Bar Graph PTE: Format, Tips, Sample Questions and Answers

PTE provides English language testing for the admission application process worldwide, and for visa applications for work and migration in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Canada. It is a completely computer-based test. 

PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI include a total of  20 question types to assess your abilities in sections such as: speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The scoring is graded between 10–90. The total duration of the test is 2 hours.

The PTE speaking test has a duration of 75-90 minutes to complete 6 tasks, which are:

1. Personal Introduction

2. Read Aloud

3. Repeat Sentence

4. Describe Image

5. Retell structure

6. Answer short questions.

The bar graph PTE is in the describe image questions where you will be presented an image in the form of a bar graph, pie chart, etc. and you have to describe it clearly with a good pronounciation. 

How to Analyse the Bar Graph PTE Question? 

Understanding or analysing the bar graph PTE effectively in the PTE Academic “Describe Image” task involves a structured approach. 

The steps that you can follow to analyse and understand the question are:

Step 1: Carefully read the title and axis labels by reading the title of the bar graph to understand the main topic and try to look at the axis labels to measure the units used.

Step 2: Examine the highlights that explain the colours or patterns used in the graph.

Step 3: Try to Identify the main trends in the graph. Look for any significant increases and decreases in the graph.

Step 5: Identify any bar or points of particular interest that stand out from the general interest.

Step 6: Practise using comparison language to describe relationships between bars.

Step 7:  Strategically structure your answer, starting with an introduction, providing an overview, and then moving into detailed descriptions of individual bars.

Format of the Bar Graph PTE Question

The bar graph task tests your capacity to think quickly and speak English fluently under pressured situations due to allotted speaking time of 40 secs. You have 25 seconds to observe the image(bar graph, map or picture) and structure the answer. Then, you will have 40 seconds to record the response through a microphone. Remember that you have to immediately start speaking after hearing a short beep tone played once the microphone is turned on. Speak the related content fluently, as you can record it only once. 

Sample Questions and Answer for Bar Graph PTE

When you receive the question, you get the time of 25 seconds to quickly analyse and understand the image. You can use this time to note down the key features from the image. The format of answering these type of questions is:

• Introduction
• Identify the highest and lowest figures and any major key features
• Conclusion

Question 1: 

Answer: This bar graph closely represents the reasons for studying according to the age of students. 

About 80 students under the age 26 chose study to work towards their career, while only 10 are doing it because studying is their interest. There are an equal number of students in the age group of 40 to 49 who choose studying as a hobby and as a career. 

While, students over the age 49 prefer studying out of their own interest. In conclusion, younger students study for making their career and older students study because it makes them happy.

Question 2:

Answer: This graph indicates the number of international students enrolled in higher education in top countries like the US, UK and Australia in the year 205-2019.

According to the graph, the US has seen the highest number of enrollments from 2015-2019 fluctuating between 850,000 and nearly one million.

The image shows that the US is the most popular country with international students, followed by the UK, then Australia.

Tips to Effectively Answer the Bar Graph PTE Question 

Following tips provide strategies for efficient time management and help you quickly analyse the graph and deliver a well-structured response within the allocated time of 40 sec for speaking. Regularly following tips during practise sessions builds familiarity with the task requirements and reduces anxiety and boosts confidence when encountering similar questions during the actual PTE exam.

Mentioned below are some of the tips to answer the bar graph PTE questions-

• Focus on the main information of the image: When you look at the image, try to think from the perspective of what the main ideas shown in the image are. Or what are the details relating to the image? Use a notepad to note key ideas and phrases to include in the answer.
• Understand the bar graph quickly: Take a quick look at the graph to understand the context and identify its main components such as axis, units, title and key data points. 
• Time Management: Manage your time wisely will help you identify the key information without rushing. Spend 25 sec to quickly analyse the graph before you start speaking.
• Use Appropriate Vocabulary: Use a variety of vocabulary to describe the trends and to showcase language proficiency. You may incorporate words like increase, decrease, rise, fall or steady.
• Speak Clearly: Maintain a clear and steady pace and articulate words to ensure that the listener can easily understand your response.
• Practise Regularly: To improve your efficiency during the test practise a variety of bar question types. It will help you to be comfortable analysing and describing different visual data.  

Wind Up

The PTE exam is for admission purposes for the countries like Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada. The exam consists of four sections- Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading. The duration of the exam is 2 hours out of which the duration of speaking section is 75-90 mins. The candidate has to appear in 6 tasks, which includes Personal Introduction, Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Retell structure and Answer short questions.

The bar graph PTE questions come under describe the image section. To ace in this section you should practise similar type of questions by keeping a stop watch in hand and speak the answer clearly while answering so, that you are equipped by the format of the question. The experts at leap scholar can help you to guide in your university application process from scratch till the admission process is completed.

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