Command Words

Examination questions always include a word that specifies what you must do to get full marks. These are the command words and they are important because you must match your answer to what they are expecting. It is easy to lose marks by not paying careful attention to the command word so here are some tips to help you get the maximum score.

Calculate – you must use numbers in your answer. Simply writing a final value might get you full marks but you are expected to show your working out. More importantly, if your final answer is wrong but you show your working out then you will still get one or more of the method marks because it is your calculation, not simply the final answer, that is being assessed.

Choose – pay very careful attention to what follows this word. Are you being asked to select just one response or multiple responses? Are you being asked to select a statement that is true or a statement that is false? And if you are being asked to select the closest value to the exact answer then work out the exact answer first and be especially careful about powers of ten if the options are given in standard form.

Compare – you must write about similarities and differences: don’t just make a single statement because these are never one-mark questions! For example, if you are asked to compare the properties of microwaves and x-rays then you could say that microwaves have a longer wavelength than x-rays but both types of waves travel at the same speed. You have made two points so that would give you two marks. If it is a three-mark question then you will need to add another fact to get full marks, such as noting that they are both transverse waves, or both are electromagnetic waves, or that x-rays carry more energy than microwaves.

Describe / Plan – you must write an answer that links from one point to another with an appropriate amount of detail. Often, this command word will be in a question that asks you to recall the method used for an experiment. Try to visualise what you are describing rather than just remembering it. Include everything that you need to do to make the experiment work and try to list the points in a logical order. It is normally acceptable to use bullet-points. There will be between four and six marks for questions like this and you should have plenty of space to write a detailed answer. You will not be penalised for bad spelling but make sure that you use the right words, especially when naming pieces of equipment. For example, if you need to use a voltmeter then don’t shorten the word to just “meter” because that’s not clear enough.

Determine – this is a tricky word that usually means you are being asked to make a statement or find a number but not necessarily by doing a new calculation. It is often in the last part of a question and may be expecting you to look back at the earlier parts to find information that will enable you to answer this particular part. It is best to include a reason as well as the final answer if the format is non-numerical. Very often, these are marks that are intended to identify high-ability students.

Draw – unlike sketch (see below) this means you are expected to produce an accurate diagram that uses correct conventions, such as appropriate circuit symbols. Drawings should be done in pencil so they can be corrected if necessary. The convention in circuits is for connecting wires to be straight lines and to change direction at right-angles, so don’t draw wobbly lines or curves!

Give / Identify / State / Name – these are all command words that normally require a simple one-word answer. For example, if you are asked to state a use for gamma radiation then it is enough to write “sterilising”. You might add “medical equipment” but the chances are that the word sterilising would get you the mark. Of course, you might have meant sterilising food to kill bacteria but that’s still sterilising and both answers would get the same mark. In some cases there will only be one correct answer, such as in a question asking for the name of the SI unit for energy.

Explain – detail is essential when the command word is “explain”. Often, explanations need to include reasons for why things happen. For example, there could be a question about the magnetic field around a wire: you could be asked to explain what would be seen when observing a nearby compass when a current starts to flow through a straight wire. Saying that the compass needle will move would be enough to get one mark but it is not an explanation. The reason for the needle’s movement is the magnetic field that is created around a current-carrying conductor and the fact that a compass needle always points in the direction of the strongest magnetic field. When the current is switched off, the strongest magnetic field comes from the Earth but when the current is switched on the strongest magnetic field comes from the wire and is (likely to be) in a different direction, causing the compass needle to move. The first one or two marks are likely to be achievable by all students but subsequent marks are mostly aimed at higher-ability students. 

Justify / Show – you must give reasons to support a statement or numerical outcome that is either given in the question or you have written in an earlier answer. These questions can look hard because you already have the answer and you are being asked to provide evidence to show that the answer is correct. The evidence must be in a logical and clearly structured format, written in full sentences. You will almost certainly have to use background knowledge in your answer and this type of question is another example where marks are normally scored only by high-ability students.

Plot – put one or more point(s) on a graph. That much should be obvious but the point(s) must be clear (use a small x rather than a dot) and accurate. Mark(s) will only be awarded if the point(s) are in the right place, to the nearest half-square on the grid. Use a pencil so you can rub-out the point(s) if you make a mistake. It is almost impossible to correct points plotted in pen!

Predict – you must state what will happen in a certain situation, sometimes when something is changed in an experiment. You will not normally need to give a reason but it is possible that the next part of the question might ask you to justify your answer in order to score extra marks. For example, if more mass is added to a dynamics trolley without changing the applied force, you should predict that it will accelerate more slowly.

Sketch – means make a rough drawing that does not have to be to scale but it must be correct: ‘rough’ does not mean careless or untidy! For example, if you are asked to sketch the forces acting on an object that is in free-fall then make sure the arrows are at least visually straight (ideally, draw them using a straight edge) and that the arrow for weight goes directly downwards.

Suggest – you will often be expected to extend your knowledge and think what might happen in a new situation that you may not have covered during the course. It is often a good idea to write your answer in general terms first and then to try to be more specific. For example, if you were asked to suggest why we don’t have cars that run on solar power, you would not get full marks for saying that they wouldn’t work at night. Instead, you would need to say that they wouldn’t work at night because there is no sunlight at night. That might sound obvious but it is important because there is no sunlight in tunnels either, so if cars relied on solar power (with no batteries) they wouldn’t be able to drive through tunnels, even during the daytime! And, of course, solar powered cars couldn’t be recharged overnight in readiness for use the next day.

Use – often this sort of question gives you words or numbers that must appear in your answer. If you do not use the information you are given then you will not get the mark. If it is a numerical question, you must show your working out. These questions are all about the method that is employed to get to the final answer!

NOTE: This list is based on the language used for AQA science examinations but it is also applicable to other exam boards. The original AQA list of command words is available here.