Command words tell you how to answer a specific exam question or complete an assessment task. Below we list the command words you will see in new and revised syllabuses published from 2019 onwards. The command words published in the syllabus will be in exam and assessment materials from 2022 onwards.
The definitions will help you understand what the words are asking you to do. Any subject-specific command words will also be listed in the syllabus. The list does not include simple instruction words like write, circle or find.
- Analyse
- examine in detail to show meaning, and identify elements and the relationship between them
- Assess
- make an informed judgement
- Calculate
- work out from given facts, figures or information
- Comment
- give an informed opinion
- Compare
- identify/comment on similarities and/or differences
- Consider
- review and respond to given information
- Contrast
- identify/comment on differences
- Define
- give a precise meaning
- Describe
- state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- Develop
- take forward to a more advanced stage or build upon given information
- Discuss
- write about issue(s) or topic(s) in depth in a structured way
- Evaluate
- judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something
- Explain
- set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- Give
- produce an answer from a given source or recall/memory
- Identify
- name/select/recognise
- Justify
- support a case with evidence/argument
- Outline
- set out the main points
- Predict
- suggest what may happen based on available information
- Sketch
- make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features, taking care over proportions
- State
- express in clear terms
- Suggest
- apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses to make proposals/put forward considerations
- Summarise
- choose and present the main points, without detail