PTE · Describe Image

The Rise of the Novel: PTE Describe Image practice questions

4 original Describe Image questions. Question 1 is free to record, play back and compare with a sample answer right here; log in free to practise the rest in the BandLadder app.
  • 4 questions
  • Question 1 free, no login
  • PTE Academic and PTE Core
1

Growth of Novel Production

Free to try, no login

Look at the image below. You have 25 seconds to study it, then 40 seconds to describe in detail what it shows.

Annual Novel Titles Published (titles). New Titles: 1720 20, 1740 35, 1760 70, 1780 120, 1800 280.

Annual Novel Titles Published (titles)
010020030040050017201740176017801800
View the data
17201740176017801800
New Titles203570120280

Your recording stays in this browser: it is not uploaded or stored.

Questions 2–4

Look at the image below. You have 25 seconds to study it, then 40 seconds to describe in detail what it shows.

Read them here; log in to answer and check them.

2

Eighteenth Century Reading Demographics

Purchasers of Fiction by Social Group (%). Aristocracy 15, Gentry 25, Merchant Class 40, Artisans and Clerks 20.

Purchasers of Fiction by Social Group (%)
  • Aristocracy: 15%
  • Gentry: 25%
  • Merchant Class: 40%
  • Artisans and Clerks: 20%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Aristocracy15
Gentry25
Merchant Class40
Artisans and Clerks20
3

Eighteenth Century Book Formats

Average Novel Editions and Prices. Columns: Format, Typical Volumes, Average Cost (Shillings), Production Share (%). Deluxe Quarto, 1 to 2, 12, 10. Standard Octavo, 2 to 3, 6, 35. Compact Duodecimo, 3 to 4, 3, 55.

Average Novel Editions and Prices
FormatTypical VolumesAverage Cost (Shillings)Production Share (%)
Deluxe Quarto1 to 21210
Standard Octavo2 to 3635
Compact Duodecimo3 to 4355
4

Manufacturing Eighteenth Century Novels

Stages of Eighteenth Century Book Production. Stage 1: Hand-setting lead type. Stage 2: Inking and manual screw press printing. Stage 3: Drying and collating paper sheets. Stage 4: Hand binding in boards or leather. Stage 5: Distribution to urban booksellers.

Stages of Eighteenth Century Book Production
  1. 1.Hand-setting lead type
  2. 2.Inking and manual screw press printing
  3. 3.Drying and collating paper sheets
  4. 4.Hand binding in boards or leather
  5. 5.Distribution to urban booksellers

Want to answer the other 3?

Log in to practise Describe Image in the BandLadder app: the full question bank, with an AI score from BandLadder AI for content, pronunciation and oral fluency on a free account.

Ready for the whole test?

Take a full PTE mock with every question type, the real timings and a score on Pearson's 10–90 scale the moment you finish.

Try a free PTE mock →

Keep practising

More Describe Image sets

Practise every PTE question type

  • ✓Full question bank for every type
  • ✓Instant scoring, marked the way Pearson does
  • ✓BandLadder AI scoring for speaking and writing
Practise in the app

Free account · no card

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Log in to practise all 4