Command words:GCSE Revision

What are command words?

• Command words are important words in exam questions.

• They tell you what you actually have to do.

• You need to understand the command words so that your answer is focussed and appropriate.

• Once command word is COMPARE…

Making comparisons…

• Compare Describe the similarities and differences between two things (for example, two floods).

• BUT…..Two separate accounts do not make a comparison, unless the second account refers back to the first.

• A good technique would be to use comparative adjectives (describing words) - for example, larger than, smaller than, steeper than, gentler than, etc.

• The word "compare" refers to both similarities and differences.

How many differences and similarities are there….

What other command words are there?

• Analyse• Assess• Contrast• Describe• Evaluate• Explain• How far?• Justify• To what extent

• What do you think you are being asked to do?

Task: Heads and tails

• Match the command word with the meaning….what do you think you are being asked to do?

What other command words are there?

• Analyse – identify the main characteristics and rate the factors with respect to importance.

• Assess – Weight up a particular situation by looking at for/against or strengths/weaknesses

• Contrast – Identify the differences between two or more things

• Describe – Say what something is like. Use data if there is a graph.

• Evaluate – This means the same as assess• Explain – Give reasons why something happens• How far? – You need to put both sides of the argument

across• Justify - • To what extent – The same as how far