Part 3 is where many TEA candidates either shine or stall. Unlike the interview in Part 1, you get no preparation time — the pictures appear and you speak. But the skill is entirely trainable, and if you have practised picture description for any ICAO exam, it transfers directly.
The Structure of Part 3
- Picture A: You are shown the first photograph and describe it for about 30 seconds. You start immediately — no prep time.
- Picture B: A second, connected photograph appears. You answer the examiner’s specific questions about it — only what is asked.
- Comparison: You are asked questions about both pictures together.
- Discussion: A 4-5 minute open conversation about aviation topics related to the pictures — and how aviation affects the wider world. Here your general English, not aviation phraseology, is what’s assessed.
The Three-Layer Describing Method
Every aviation picture can be described in three layers. Moving through them fills 30 seconds naturally and shows range:
- Layer 1 — Facts. What can you undeniably see? “This is a photograph of an aircraft on the apron. Ground crew are working near the left engine, and it appears to be early morning.”
- Layer 2 — Speculation. What is happening, and why? “It looks like a routine turnaround, though the number of personnel around the engine suggests they may be investigating a technical issue.”
- Layer 3 — Comparison / consequence. For the second picture, connect it: “Unlike the first picture, this one shows the aircraft in flight, which suggests the issue was resolved and the aircraft was released for departure.”
The Vocabulary Escape Hatch
You will encounter something you cannot name. Do not stop. Describe it functionally: a jet bridge becomes “the covered walkway passengers use to board,” a de-icing truck becomes “the vehicle spraying fluid onto the wings.” Talking around a missing word is explicitly part of the Level 5 vocabulary descriptor — it demonstrates skill, not a gap.
Handling the Discussion
The closing discussion widens out: environmental impact of aviation, airport expansion, automation, safety culture, the future of the industry. There are no correct answers — the examiner is measuring whether you can hold an opinion in fluent, connected English. Practise linking ideas with because, although, which means that, on the other hand. A Level 5 answer connects reasons; a Level 4 answer states isolated facts.
How to Practise
- Describe any aviation photo daily. Pull an image, start a 30-second timer, and speak through all three layers out loud.
- Record and review. Listen back for the moments you stalled on a word — those are your paraphrase drills.
- Use structured scenarios. Our Single Picture practice sets were built from real exam scenes — engine fires, weather events, ground incidents — each with examiner follow-up questions and key vocabulary. The describing skill is identical to Part 3.
New to the test? Start with our complete TEA guide, and see Part 2 listening tactics. Taken it recently? Share what came up — anonymously, in five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in TEA Part 3?
You are shown two connected aviation photographs. You describe the first for about 30 seconds, answer questions about the second, then compare both. The part ends with a 4-5 minute open discussion of general aviation topics related to the pictures.
Do you get preparation time in TEA Part 3?
No. There is no preparation time, so you begin describing Picture A immediately. If you do not know the name of an object, describe it in other words — paraphrasing is a vocabulary skill the examiner rewards, not a weakness.
How do I describe a picture in the TEA?
Use a layered approach: first state the undeniable facts (what you see), then speculate (what is happening and why), then, for the second picture, compare the two. A simple frame is: what I see, what is happening, what probably caused it, what happens next.