Command words: GCSE Revision

What are command words? Command words are important words in exam questions. They tell you what you actually have to do. You need to understand the command words so that your answer is focussed and appropriate. Once command word is COMPARE…

Command words are important words in exam questions.

They tell you what you actually have to do.

You need to understand the command words so that your answer is focussed and appropriate.

Once command word is COMPARE…

Making comparisons… Compare Describe the similarities and differences between two things (for example, two floods). BUT …..Two separate accounts do not make a comparison, unless the second account refers back to the first. A good technique would be to use comparative adjectives (describing words) - for example, larger than, smaller than, steeper than, gentler than, etc. The word "compare" refers to both similarities and differences.

Compare Describe the similarities and differences between two things (for example, two floods).

BUT …..Two separate accounts do not make a comparison, unless the second account refers back to the first.

A good technique would be to use comparative adjectives (describing words) - for example, larger than, smaller than, steeper than, gentler than, etc.

The word "compare" refers to both similarities and differences.

How many differences and similarities are there….

What other command words are there? Analyse Assess Contrast Describe Evaluate Explain How far? Justify To what extent What do you think you are being asked to do?

Analyse

Assess

Contrast

Describe

Evaluate

Explain

How far?

Justify

To what extent

What do you think you are being asked to do?

Task: Heads and tails Match the command word with the meaning….what do you think you are being asked to do?

Match the command word with the meaning….what do you think you are being asked to do?

What other command words are there? Analyse – identify the main characteristics and rate the factors with respect to importance. Assess – Weight up a particular situation by looking at for/against or strengths/weaknesses Contrast – Identify the differences between two or more things Describe – Say what something is like. Use data if there is a graph. Evaluate – This means the same as assess Explain – Give reasons why something happens How far? – You need to put both sides of the argument across Justify - To what extent – The same as how far

Analyse – identify the main characteristics and rate the factors with respect to importance.

Assess – Weight up a particular situation by looking at for/against or strengths/weaknesses

Contrast – Identify the differences between two or more things

Describe – Say what something is like. Use data if there is a graph.

Evaluate – This means the same as assess

Explain – Give reasons why something happens

How far? – You need to put both sides of the argument across

Justify -

To what extent – The same as how far