PTE Pie Chart Practice and Template
A PTE pie chart in Describe Image shows how a whole is divided into parts, usually as percentages that add up to 100. You get 25 seconds to study it and 40 seconds to speak. Introduce what the chart shows and the year or group it covers, name the largest and smallest share, mention two slices together if that matters, and end with what the division suggests. You don't need to read out every slice.
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Question 1 of 14
Average household spending in Brookvale
Charts use invented figures written for practice. Your recording is never uploaded. The result is a practice estimate from an optional transcript (on-device in most recent browsers, or the browser's own in Chrome and Edge) or from key points you tick yourself. It is not an official score.
How to describe a pie chart in 40 seconds
- Introduce: This pie chart shows how [whole] was divided in [year or group].
- Largest share: [Part] makes up the largest share, at [percentage].
- Smallest share: [Part] accounts for the smallest share, at only [percentage].
- Combined share: Together, [part] and [part] account for [combined percentage].
- Overall: Overall, [pattern], which suggests [implication].
Use the 25 seconds to find the title, the labels and the main values, then speak in the order above. Replace each bracket with the details from your image.
Useful language
- Share: accounts for, makes up, represents, the remaining
- Size: just under half, roughly a quarter, a fifth of, the smallest slice
- Combined: together account for, more than half of, taken jointly
Common mistakes
- Reading every percentage. Two or three slices are usually enough.
- Rounding loosely. A slice of 40 per cent is “just under half”, not “half”.
- Forgetting to name the whole. Say “of total spending” or “of all students”.
- Mixing up the labels with the years or categories shown on the chart.
How Pearson scores Describe Image
- Pearson gives 25 seconds to study the image and prepare, then 40 seconds to speak after the tone. You can record only once.
- Responses are scored on three factors: content, pronunciation and oral fluency.
- Content checks whether you address all the elements of the image, and also credits relationships in the data, possible developments, and conclusions or implications drawn from details in the image.
- Pearson says a few disjointed ideas will lower your score, so cover the main information and link it to specific details.
- Pearson says unoriginal responses earn no credit. Use a structure to organise your answer, but write the content from what you see in the picture.
Source: Pearson PTE Academic test format: Speaking and Writing (Describe Image) (checked 2026-10-09).
How this task is scored (practice estimate)
After you record, the page can give a practice estimate for this pie chart answer. It is not a Pearson score. With a transcript on (on-device in most recent browsers, browser-based in Chrome and Edge only), the content part checks whether the transcript mentions each key point of the chart (a few keywords per point), and a rough pace estimate lowers the percentage a little. With the transcript off, you tick the key points you covered and the result is labelled self-checked, with no pace part. Pronunciation is never measured, and keyword matching cannot judge whether your description is accurate or well organised. Results stay in this browser.
Practice charts with model answers
Read each chart for 25 seconds, then compare your answer with the model. Every figure below is invented for practice.
Chart 1: Average household spending in Brookvale
Model answer
This pie chart shows how an average household in Brookvale spent its money in 2025. Housing accounted for the largest share, at 36 per cent. Food came second, at 22 per cent, and together these two categories made up more than half of total spending. Transport took 14 per cent, while health was the smallest category, at just 9 per cent. The remaining 19 per cent was spent on other items. Overall, the chart suggests that housing costs dominate household budgets, leaving relatively little for health.
Chart 2: Electricity sources at the Riverton plant
Model answer
This pie chart shows the sources of electricity generated at the Riverton plant in 2024. Gas was the largest source, accounting for 40 per cent of output. Wind was second, at 27 per cent, followed by solar at 18 per cent. Hydro power made up the smallest share, at 15 per cent. Taken together, wind, solar and hydro supplied 60 per cent of the electricity, which is more than half. Overall, the plant still depends on gas for its largest single share, although the other sources now provide the majority of its output.
Chart 3: Land use on Greenmead farm
Model answer
This pie chart shows how land is used on Greenmead farm. Cereals take the largest share, at 42 per cent, followed by pasture at 28 per cent, so together they cover 70 per cent of the farm. Vegetables account for 12 per cent. Orchards and woodland are the smallest uses, each making up 9 per cent. Overall, the farm is dominated by cereal growing and grazing, with a small area given to other uses.
Chart 4: How a school district spends its budget
Model answer
This pie chart shows how a school district spends its budget. Teacher salaries make up the largest share, at 58 per cent, which is more than half. Buildings come second at 14 per cent, followed by support staff at 12 per cent, and salaries and support staff together account for 70 per cent. Learning resources take 9 per cent. Administration is the smallest share, at only 7 per cent. Overall, most of the money goes on people rather than premises or materials.
Chart 5: Main material in new buildings completed in Orchard City
Model answer
This pie chart shows the main material used in new buildings completed in Orchard City. Concrete is the most common, at 38 per cent, followed by timber at 24 per cent and steel at 20 per cent. Concrete and steel together account for 58 per cent. Brick makes up 12 per cent, half the share of timber, and other materials are the smallest group at 6 per cent. Overall, concrete dominates, but timber is clearly more popular than steel or brick.
Chart 6: How an observatory shares its telescope time
Model answer
This pie chart shows how an observatory's telescope time is allocated. Galaxy surveys receive the largest share, at 34 per cent, and exoplanet searches come second at 26 per cent, together taking 60 per cent. Star studies account for 18 per cent and solar system work for 14 per cent. Maintenance is the smallest allocation, at just 8 per cent. Overall, most of the time is devoted to research beyond our own solar system.
Chart 7: Main reason newcomers gave for moving to Ashby (%)
Model answer
This pie chart shows the main reasons newcomers gave for moving to the town of Ashby. Work is the largest reason at 41 per cent, followed by family at 27 per cent. Study accounts for 18 per cent. Lifestyle, at 9, and other reasons, at 5, are the smallest. Work and family together make up 68 per cent.
Chart 8: Revenue by product line at Brightwell Foods (%)
Model answer
This pie chart shows revenue by product line at Brightwell Foods. Snacks bring in the most, at 34 per cent, followed by beverages at 28 and frozen meals at 21. Bakery contributes 12 per cent, while other products add only 5. Snacks and beverages together account for 62 per cent of revenue.
Chart 9: Mineral make-up of one granite sample (% by volume)
Model answer
This pie chart shows the mineral make-up of a granite sample. Feldspar is dominant at 52 per cent, which is more than half. Quartz is second at 27 per cent, and together they form 79 per cent of the rock. Mica makes up 11 per cent and amphibole 6, while other minerals are smallest at 4.
Chart 10: Biggest data privacy concern named by survey respondents (%)
Model answer
This pie chart shows the biggest data privacy concern named by survey respondents. Data being sold to others is the largest at 36 per cent, followed by hacking at 29. Government monitoring accounts for 17 per cent and targeted adverts for 12. Only 6 per cent have no concern, the smallest share.
Chart 11: Tasks performed by robots at a distribution centre
Model answer
This pie chart shows the tasks performed by robots at a distribution centre. Picking is the largest share, at 34 percent, followed by packing at 24 percent. Sorting accounts for 19 percent and transport for 15 percent. Inspection is the smallest category, at only 8 percent. Overall, picking and packing together make up 58 percent of the robots' work.
Chart 12: Cases handled by a regional tribunal
Model answer
This pie chart illustrates the types of cases handled by a regional tribunal. Employment cases form the largest share, at 31 percent, followed by housing at 27 percent. Together, these two categories account for 58 percent, which is more than half of all cases. Consumer disputes make up 18 percent and planning 14 percent. The other category is the smallest, at 10 percent.
Chart 13: Insect groups in a woodland survey sample
Model answer
This pie chart shows the groups of insects found in a woodland survey sample. Beetles are by far the largest group, at 41 percent, which is almost double the share of flies, the second largest at 22 percent. Bees, wasps and ants make up 17 percent, and butterflies and moths 12 percent. The remaining insects, in the other category, are the smallest group, at 8 percent.
Chart 14: How a household uses its water
Model answer
This pie chart shows how a household uses its water. Toilet flushing is the largest use, at 28 percent, with baths and showers close behind at 26 percent. Together they account for 54 percent, more than half of all household water. Laundry takes 17 percent and kitchen use and drinking 15 percent. The garden is the smallest category, at 14 percent.
Other Describe Image types
- Bar Graph template and practice
- Line Graph template and practice
- Table Chart template and practice
- Process Chart template and practice
- Map template and practice
For a mixed set of images with timed recording, use the general Describe Image practice page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I describe a pie chart in PTE?
Introduce the whole and the year or group, name the largest and smallest slices, mention a combined share if it matters, then close with what the division suggests. Keep it to a few clear points.
Should I add up the percentages?
You don't need to. If the chart shows parts of a whole, you can rely on that. Use the combined share of two slices when it is useful, such as “more than half”.
What if the chart has no percentages?
Work from the labels and relative size. Use phrases such as “the largest share”, “about a third” and “a small minority” rather than inventing exact figures.
Is there a pie chart template I should memorise?
Memorise the structure, not the sentences. Pearson says unoriginal responses earn no credit, so each sentence should use the labels and values from your own image.