This document provides guidance on describing photographs in English exams. It outlines a 4-step process to follow: 1) describe who and where the people are, 2) provide more details about their appearance and surroundings, 3) discuss what actions the people are taking, and 4) speculate about how the people might be feeling. It encourages using modal verbs and expressions to speculate rather than stating facts. Sample responses are provided demonstrating how to apply this framework to hypothetical photos.

1. 1
HAIR LENGHTS, SIZES AND COLOURS

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

5. CLOTHES

6. 1

7. 2

8. 3

9. 4

10. 5

11. 6-7

12. ANSWERS

13. BUILDING/ BLOCK OF
FLATS/SKYSCRAPER

14. DETACHED
HOUSE

15. HIGHSCHOOL/ UNIVERSITY
CLASSROOM

16. 4
BOWLS/DISHES WITH (DIFFERENT
KINDS OF) FOOD

17. FAMILY

18. LAPTOP

19. BACK PACK

20. PARK

21. CITY MAP

22. IN THE BACKGROUND
IN THE FOREGROUND

23. INDICATING POSITION IN A PHOTO
ABOVE/UP/AT THE TOP
BELOW/DOWN/AT THE BOTTOM
ON THE BRIDGE
UNDER THE
BRIDGE

24. POSITION: SPACE REFERENCE12
In the
background
In the
foreground
ON THE LEFT/
TO THE LEFT OF
ON THE RIGHT/ TO
THE RIGHT OF
IN THE MIDDLE
ABOVE
BELOW

25. BEDROOM

26. BEACH/ COASTAL VILLAGE

29. 11
CAMPSITE

30. TOWN/VILLAGE/LANDSCAPE/COUNTRY

31. SHOPPING CENTER/MALL

32. WINTER/WARM/SUMMER/
CLOTHES
SMART /CASUAL
CLOTHES
COMFORTABLE, INDOOR,
LIGHTWEIGHT /SPORT
CLOTHES
PATTERN / COLORFUL/
FASHIONABLE/

33. SHIRT
TIE
JACKET
8. SUIT

34. SWEATER/JUMPER/PULLOVER
LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT

35. Polo neck

36. 11. dress

37. 12.Polo shirt

38. 19.coat 20.Rain coat

39. AGES

41. 1
HAIR LENGHTS, SIZES AND COLOURS
CURLY, DARK HAIR
Hair pinned/tied up with An
elastic

42. 2
SHOULDER LENGHT, BROWN HAIR

43. 3
LONG, WAVY, DARK HAIR

44. 4
SHORT, STRAIGHT, RED HAIR

45. EXPRESSING FEELINGS
HAPPY
CONCENTRATED
WORRIED/CONCERNED
SERIOUS/ATTENTIVE
SMILING
LAUGHTING/HAPPY
- SCARED, TERRIFIED, FRIGHTENED
- SCREAMING, YELLING

46. EXPRESSING FEELINGS
QUIET/AMUSED
ANGRY/ARGUING
CRYING
SAD/ GLOOMY

47. THEY ARE IN THEIR
(EARLY)THIRTIES
HE’S IN HIS
(LATE) FIFTIES
HE’S IN HIS
FORTIES
THEY’RE IN THEIR
TEENS/
THEY’RE TEENAGERS

48. POSITION: SPACE REFERENCE
A
B
12
In the
background
In the
foreground
ON THE LEFT/TO THE LEFT
OF
ON THE RIGHT/
TO THE RIGHT
OF
IN THE MIDDLE

49. POSITION: SPACE REFERENCE
A
B
12
In the
background
In the
foreground
ON THE LEFT/
TO THE LEFT OF
ON THE RIGHT/ TO
THE RIGHT OF
IN THE MIDDLE

51. WHERE’S..?
1. THE PIJAMA
2. THE BALLPEN
3. SHIRT
4. THE WINDOW
5. THE BED
6. SHOE
7. GLASSES
8. SPORTSHOES
9. TROUSERS
10. BAG
WHERE’S..?
1. UNDER THE BED
2. ON TOP OF THE
TABLE
3. ON THE BEDSIDE
TABLE
4. OVER THE BED
5. BESIDE THE
NIGHT TABLE
6. BETWEEN THE
BOOKS
7. IN THE DRAWER
8. HUNGING ON
THE MIRROR
9. IN THE
WARDROBE
10. NEXT TO THE SET
OF DRAWERS
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

52. HOW TO DESCRIBE A
PHOTO

53. 4 STEPS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW:
1.WHO can you see in the picture? WHERE is/are the
person/people? Describe briefly who you can see and where they are.
2. Describe who and what you can see more in detail. Choose the main aspects
of the people or place you want to describe: clothes, age, objects, etc. YOU
DON’T HAVE TO DESCRIBE TOO MUCH.
3. WHAT’s the person/peple doing? (Describe actions)
4. FINALLY, How do the people probably feel? Why?
YOU CAN SPECULATE IN EVERY MOMENT DURING YOUR DESCRIPTION.

54. FOR SPECULATING USE:
1.MODALS:
(I THINK) She MUST/COULD/ MAY/ MIGHT be…..
2. ADVERBS:
Perhaps, probably, maybe, possibly
3. EXPRESSIONS:
It SEEMS AS IF she/he is sad…
SHE/HE SEEMS to be packing because
SHE LOOKS AS IF she is going on a holiday…

55. SPEAKING, PART 3:DESCRIBING
A PHOTO PRACTICE

56. PET SPEAKING PART 3
1. PEOPLE AND PLACE: who is and where
is he?
2. PEOPLE: what does he look like?; what is
he wearing?. Describe some aspects of the
place.
3. ACTIONS: What is he doing?
4. FEELINGS: How could he feel?
SPECULATING (Talking about
impresssions and opinions)
-look(s)
-It Looks like
-Looks as if
-I think
-maybe
-(it) Might
-Probably
-perhaps
 EXAMINER:
 Now, I’d like both of you to talk on your own about something. I’m going to give each
of you a photograph. Please, show it to candidate B, but I’d like you to talk about it.
 Candidate B, you just listen. I’ll give you your photographs in a moment. . .
 Thank you.
 TIME: APROXIMATELY, 2 MINUTES, 50

57. PET SPEAKING PART 3
1. People and Place: who is there and
where is she?
2. PEOPLE: what does she look like?; what
is she wearing?
3. ACTIONS: What is the girl doing?
4. FEELINGS: How could she feel?
SPECULATING (Talking about
impresssions and opinions)
-look(s)
-It Looks like
-Looks as if
-I think
-maybe
-(it) Might
-Probably
-perhaps
 EXAMINER:
 Now, I’d like both of you to talk on your own about something. I’m going to give each
of you a photograph. Please, show it to candidate B, but I’d like you to talk about it.
 Candidate B, you just listen. I’ll give you your photographs in a moment. . .
 Thank you.
 TIME: APROXIMATELY, 2 MINUTES, 50

58. EXAMINER:
Now, I’d like both of you to talk on your own about something. I’m going to give each of you
a photograph. Please, show it to candidate B, but I’d like you to talk about it.
Candidate B, you just listen. I’ll give you your photographs in a moment.
TIME: APROXIMATELY, 2 MINUTES, 50. .
Thank you. 1. People and Place: who are there and
where are they?
2. PEOPLE: who do they look like?; what are
they wearing?
3. ACTIONS: What are the people doing?
4. FEELINGS: How could the people feel?
SPECULATING (Talking about
impresssions and opinions)
-look(s)
-It Looks like
-Looks as if
-I think
-maybe
-(it) Might
-Probably
-perhaps