Command Words and Exam Technique

Command words are the instructions in an exam question that tell you exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Misunderstanding a command word is one of the most common reasons students lose marks in Edexcel GCSE PE — they write an answer that contains good knowledge but does not actually do what the question asked. This lesson breaks down every command word used in Edexcel GCSE PE papers so you know precisely what is expected for each one.

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Why Command Words Matter

Consider these two questions:

1. Describe the effects of a warm-up on the body. (3 marks)
2. Evaluate the importance of a warm-up before physical activity. (9 marks)

These questions are about the same topic, but they require completely different answers. If you "describe" when asked to "evaluate," you will not access the higher levels of the mark scheme — regardless of how good your knowledge is.

Exam Tip: Before you start writing any answer, underline the command word and circle the number of marks. This focuses your mind on exactly what the examiner wants and how much detail to include. Make it a habit in every practice paper you complete.

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Low-Demand Command Words (AO1 — Knowledge and Recall)

These command words appear in questions worth 1–3 marks. They require you to recall and state facts without needing to explain or analyse.

Command Word	What It Means	What the Examiner Wants	Typical Marks
State	Write down a fact briefly	A short, precise answer with no explanation required	1
Give	Provide a fact or example	Same as "state" — a brief factual answer	1
Identify	Name or recognise something	Pick out the correct answer from your knowledge or from given data	1
Name	Provide the correct term	A single word or short phrase — the exact technical term	1
Define	Give the meaning of a term	A precise, complete definition using correct PE terminology	1–2
Outline	Describe the main features briefly	A concise summary covering key points without going into detail	2–3

Examples

"State two types of muscle fibre." (2 marks)

• Slow-twitch (Type I) ✓
• Fast-twitch (Type IIa / Type IIx) ✓

That is all you need. No explanation, no examples — just two correct types.

"Define 'cardiovascular endurance'." (1 mark)

• The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen to the working muscles during sustained physical activity. ✓

Exam Tip: For "state," "give," "identify," and "name" questions, resist the urge to write long answers. You will not gain extra marks for writing more, and you waste valuable time. One clear, accurate point per mark is the rule.

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Mid-Demand Command Words (AO1/AO2 — Knowledge and Application)

These command words appear in questions worth 2–6 marks. They require you to demonstrate understanding and apply your knowledge to specific contexts.

Command Word	What It Means	What the Examiner Wants	Typical Marks
Describe	Give a detailed account of something	A clear, thorough account covering the key features. You do NOT need to explain why — just what happens or what something involves	2–4
Explain	Give reasons or show how/why something happens	Say what happens AND why it happens. You must provide a reason or link cause to effect	2–6
Compare	Identify similarities and/or differences between two things	Directly link two things together using comparative language ("whereas," "in contrast," "similarly," "both")	3–4

The Crucial Difference Between "Describe" and "Explain"

This is the single most important distinction to master in GCSE PE. Getting this wrong is one of the most common causes of lost marks.

	Describe	Explain
What you do	Say what happens	Say what happens AND why it happens
Connective words	Use "this means," "this involves," "this includes"	Use "because," "this is because," "therefore," "as a result," "which leads to"
Example (warm-up)	"During a warm-up, the heart rate increases and blood flow to the muscles increases."	"During a warm-up, the heart rate increases because the body needs more oxygen delivered to the working muscles. This increased blood flow means that the muscles receive more oxygen and glucose for aerobic respiration, which allows the performer to work more efficiently."
Depth required	Surface level — accurate but brief	Deeper level — cause and effect, reasoning

Exam Tip: A reliable way to check your "explain" answers is to look for the word "because" or "this is because". If your answer does not contain these connectives (or similar ones like "therefore" or "as a result"), you are probably describing rather than explaining — and you will lose marks.

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High-Demand Command Words (AO3 — Analysis and Evaluation)