One of the easiest ways to lose marks in exams isn’t because you don’t know the content, it’s because you misunderstand the question.
Every exam question is built around a command word. These are the words that tell you exactly what the examiner wants you to do. If you get that wrong, you could write a great answer… that doesn’t fully answer the question.
The good news? Once you understand these command words, you can start picking up marks straight away, without learning any new content.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list and explanation of exam command words for you to use in your revision:
Explaining & Understanding
- Explain → Give reasons why or how something happens
- Describe → Say what you see or what happens
- Summarise → Pick out the main points
- Outline → Give the key points without going into detail
Analysing & Interpreting
- Analyse → Break something down and explain how it works
- Interpret → Explain the meaning (often from a graph, text, or data)
- Examine → Look closely and explain important details
- Explore → Look at different ideas or aspects in detail
Comparing & Evaluating
- Compare → Give similarities and differences
- Contrast → Focus on differences
- Evaluate → Give your opinion with reasons (pros and cons)
- Assess → Judge how important or effective something is
Maths-Specific Command Words
- Calculate → Work out the answer (show your working!)
- Estimate → Give an approximate answer (not exact)
- Solve → Find the answer to a problem
- Work out → Same as calculate (show steps)
- Round → Adjust a number to a given place value
- Simplify → Write in the shortest or simplest form
- Expand → Multiply out brackets
- Factorise → Put into brackets
- Substitute → Put numbers into a formula
Data & Reasoning
- State → Give a short, clear answer (no explanation needed)
- Identify → Pick out the correct answer or information
- Select → Choose the right option(s)
- Give → Provide an answer (often short)
Opinion & Argument
- Discuss → Write about different ideas, giving more than one viewpoint
- Argue → Give a clear opinion and support it with reasons
- To what extent… → How much do you agree? (balanced answer needed)
- Justify → Explain why your answer is correct
Remember:
If you misread a command word, you can lose marks, even if you know the content.
👉 Before answering, ask yourself:
“What is this question actually asking me to do?”
Remember your tutors are here to help - if you've got any questions or concerns while you're revising, please get in touch!
