Command words and their dictionary meanings

Command
Word
Meaning Possible
mark band
range
Assess Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something 3
Discuss Talk about (something) with another person or group of people or write about
(a topic) in etail, taking into account ifferent ieas an opinions
3
E!plain "ake an iea, situation or problem clear (to someone) by escribing it in etail
revealing relevant ata or facts
#
$onsier Think carefully about (something), typically before making a ecision 3
%entify Establish or inicate the origin, nature or efinitive character of something &
'ustify (how or prove to be right or reasonable 3
)utline A general plan giving the essential features but not the etail* The main
features or general principles of something
&
Describe +ive an account in wors of (someone or something) incluing all of the
relevant characteristics, qualities or events*
&
$ompare Estimate, measure or note the similarity or issimilarity between one thing an
another,(compare something to) raw an analogy between one thing an
another for the purpose of e!planation or clarification*
#
E!amine %nspect (someone or something) in etail to etermine the nature or conition* #
$ontrast The state of being strikingly ifferent from something else, typically something
in -u!taposition or close association*
#
Evaluate .orm an iea of the amount, number, or value of someone or something* 3
(uggest /ut forwar for consieration (a viewpoint)0 cause one to think that
(something) e!ists or is the case 0 state or e!press inirectly something
1
Define (tate or escribe e!actly the nature, scope, or meaning of something
0 establish the character of something2 mark out the bounary or limits of
something
1
Command words by level of complexity
MB1- Knowledge and
Understanding
MB2 - Application MB3 - Analysis MB3 - Evaluation
Define
Describe
E!plain
+ive
3ist
%entify
)utline
(tate
4hat is meant by
5ame
Apply
$alculate
Demonstrate
E!amine
+ive an e!ample
6sing e!amples
4ith reference to the evience
7ow
(how how
4hy
4hich
4hat woul be the
benefits8costs of
6sing
Draw on your knowlege
6sing your knowlege of
+raph
4hat trens
E!plain
Analyse
$alculate
$ompare an
contrast
Discuss
E!plain
(how how
4hich
4hat factors
E!amine
%entify
)rganise
4hat
Avise
Evaluate
Assess
$onsier
Discuss
E!plain why
To what e!tent
Assess the e!tent
4eigh up
(uggest
'ustify
/reict
Do you think
7ow far
4oul you agree
4hy
(uggest
Evaluate the suggestion
$ritically assess
Assess the relative importance