data + Relationship", the content will feel much more natural and less like a hollow template.

2. Rotate your opening descriptive words

Don't only know how to say:

This graph shows...

You can rotate a little bit; it doesn't need to be fancy, but don't be exactly the same every time:

This chart shows...
This graph presents...
This picture highlights...
The image illustrates...

See? This variation is small, but it is enough to make the opening feel less rigid.

3. Keep transition sentences short

Many people have issues with speaking because their sentences start too high or complex.

Short transition sentences like this are enough:

When we look at...
In 2019...
Moving to...
Overall...

The benefits of short sentences are practical:

Easy not to forget.
Harder to get stuck on.
More like how a normal person speaks during the exam.

4. Pre-think how to say trends and extremes

The actual content frequently used in DI is just a few things:

Maximum value
Minimum value
Increasing trend
Decreasing trend
Fluctuation
Comparison

Practice these expressions until you are proficient, and you won't be afraid even if the image changes.

The Simple Version Template Most Suitable for Most People

If you currently have a basic foundation or tend to get nervous during the exam, I recommend this Simple Version Template Method.

The structure is very simple:

One sentence at the start to state the topic.
Speak about one high point.
Speak about one low point or a comparison.
Speak about one trend.
One final summary sentence.

You can directly apply this version:

This chart shows information about [topic].
The highest figure is [A], while the lowest one is [B].
There is an increasing or decreasing trend from [X] to [Y].
In addition, [A] is higher than [B].
Overall, the chart presents the main changes clearly.

What is good about this version?

Short sentences: Easier to manage air and time.
Easy to swap: You can clearly substitute the brackets with image data.
Hard to "fly away": Harder to drift off-topic.
Suitable for fluency: Great for maintaining a steady rhythm.

If you aren't naturally someone who can speak long sentences in one breath, there is no need to force a complex template. The exam isn't a speech contest; stability is key.

A More Natural High-Score Expression Version

If you already have some foundation and your speaking is relatively smooth, you can upgrade to a slightly more complete version:

This chart shows dolphin and whale sightings in the bay, with blue bars for dolphins and orange bars for whales.
In 2017, whale sightings were much higher than dolphin sightings, with 522 compared to 203.
In 2018, the gap became smaller.
By 2020, both categories reached a high point, especially whales at 707.
Overall, the chart indicates an upward trend with some differences between the two groups.

This version is much better than a "completely empty template" because it actually describes the image.

You don't have to fill out every single number completely, but at the very least, you cover:

The theme of the chart.
Two categories of objects.
Yearly changes.
High points and comparisons.
Overall trend.

This is already complete content.

How to make the simple version not sound empty?

Many students ask, if I use the simple version, won't there be too little content?

Actually, no, provided you are speaking about effective information.

For example, this logic is very practical:

This chart shows dolphin and whale sightings in the bay.
For dolphins, the highest number is 513, while the lowest is 203.
For whales, the figure reaches 707, which is much higher than dolphins in some years.
Dolphins show an increasing trend, while whales fluctuate over the period.
In conclusion, the chart presents the changes in sightings clearly.

This segment isn't complex, but its advantages are obvious:

Enough information points.
Not difficult sentence structures.
Logical flow is smooth.
Great for stable output within exam time limits.

So don't always think that "advanced sentences" equal a high score. Many times, simple but stable is the true road to a high score.

Common Template Sentences for PTE DI: Memorizing Short Ones is Enough

The sentences below are enough to handle most charts.

Opening Sentences

This chart shows...
This graph presents...
This picture highlights...
The image illustrates...

Transition Sentences

When we look at...
In year X...
In the following year...
Moving to...

Contrast and Comparison

However, ...
On the other hand, ...
By contrast, ...
A was higher than B.
A and B were almost the same.

Trend Expressions

Increase:

The number increased from X to Y.
There is an increasing trend from X to Y.
There was a steady rise from X to Y.

Decrease:

The number dropped from X to Y.
There was a decreasing trend from X to Y.

Fluctuate:

The number fluctuated over the period.
The figure went up and down over the years.

Closing Sentences

Overall, the chart shows the main changes clearly.
In general, the image presents important differences.
In conclusion, the picture indicates the key trend of the data.

You'll notice, these sentences aren't hard. Yes, intentional.

Because when you actually get to the exam, hard sentences won't necessarily save you; short sentences are actually more reliable.

Pits You Most Easily Step Into When Doing DI

1. Too much fluff, too little image information

This is the most common.

Some people spend the first 15 seconds saying:

it is a very interesting picture and it is very important in our daily life...

Keep this to a minimum. You aren't at the exam to write life reflections.

2. Using the exact same giant template for every image

It sounds immediately like rote memorization, and usually, the content ratio is very low.

A more stable approach is:

Keep a short sentence for the opening.
Change the content in the middle based on the image.
Use a short sentence again at the end to wrap up.

3. Terminating due to blurting out too many numbers

When there are many numbers, it is very easy to get stuck.

So don't be greedy; pick the key points to talk about:

One maximum value.
One minimum value.
One trend.

That is already enough.

4. Spent prep time writing full essays in your head

You don't need to write a full essay in your mind during prep time.

You just need to grab these points:

What is the title/topic?
Where is the maximum?
Where is the minimum?
Is it an increase, decrease, or fluctuation?

Once you grab these, you can speak as soon as you open your mouth.

When Practicing PTE DI, I Suggest You Practice Like This

If practicing DI currently feels painful to you, try this sequence:

First, only practice the opening and closing sentences until you can speak them without thinking.
Then specifically practice trend words and comparison sentences.
Then take the image and find only 3 information points; don't be greedy for more.
Finally, do the full 35 to 40 seconds output.

Practicing in this order is much more effective than memorizing a whole template from the start.

Also, if you want to find a tool to repeatedly practice questions and get more convenient feedback on your speaking, I would recommend Youshow PTE. It is available for download on the Apple App Store or via the official website: https://pte.youshowedu.com/en.

Personally, I think it suits this type of question that requires high-frequency speaking better, because for DI, it really isn't enough to just "understand" it; you have to practice until your mouth automates the movements.

Final Advice: DI Doesn't Need to Be "Fancy"

Many students always fear their sentences are too simple and worry that "it doesn't look high-level."

But for PTE Speaking, especially Describe Image, it really isn't about being more "flashy."

What you should pursue is:

Being able to speak it out.
Speaking smoothly.
Speaking the key points from the image.

If a completed answer can do these things, it is already better than that fancy but stuck template.

So, you can absolutely treat DI as a very simple task:

Look at the image, grab key points, describe relationships, and end steadily.

This is the most realistic and suitable anti-template method for most exam candidates.