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Exam commands

For Foundation level students

For Higher level students

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LD Teaching & Learning Strategies 3/4/02

Examination commands: what they are and what they mean

This is a list of examination "command" words compiled as part of the follow up from an INSET day which Ruth organised. They are for all students - not just LD.

For "Higher  level" students 

There are various commands used by examiners to guide candidates towards the style of answer expected for the question.  Some may be irrelevant for certain subjects.  The precise meaning of command-word may depend on its context.

CALCULATE...make clear the method and obtain a numerical                        answer.                                   

COMPARE…   look for both similarities and differences.           

CONTRAST…  emphasise the differences.                               

CRITICIZE…    discuss the evidence and give a judgement about the merit of opinions or theories or about the truth of statements.                 

DEDUCE…      refer to a law or principle and make a logical connection between pieces of information provided in the question or extracted previously.

DEFINE…        set down the precise meaning of a word or phrase in a brief formal statement or equivalent paraphrase.                     

DESCRIBE…   give a detailed account, including observations, of a particular experiment or phenomenon.

DETERMINE… insert measured or known values into an equation then calculate.

DISCUSS…     examine or investigate by argument, giving reasons for and against.

DISTINGUISH   Explain the difference 

ESTIMATE…   make simplifying assumptions about points of principle and give a reasoned order-of-magnitude calculation or statement. 

EVALUATE…  in the light of its usefulness (including personal opinion to a small extent) estimate the worth of a statement.                                   

EXPLAIN…     refer to a law or principle and account for, interpret, make plain.                                   

FIND…            calculate, determine, measure.                                   

ILLUSTRATE…make clear by using definite examples, giving diagrams or sketches if appropriate.  

INTERPRET…  use own judgement to make clear the meaning of a statement.                                   

JUSTIFY…      give adequate reasons for conclusions or decisions.                                   

MEASURE…   use a suitable named measuring instrument.                                   

OUTLINE…     give the essential features or main principles, emphasising structure and arrangement, omitting minor details.                                   

PREDICT…     deduce the required answer by making a logical connection between pieces of information provided in the question or extracted previously.                                   

RELATE…       show the connection between events or situations.                                   

REVIEW…      critically examine or survey a topic.                                     

SKETCH…      produce a simple diagram or graph showing important features.                                   

STATE…         present a concise answer with little or no supporting argument.                                   

SUGGEST…   apply knowledge to a new situation (not on the syllabus) or give one or several possible answers.                                   

SUMMARIZE…give a concise account of the main points, omitting details and examples.           

TRACE…         follow the development or history of a topic from a given starting point.                                   

WHAT IS MEANT BY… WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD BY…
give a definition together with relevant comments (using the indicated mark-value as a guide to the amount of supplementary comment expected).                              

 It is important to remember that the precise meaning of a command-word may depend not only on its context in the question but also on the subject.

GRH/FAC/SS