Understanding Command Words

Every question on your AQA GCSE Geography exam papers begins with a command word — the instruction that tells you exactly what the examiner expects you to do. Misreading or ignoring the command word is one of the most common reasons students lose marks. This lesson gives you a complete breakdown of every command word you will encounter, along with strategies for responding to each one.

Why Command Words Matter

The command word determines the type of thinking the examiner wants you to demonstrate. A question that says "State" requires a completely different response from one that says "Evaluate". If you write a detailed explanation when the question only asks you to state a fact, you waste valuable time. If you simply state a fact when the question asks you to evaluate, you will score zero or very low marks.

Exam Tip: Before you start writing, underline or circle the command word. This simple habit can prevent you from misreading the question under pressure.

The Full Command Word Table

Below is a comprehensive table of the command words used across AQA GCSE Geography Papers 1, 2 and 3.

Command Word	What It Means	Typical Marks	What the Examiner Wants
State	Give a short, factual answer	1	A single word, phrase or sentence — no explanation needed
Name / Identify	Give the name of something	1	A specific term, feature or location
Define	Give the meaning of a term	1	A clear, precise definition
Describe	Say what something is like	2–4	Key features, patterns or characteristics — use data if a resource is provided
Explain	Say why or how something happens	4–6	Reasons, causes and effects linked together logically
Compare	Identify similarities and/or differences	4	Use comparative connectives ("whereas", "in contrast", "similarly")
Suggest	Give a plausible reason or idea	3–6	Apply your geographical knowledge to an unfamiliar context
Assess	Weigh up the importance or effectiveness of something	6–9	Consider strengths and weaknesses; come to a supported judgement
Evaluate	Judge the success, value or significance of something	6–9	Use evidence to support a balanced argument and reach a conclusion
Discuss	Present different viewpoints or arguments	6–9	Show both sides before reaching a reasoned conclusion
To what extent	How far do you agree with a statement?	9	A balanced argument with a clear final judgement
Justify	Give reasons to support a decision or choice	4–6	Explain why one option is better than alternatives
Calculate	Work out a numerical answer	1–2	Show your working clearly
Complete	Finish a task such as a graph, table or diagram	1–3	Accuracy and precision in plotting or labelling
Label / Annotate	Add labels or detailed notes to a diagram or image	1–4	Accurate placement and clear geographical detail
Draw	Produce a sketch, diagram or graph	2–4	Neat, accurate and properly labelled

Low-Tariff Command Words (1–2 Marks)

These are the quick-fire questions at the start of each section. They test your recall of knowledge.

State / Name / Identify

Give a short, direct answer.
Do not waste time explaining — the mark scheme rewards the correct term, not extra detail.
Example: "Name one type of wave." — Answer: Destructive wave.

Define

Write a textbook-quality definition.
If you can, include an example to make the definition clearer.
Example: "Define the term 'urbanisation'." — Answer: Urbanisation is the increasing proportion of a country's population living in urban areas, often driven by rural-to-urban migration.

Calculate

Always show your working, even if the answer seems obvious.
Double-check units (%, km, metres, etc.).
Example: "Calculate the percentage increase." — Show: (New − Old) ÷ Old × 100.

Exam Tip: For 1-mark questions, write one clear sentence. If you find yourself writing more than two sentences, you are probably over-answering.

Mid-Tariff Command Words (2–6 Marks)

These questions require more detail and structured thinking.

Describe

When a question says "Describe", the examiner wants you to say what you can see, not why it happens.

Describe patterns on a map or graph: Use compass directions, name places, quote data.
Describe a process: Outline the stages in order.
Describe features: List and detail the key characteristics.

Exam Tip: If a figure is provided, you must refer to it. Use specific data — "The highest rainfall is approximately 1,200 mm in the north-west" is far better than "It rains a lot in some places."

Explain

When a question says "Explain", you need to give reasons and show how one thing leads to another.

Use connectives like "because", "this means that", "as a result", "therefore".
Follow the Point → Reason → Consequence structure.
Example chain: Deforestation removes tree roots → soil is no longer held in place → rain washes soil into rivers → this causes increased flooding downstream.

Compare

You must refer to both things being compared in the same sentence or paragraph.

Use comparative language: "whereas", "in contrast", "on the other hand", "similarly", "both".
Quote data from both sources if figures are provided.
Example: "Area A receives 800 mm of rainfall per year, whereas Area B receives only 200 mm."

Exam Tip: A common mistake is to describe each thing separately. If you write about A in one paragraph and B in another without linking them, you will lose marks.

Suggest

This word appears when the examiner wants you to apply your knowledge to an unfamiliar scenario.

There is often no single "correct" answer — the examiner rewards plausible, well-reasoned suggestions.
Draw on your understanding of geographical processes, even if the specific case is new to you.

High-Tariff Command Words (6–9 Marks)

These are the extended writing questions that carry the most marks. They appear at the end of each section.

Assess

You must weigh up how important, successful or significant something is.

Consider positives and negatives, or different factors.
Reach a judgement — e.g., "Overall, flood defences in Boscastle have been largely successful because…"

Evaluate

Similar to assess, but with a stronger emphasis on judging value or effectiveness using evidence.

Use case study evidence where possible.
End with a clear conclusion that directly answers the question.

Discuss

Present multiple viewpoints or perspectives.

Consider economic, social, environmental and political angles.
Show that you understand why different groups might disagree.

To What Extent

This requires a balanced argument leading to a clear judgement.

Structure: arguments for → arguments against → conclusion with your overall judgement.
The conclusion must answer the question directly — e.g., "To a large extent, climate change is the most significant cause of…"

Exam Tip: For 9-mark questions, aim for three developed points plus a conclusion. Each point should include a specific example or case study detail.

Quick-Reference Strategy

Circle the command word before you begin.
Check the marks — this tells you how much to write.
Match your response to the command word: do not explain when asked to describe, and do not describe when asked to evaluate.
Use the mark allocation as a guide: roughly one developed point per 2–3 marks.

Practice Exercise

Read each question below and identify (a) the command word and (b) what type of response is needed.

"State one advantage of renewable energy." — Command word: State. Response: one brief advantage.
"Explain how coastal erosion creates wave-cut platforms." — Command word: Explain. Response: a step-by-step causal explanation.
"Evaluate the effectiveness of flood management strategies in a named area you have studied." — Command word: Evaluate. Response: a balanced judgement using case study evidence.
"Compare the population structures of an LIC and an HIC." — Command word: Compare. Response: direct comparisons using data or characteristics, with comparative language.

Exam Tip: Practise identifying command words using past papers. The more familiar you are with them, the less likely you are to misread a question under timed conditions.

Summary

Command words are instructions — they tell you exactly what to do.
Low-tariff words (state, name, define) require short, precise answers.
Mid-tariff words (describe, explain, compare, suggest) require detail and structure.
High-tariff words (assess, evaluate, discuss, to what extent) require balanced arguments and a conclusion.
Always check the command word before you start writing.