Pictures to describe for Preliminary (PET) Speaking Part 2

Describing a picture is a common element of almost all Cambridge main suite English exams, but in order to practise, you’ll need pictures to describe. The other essential element is knowing how to describe a picture. For that you can use our perfect PET speaking part 2 plan. It’s important to choose the right type of pictures to describe because not all of them have the right qualities. For example, you’ll never see a picture of a single object or anything that is strange or controversial.

Check here for 5 complete Preliminary (PET) Speaking exams as part of Breakout English’s premium materials collection.

Contents

Possible topics for PET Speaking Part 2

As specified in the official Cambridge Preliminary (PET) handbook, there are certain topics that are expected at B1 level. Here are the ones which are most likely to come up in this part of the exam.

daily life
education
entertainment and media
food and drink
free time
health, medicine and exercise
hobbies and leisure
house and home
people
relations with other people
shopping
social interaction
sport
the natural world
transport
travel and holidays
work and jobs

When you practise speaking with your classes. Try to find PET Speaking Part 2 pictures on a variety of these topics so that your students are fully prepared for whatever they might get in their exam. We’ve got a selection for you to download or display below, but if you are looking for more pictures to describe, remember to find something with enough content for the full minute.

Preliminary (PET) Speaking Part 2 Example

In part 2 of the Preliminary (PET) Speaking Exam you will be asked to describe a picture to the examiner for approximately one minute.

Here is an example of a Preliminary (PET) Speaking Exam Part 2.

Now, I’d like each of you to talk on your own about something. I’m going to give each of you a photograph and I’d like you to talk about it.

(Candidate A), here is your photograph. It shows friends spending time together.

(Candidate B), you just listen.

(Candidate A), please tell us what you can see in the photograph.

Approximately one minute

Thank you.

(Candidate B), here is your photograph. It shows someone reading.

(Candidate A), you just listen.

(Candidate B), please tell us what you can see in the photograph.

Approximately one minute

Thank you.

The examiner has a few back-up prompts available if the candidate is having trouble completing the task. These back-up prompts are always the same:

Talk about the people/person
Talk about the place
Talk about the other things in the photograph

The Materials

Practise with these PET Speaking Part 2 pictures. Either use them from the website or download the pdf to practise, print or display.

If doing it with a class, write down things that they do well and errors. After describing each picture, do a correction/praise feedback stage before trying again.

Check here if you need to know how to describe a picture are looking for the perfect PET speaking part 2 plan.

EXAM PART: Speaking

EXAM SKILLS: Describing people, giving information about everyday activities, talking about what people are doing

TIME: 2-5 minutes per picture + feedback