What this task asks
You see a photograph of a scene — often a public place, event, or everyday situation. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Your job is to describe what you see in detail: people, objects, setting, actions, and atmosphere. There is no "correct" answer — richer detail and accurate observation earn higher marks.
The 4-Layer Description Method
Work from broad to specific, then add inference.
Layer 1 — Setting (10 seconds)
Where is this scene taking place? Indoor or outdoor? Time of day? Season?
"The photograph shows what appears to be an outdoor farmers' market on a bright, sunny day. Based on the clothing and the open stalls, it looks like it could be early summer."
Layer 2 — Main subjects (20–25 seconds)
Who or what is the focus of the image? How many people? What are they doing?
"In the foreground, there are two people — what looks like a middle-aged woman and a younger man — examining some produce at one of the stalls. The woman is pointing at something on the table, and the man appears to be holding up a bag and smiling. Both seem relaxed and engaged in conversation with the vendor."
Layer 3 — Background details (15 seconds)
What else can you see? Other people, signs, objects, colours?
"In the background, there are several other market stalls with colourful canopies — red, blue, and yellow — and a small crowd of shoppers moving between them. I can also see what looks like a food truck on the far left, with a short queue forming."
Layer 4 — Atmosphere and inference (10–15 seconds)
What is the mood? What might be happening off-screen? What does this scene suggest?
"The overall atmosphere feels lively and community-oriented. This kind of market often serves as a social gathering point as much as a shopping destination, and the body language of the people in the foreground reinforces that sense of relaxed, neighbourly interaction."
Vocabulary for Scene Description
Location/setting: "in the foreground" / "in the background" / "to the left/right of" "what appears to be" / "it looks like" / "I can make out"
Describing people: "a group of approximately..." / "what appears to be a..." "she/he seems to be..." / "they appear to be engaged in..."
Objects and environment: "a collection of..." / "several..." / "a number of..." "arranged in..." / "positioned near..." / "surrounded by..."
Atmosphere: "the overall mood seems to be..." / "the scene conveys a sense of..." "based on the body language,..." / "the atmosphere appears..."
Plug-and-Play Sentence Starters
Memorise these. On exam day, your opening, transitions, and closing should be automatic — so your mental energy goes entirely into the content.
Opening sentences (choose one):
- "The photograph shows what appears to be [SETTING] — likely [TIME/SEASON] based on [VISUAL CUE]."
- "Before anything else, I want to describe the overall setting: [SETTING]."
- "What immediately stands out in this image is [MAIN SUBJECT]."
Transition phrases (between points):
- "Moving into the background, I can also make out..."
- "Beyond that, there's another detail worth noting..."
- "On top of that, I'd also point out..."
Closing sentences (choose one):
- "The overall atmosphere feels [ADJECTIVE], suggesting [INFERENCE]."
- "Taking everything together, the scene conveys a sense of [MOOD]."
- "At the end of the day, this scene captures [OBSERVATION]."
CLB 6 vs CLB 8 — Same Idea, Different Level
See exactly what the examiner is comparing your response against.
| Criterion | CLB 6 response | CLB 8 response |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | "This is a picture of a market." | "The photograph shows what appears to be an outdoor farmers' market on a bright, sunny day, likely early summer based on the clothing." |
| Supporting detail | "There are people buying things." | "In the foreground, a middle-aged woman and a younger man are examining produce, both appearing relaxed and engaged with the vendor." |
| Vocabulary | "There are lots of stalls and people in the back too." | "In the background, several colourful stalls and a small crowd of shoppers are visible, along with what looks like a food truck." |
| Closing | "It looks like a nice place." | "The overall atmosphere feels lively and community-oriented, reinforcing a sense of relaxed, neighbourly interaction." |