This is the first part of a series helping you succeed in the TOEIC exam.

Describing a picture

On the TOEIC exam, you will be asked to describe a picture in as much detail as you can. You are given 30 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. 

Here are a few tips:

1. Speak slowly and cleary - don't rush!

2. Use the present continuous tense when describing actions and appearance
e.g. The man is wearing a suit and tie. He is running to catch a bus.

3. Use there is / there are to talk about objects and people in the photo.
e.g. There is a tall building in the background.

4. Use prepositions to describe where something is
e.g. There is a bus stop on the side of the road. Next to the bus stop is a trash can.
It is important to be clear about where things are in the picture.

5. Use speculative language if you are unsure about something.
e.g. The man might be a businessman.
He could be late for work.
He might have slept late that morning.
He seems to be upset.
He looks like he is going to miss the bus.

Over to you!
What can you see in the picture at the top of this page? Share your answer in the comments!

Would you like to practice your TOEIC speaking skills? If so, I recommend my lesson Speaking for Tests. Students can access a coupon using this link.