for students of various professions

1. Exam Terms 1
Compare Examine qualities, or characteristics, to discover resemblances. "Compare" is usually
stated as "compare with": you are to emphasise similarities, although differences may
be mentioned.
Contrast Stress dissimilarities, differences, or unlikeness of things, qualities, events, or
problems.
Criticise Express your judgment or correctness or merit. Discuss the limitations and good points
or contributions of the plan or work in question.
Define Definitions call for concise, clear, authoritative meanings. Details are not required but
limitations of the definition should be briefly cited. You must keep in mind the class to
which a thing belongs and whatever differentiates the particular object from all others
in the class.
Describe In a descriptive answer you should recount, characterize, sketch or relate in narrative
form. Give a detailed account or show knowledge of the topic. You should recount,
characterise or relate your answer.
Diagram For a question which specifies a diagram you should present a drawing, chart, plan, or
graphic representation in your answer. Generally you are expected to label the
diagram and in some cases add a brief explanation or description.
Discuss The term discuss, which appears often in essay questions, directs you to examine,
analyse carefully, and present considerations pro and con regarding the problems or
items involved. This type of question calls for a complete and entailed answer.
Enumerate The word enumerate specifies a list or outline form of reply. In such questions you
should recount, one by one, in concise form, the points required.
Evaluate In an evaluation question you are expected to present a careful appraisal of the
problem stressing both advantages and limitations. Evaluation implies authoritative
and, to a lesser degree, personal appraisal of both contributions and limitations.
Explain In explanatory answers it is imperative that you clarify and interpret the material you
present. In such an answer it is best to state the "how or why," reconcile any
differences in opinion or experimental results, and, where possible, state causes. The
aim is to make plain the conditions which give rise to whatever you are examining.
Illustrate A question which asks you to illustrate usually requires you to explain or clarify your
answer to the problem by presenting a figure, picture, diagram, or concrete example.
A similar instruction to ‘explain’ whereby you are asked to show the workings of
something, make use of definite examples and statistics if appropriate to add weight
to your explanation.
Interpret An interpretation question is similar to one requiring explanation. You are expected to
translate, exemplify, solve, or comment upon the subject and usually to give your
judgment or reaction to the problem. Demonstrate your understanding of an issue or
topic. This can be the use of particular terminology by an author, or what the findings
from a piece of research suggest to you. In the latter instance, comment on any
significant patterns and causal relationships.
Justify When you are instructed to justify your answer you must prove or show grounds for
decisions. In such an answer, evidence should be presented in convincing form.
List Listing is similar to enumeration. You are expected in such questions to present an
itemised series or tabulation. Such answers should always be given in concise form.
Outline An outline answer is organized description. You should give main points and essential
supplementary materials, omitting minor details, and present the information in a
systematic arrangement or classification.

2. Exam Terms 2
Prove A question which requires proof is one which demands confirmation or verification. In
such discussions you should establish something with certainty by evaluating and
citing experimental evidence or by logical reasoning.
Relate In a question which asks you to show the relationship or to relate, your answer should
emphasise connections and associations in descriptive form.
Review A review specifies a critical examination. You should analyse and comment briefly in
organised sequence upon the major points of the problem. Look thoroughly into a
subject. This should be a critical assessment and not merely descriptive.
State In questions which direct you to specify, give, state, or present, you are called upon to
express the high points in brief, clear narrative form. Details, and usually illustrations
or examples, may be omitted. To specify in clear terms the key aspects pertaining to a
topic without being overly descriptive. Refer to evidence and examples where
appropriate.
Summarise When you are asked to summarise or present a summarisation, you should give in
condensed form the main points or facts. All details, illustrations and elaboration are
to be omitted.
Trace When a question asks you to trace a course of events, you are to give a description of
progress, historical sequence, or development from the point of origin. Such
narratives may call for probing or for deduction.
Analyse Take apart an idea, concept or statement and examine and criticise its sub-parts in
detail. You have to be methodical and logical.
Assess Describe a topic’s positive and negative aspects and say how useful or successful it is,
or consider its contribution to knowledge, events or processes (this is usually about
how important something is).
Examine Take apart and describe a concept in great detail. Look in close detail and establish the
key facts and important issues surrounding a topic. This should be a critical evaluation
and you should try and offer reasons as to why the facts and issues you have identified
are the most important, as well as explain the different ways they could be construed.
Explain Give detailed reasons for an idea, principle or result, situation, attitude and so on. You
may need to give some analysis as well. Clarify a topic by giving a detailed account as
to how and why it occurs, or what is meant by the use of this term in a particular
context. Your writing should have clarity so that complex procedures or sequences of
events can be understood; defining key terms where appropriate, and be
substantiated with relevant research.
Distinguish To recognise something as distinct from other things, i.e. to point out the
difference(s).
Draft This means to draw up a document letter, etc, i.e. to outline in writing, sketch,
diagram etc.
Interpret It means to make sense of something, make it clear, and usually give your judgement
of the significance of the thing to be interpreted. You might be asked to interpret a set
of figures, or a graph, in which case you would need to describe in words the
significant features, or ‘messages’ contained therein.
Recognise To identify something known or perceived before.
Calculate To find out or ascertain by using numerical data, ratios etc.
Comment You are required to respond in a way that shows that you understand the topic from
whence the comment comes. You may need to define terms, explain the significance
of the statement and perhaps even evaluate it or give reasons for why it is you agree

3. Exam Terms 3
or disagree with the comment.
Consider Say what you think and have observed about something. Back up your comments
using appropriate evidence from external sources, or your own experience. Include
any views which are contrary to your own and how they relate to what you originally
thought.
Elaborate To give in more detail, provide more information on.
Explore Adopt a questioning approach and consider a variety of different viewpoints. Where
possible reconcile opposing views by presenting a final line of argument.
Give an
account of
Means give a detailed description of something. Not to be confused with ‘account for’
which asks you not only what, but why something happened.
To what extent Evokes a similar response to questions containing 'How far...'. This type of question
calls for a thorough assessment of the evidence in presenting your argument. Explore
alternative explanations where they exist.
Deduce Draw conclusions from information provided.
Develop Take forward or build upon given information
Critically
Analyse:
Analyse the nature of each part and interrelate them and at the end you have to give
fair judgement.
Critically
Assess:
You have to analyse and Judge the topic in detailed manner along with it you have to
give your comments and opinions.
Critically
Comment:
This type of questions is opinion based. You need to give your opinion on important
points and at the end you have to give fair judgement.
Critically
Examine:
If you find the word critically examine anywhere in question then you have to look at
good or bad of the given topic and at last you have to present sound judgement.
Investigate: You have to examine the topic in well systematic way and need to find out the
different aspects of the question like you have to find out motive, causes, some facts.
Reason: You have to find out the best reason for the given topic one by one.
Advise: Recommend a course of action.
Appraise Assess the worth, value or quality of a point.
Demonstrate: Show, manifest or prove with reasoned arguments.
Detail: Identify an item or smaller parts that are considered separately.
Agree Take a definite stand; state an opinion on the question on an issue or statement
contained in the question.
Disagree Explain persuasively, and in some detail, why you agree or disagree.