Command Words — What the Question Is Really Asking

Every GCSE exam question contains a command word — the verb that tells you exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Students who misread or ignore the command word can know the content perfectly and still lose marks because they answer the wrong type of question.

This lesson breaks down every command word you will encounter, explains exactly what each one demands, and shows you how to avoid the most common mistakes.

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Why Command Words Matter

Consider these two questions about the same topic:

1. Describe the process of osmosis. (3 marks)
2. Explain why osmosis is important for plant cells. (3 marks)

Both questions are about osmosis. Both are worth 3 marks. But they require completely different answers:

• Describe = State what happens. "Water molecules move from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a partially permeable membrane."
• Explain = State what happens AND say why or how it happens. "Water molecules move from the dilute solution to the concentrated solution through the partially permeable membrane because the water molecules move down the concentration gradient. This is important for plant cells because the water entering the cell by osmosis creates turgor pressure, which keeps the cell firm and supports the plant structure."

A student who writes an "explain" answer for a "describe" question has not necessarily done anything wrong — but they may have wasted time writing more than needed. A student who writes a "describe" answer for an "explain" question will lose marks because they have not provided the reasoning.

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The Complete Command Word Guide

Tier 1: Low-Demand Command Words (Knowledge and Comprehension)

Command Word	What It Means	What the Examiner Wants	Example Answer Structure
State	Give a fact with no explanation	A short, precise answer — often a single word or sentence	"The nucleus."
Name	Identify something	Same as state — give the correct term	"Mitochondria."
Give	Provide an answer	Same as state — no explanation needed	"Carbon dioxide."
Define	Provide the meaning of a term	A precise definition, ideally using subject-specific language	"Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane."
List	Provide multiple items	Short items, no explanation; often just words or phrases separated by commas	"Glucose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water."
Identify	Select or recognise something from given information	Point out the relevant thing from a source, graph, or data	"The graph shows that the rate of reaction increased between 20°C and 40°C."

Tier 2: Medium-Demand Command Words (Application and Analysis)

Command Word	What It Means	What the Examiner Wants	Common Mistake
Describe	Say what happens or what you observe	A step-by-step account of a process, trend, or observation. No explanation of WHY.	Adding "because..." when describing — not wrong, but wastes time if only description is asked for
Explain	Say what happens AND why or how	Each point must include a reason or mechanism. "Because..." is your friend.	Only describing without giving reasons — the single most common mark-losing error
Outline	Give the main features or key steps	A concise summary — more than "state" but less detail than "describe"	Writing too much detail when a brief overview is sufficient
Compare	Identify similarities AND differences	You must state both similarities AND differences. Using connectives like "whereas," "however," "similarly" signals comparison.	Only giving differences, or only giving similarities
Calculate	Work out a numerical answer	Show your working (even if not explicitly asked). Include units. Round appropriately.	Forgetting units; not showing working (losing method marks)
Suggest	Propose an answer that may not be in the textbook	Apply your knowledge to an unfamiliar context. There may be multiple valid answers.	Thinking you must have been taught the specific answer — suggest questions reward intelligent application

Tier 3: High-Demand Command Words (Evaluation and Synthesis)