The command word decides your answer. Most marks are lost here.
“Describe” wants what happens. “Explain” wants why. Answer the wrong one and a perfectly correct sentence scores zero. Here's every command word and what the mark scheme actually rewards.
The command word tells you what kind of answer scores. Learn these and stop throwing away marks.
Recall — short, no explanation
State / Give / Name / Write down
Recall a fact — a word, number or short phrase.
Mark scheme: No explanation and usually no working. One line is enough.
“State the trend in first ionisation energy across Period 3.”
Identify
Select or name from information given.
Mark scheme: Just the answer — don't justify it unless also asked.
Define
Give the precise meaning of a term.
Mark scheme: The full definition, in exam wording — partial definitions lose marks.
“Define first ionisation energy.”
Describe vs Explain — the one everyone loses marks on
Describe
Say what happens or what you see — the pattern, not the reason.
Mark scheme: Observations / features only. No “because”. For a graph, quote data.
“Describe how rate changes as temperature increases.”
Explain
Give reasons — say WHY it happens.
Mark scheme: Needs a causal link: because → therefore. A description alone scores zero here.
“Explain why rate increases as temperature increases.”
Suggest
Apply what you know to an unfamiliar context.
Mark scheme: There may be several right answers — any scientifically valid, reasoned one scores.
Higher-tariff analysis
Compare
Give similarities AND differences.
Mark scheme: Must be comparative — “A is bigger than B”, not two separate statements. Cover both.
Justify
Support a statement or answer with evidence.
Mark scheme: Link your evidence explicitly to the conclusion.
Evaluate
Weigh up points for and against, then judge.
Mark scheme: Both sides + a supported conclusion. Missing the conclusion caps your marks.
Discuss
Explore the arguments or factors around an issue.
Mark scheme: Balanced coverage of key points; often no single ‘right’ answer.
Deduce / Predict
Draw a conclusion or state an outcome from given information.
Mark scheme: Use the data/pattern given — answers must follow from the stem.
Calculation & maths command words
Calculate / Work out
Get a numerical answer.
Mark scheme: Show working (method marks!), give units, and use sensible significant figures.
Determine
Work out from given data — often via a graph or gradient.
Mark scheme: Show the route from the data to the answer.
Show that
Prove a given result is correct.
Mark scheme: Full working to the stated value — quote your answer to one more sig fig than the target.
Prove
Construct a rigorous logical argument (maths).
Mark scheme: Every step justified, ending in a clear conclusion / QED. No gaps.
Hence
You MUST use the previous result.
Mark scheme: Marks depend on continuing from the earlier part. “Hence or otherwise” = the prior route is intended, but any valid method scores.
Sketch
Draw the general shape of a graph.
Mark scheme: Label key features — intercepts, asymptotes, turning points. Not to scale, but shape and features must be right.
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