Speaking Task 3

Describing a Scene
Preparation: 30 sec
Talk Time: 60 sec

In task 3, you are asked to look at an

illustration/picture, which is generally a
scene involving a number of actions
and positions, and you have to describe
what is happening as you see it.
TIP 1: Your description is for someone
who cannot see the picture. You
should therefore describe the actual
scene by using the basic question
tags: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE,
WHY and HOW.
TIP 2: Pick the most apparent details
to describe. As there is only 60
seconds, there will not be enough time
to cover every single detail. Speak of
details you are most comfortable with.
TIP 3: Make good use of
prepositional grammar along with
action verbs correctly. For better
understanding use of above grammar,
contact CELPIP TEST PREP TEAM
for further detailed lessons.
STRUCTURE FOR DESCRIBING A
SCENE:

1.Start by giving a general introduction

to the picture
2.Describe the people/objects that are
seen
3.Give details to each person/object
spoken of
4.Close description with 1 or 2
sentences
 Sample Question

Describe some things that are

happening in the picture below as well
as you can. The person whom you are
speaking to cannot see the picture
Illustration
• In the top right, / In the top right hand corner,

• In the bottom right,

• In the bottom left,

• In the top left,

• In the middle/centre (of the picture),

• In the background,

• In the foreground,

• On the right side (of the picture), / To the right,

• On the left side, / To the left,

 FOR A 60 SEC RESPONSE:

Introduction:
●This is a scene of … I’ll tell you what is
going on and what the people are actually
doing.
●Let me try and describe this picture. The
picture depicts a … I’ll tell you what’s
happening and the people in it as well.
●I am now going to explain what I see in
this picture and what is happening
Describe the people/objects that are seen:

Try to tell the picture with prepositional

grammar and action verbs:
●In the ...., there is/are.....in the
foreground/background. He/She/They
is/are.....
●On his/her/their left/right,...
●To the right/left of the picture,.....
●Near the bottom of the picture,...
●In the center of the picture, ....
Give details to each person/object spoken of:

Include facial expressions/moods/feelings within

picture to add depth for better mark:
●He/She/They is/are having a good laugh...
●The man/woman/children are smiling at....
●He/She/They is/are screaming…..

TIP: DO NOT TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING WITHIN

PICTURE, STAY WITH 3-4 AND PROVIDE DETAILS
 Use assumption technique and relative
clause grammar to enhance performance:

●The man who is talking to the

woman probably wants to.....
●The dog that is running seems to
be chasing after....
●A child who is holding his mom’s
hand appears to be playing....
Close description with 1 or 2 sentences

You can let audience know that there’s more in the

picture that hasn’t been covered and end the task.
●Those were some of the more prominent features
of the picture and I hope it provides a good
description of what it looks like.
●There’s still more in the picture I haven’t covered
but it should give a clear description of what’s
happening.
●The description should provide a general idea of
the picture and what’s going on.
Illustration
 Sample Answer
This is a picture of a busy classroom. I’ll explain/talk about/tell you/
share with you what is happening.
In the background, the male teacher, who has a moustache, is
smiling happily while teaching some children English from the
blackboard. It appears the children are asking about shapes and
spelling.
The female teacher, who is in the middle of the picture, is helping
some students with their homework. I believe the students are paying
attention and enjoying their lesson from the looks on their faces.
However, to the left of the picture, there are some children who are
misbehaving by dancing and one is even lying on the floor almost
falling asleep.
To the right, some other children are having a good time playing
games and not paying attention to class.
There is more from the picture that I haven’t covered but it should
give a good description. // If I had more time, I would cover more. I
hope you have a good idea of the picture.
• 1. If the sun goes up, the day starts.

• 2. If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.

• 3. If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.

• 4. If I had slept early last night, I would have gotten up

early this morning.
• I had a good time singing yesterday.

• You will have a good time travelling next month.

• I spend one hour exercising.

• I spend 2 hours studying English.

• I spend 2 hours on English.

• I am singing and dancing.

• I am singing while dancing.

• There are some children (who are) misbehaving by dancing.

• There are some children dancing.

• There is a boy running in the park.

• There is a boy who is running in the park.

• There is a book over there.

• I have a pen. He has a dog. The house has a swimming pool.

 Introduction

This is a picture of a typical weekday in a busy

classroom. I’ll explain what is happening.

This is a picture of a ⼈/事/地/物/时间. I’ll explain

what is happening.
 In the background, …
In the background, the male teacher, who has a
moustache, is smiling happily while teaching some
children English from the blackboard.

In the background, the ⼈/物, who/which 外观/衣著/颜⾊/

形状/⼤⼩, is 动作ing while 动作ing（⼀边…⼜⼀边…）.

在图的后⽅，⼀只颈⼦挂着铃铛的狗正⼀边吠叫着⼜⼀边摇
尾巴。
In the background, the dog, which/who wears/has a bell on
its/his neck, is barking while waving its/his tail.
• tail, tale, tell

• sale, sail, sell

• main, men, man

• seat, sit

• beach
 On the right side of the
picture
The female teacher, who is on the right side of
the picture, is helping some students with what
seems to be revising homework.

The ⼈/物, who/which is on the right side of

the picture, is 动作ing.

在图片右侧的⻦⼉正教着她的⻦宝宝如何⻜得⾼
The bird, which is on the right side of the picture,
is teaching her baby how to fly higher.
To the left of the picture
However, to the left of the picture, there are some
children who are misbehaving by dancing and one is even
lying on the floor almost falling asleep.

However, to the left of the picture, there is/are ⼈/物 (who

are) 动作ing

然⽽，图片左⽅，有⼀些老鹰正耐⼼地等着⻦妈妈离巢觅
食。
However, to the left, there are some eagles waiting patiently
for the mother bird to leave her/the nest for food.
 To the right
To the right, some other children are having a good
time playing dress-up games and not paying attention to
class.

To the right, some other/another ⼈物 are 动作ing and

(not) 动作ing.

右边，⼀些⼩狗正玩得开⼼也没有注意到旁边的骨头。
To the right, some other dogs/puppies are having a good
time without noticing the bone(s) next to/beside them.
 Conclusion

There is more from the picture

that I haven’t covered but it
should give a good description.
If I had more time, I would cover
more. I hope you have a good idea
of the picture.
Exercise 1
 Sample Structure

This is a picture of a ____. I’ll explain what is

happening.
In the background, the ______, who… is V-ing
while V-ing ______.
The ____, who is on the right side of the
picture, is V-ing. I believe the ⼈/物 are V-ing.
To the left of the picture, there is/are ⼈/物 V-ing.
To the right, some other ⼈/物 are having a good/
hard time V-ing.
There is more from the picture that I haven’t
covered but it should give a good description.
Exercise 2
• This is a picture of a busy restaurant. I’ll explain what’s
happening.

• In the background, the chef/cook, who has brown hair, is

cooking while looking afraid/scared. It appears/seems that he is
burning the food.

• The man, who is in the top left, is kneeling down and proposing
to his girlfriend/ and asking his girlfriend to marry him.

• Moving onto the bottom left, there is a little boy, (who wears a
burgundy shirt,) throwing food at his sister.

• If you look at the middle of the restaurant, the man, who wears
a yellow sweater, is drunk and feeling sick.

• There’s more from the picture that I haven’t covered. Hope you
have a good idea of what I see.
• I throw a ball to Tom and he catches the ball.

• I throw a ball at Tom and he starts crying.

• I don’t feel good.

• I don’t feel well. (body)

• I don’t feel comfortable. (mind)

Exercise 3
• This is a picture of a busy beach. I’ll describe what’s
happening. // I’ll try/do my best to describe what I see.

• In the top right, the surfer, who wears a blue wetsuit, is

falling into the water (which is) surrounded by sharks.

• The man, who is in the middle of the picture, is trying to

catch the frisbee.

• Moving onto the left, there are 3 children building a sand

castle.

• In the foreground, the lifeguard is noticing the danger

(which) the surfer is facing.

• In the foreground, the woman, who wears red bikini, is

sunbathing/enjoying the sunshine/is getting a tan.
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6