PTE · Describe Image

Percussion Instruments and Acoustic Design: 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
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  • PTE Academic and PTE Core
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1

Snare Drum Shell Material Decay

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

Acoustic Sustain Duration by Shell Material (milliseconds). Fundamental Tone: Aluminium 420, Brass 580, Birch 310, Maple 360. Overtones: Aluminium 210, Brass 340, Birch 150, Maple 190.

Acoustic Sustain Duration by Shell Material (milliseconds)
02004006008001,000AluminiumBrassBirchMaple
  • Fundamental Tone
  • Overtones
View the data
AluminiumBrassBirchMaple
Fundamental Tone420580310360
Overtones210340150190

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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.

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2

Concert Hall Percussion Layout

Symphony Stage Percussion Section Layout, north at the top. Timpani Enclosure in the north-west, Bass Drum and Gongs in the north, Cymbals and Effects in the north-east, Mallet Percussion in the centre, Auxiliary Storage in the south-east, Access Corridor in the south-west, Conductor Sightline Area in the south.

Symphony Stage Percussion Section Layout
Timpani EnclosureBass Drum andGongsCymbals andEffectsMallet PercussionAuxiliaryStorageAccess CorridorConductor SightlineAreaN
3

Castanets Hardwood Production Output

Handcrafted Castanet Production by Material (thousand pairs). Granadillo Wood: 2018 45, 2019 48, 2020 52, 2021 50, 2022 58, 2023 62. Synthetic Resin: 2018 20, 2019 24, 2020 28, 2021 35, 2022 41, 2023 49.

Handcrafted Castanet Production by Material (thousand pairs)
020406080100201820192020202120222023
  • Granadillo Wood
  • Synthetic Resin
View the data
201820192020202120222023
Granadillo Wood454852505862
Synthetic Resin202428354149
4

Marimba Bar Tuning Sequence

Acoustic Tuning Process for Rosewood Marimba Bars. Stage 1: Kiln drying aged rosewood billets. Stage 2: Rough cutting bars to initial pitch. Stage 3: Arch undercutting for fundamental frequency. Stage 4: Node shaving to tune fourth harmonic. Stage 5: Fine sanding for tenth harmonic resonance. Stage 6: Final lacquer application and settling.

Acoustic Tuning Process for Rosewood Marimba Bars
  1. 1.Kiln drying aged rosewood billets
  2. 2.Rough cutting bars to initial pitch
  3. 3.Arch undercutting for fundamental frequency
  4. 4.Node shaving to tune fourth harmonic
  5. 5.Fine sanding for tenth harmonic resonance
  6. 6.Final lacquer application and settling

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