Command words

Command words are the words and phrases used in exams and other assessment tasks that tell students how they should answer the question.

Advise

Recommend an appropriate choice or course of action.

Analyse

Separate information into components and identify their characteristics.

Apply

Put into effect in a recognised way.

Assess

Make an informed judgement.

Calculate

Work out the value of something.

Comment

Present an informed opinion.

Complete

Finish a task by adding to given information.

Contrast

Identify differences.

Criticise

Assess worth against explicit expectations.

Define

Specify meaning.

Describe

Set out characteristics.

Discuss

Present key points about different ideas or strengths and weaknesses of an idea.

Evaluate

Judge from available evidence.

Explain

Set out purposes or reasons.

Identify

Name or otherwise characterise.

Illustrate

Support a case with evidence.

Interpret

Translate information into recognisable form.

Justify

Support a case with evidence.

Outline

Set out main characteristics.

Prepare

Present information using appropriate formats.

Record

Make entries in accounts or accounting statements from source documents or given information.

State

Express clearly and briefly.