Command Words

The command words below are the ones that you could expect to face in the final examination. To score well, you must respond to the precise requirements of the command words you encounter.

Account for

Evaluate

Give reasons for a particular phenomena, why something occurs or exists. Often this is followed by the importance of, or the significance of, in which case you must consider the results and effects of the subject being written about. You may need to consider long and short term effects and both direct and indirect effects. Give your evidenced judgement. White about the different possibilities and consider the evidence before you give your conclusion. Emphasise the viewpoints of others as well as your own. Critically evaluate - give your judgement from the point of view of a critic.

Analyse

Examine

Put forward arguments, critical comments and evidence, which you judge and evaluate. Reasons for and against should be examined and a well argued conclusion is needed. Look closely into.

Assess

Explain

Give your judgement of the quality or value of a feature or issue. It is usually best to consider both sides of an issue before reaching a conclusion Write about why or how something happens.

Describe

Explore

Write about what something is like. Examine thoroughly from a variety of viewpoints.

Discuss

Outline

Examine an issue by looking at more than one point of view. Give reasons for and against. This usually requires an answer which gives opinions, judgements, reasoned comments and a general discussion from all angles. Often Discuss is followed by a quotation. You may not necessarily agree with the opinions contained in the quote, your task is to agree / disagree or modify the comments. Whatever your stance it must be supported with well-informed evidence. Give the main feature or general principles of a subject, emphasising structure and internal relationships. Do not get into details. Outline and Describe require a logical presentation of information.