Command Words (AQA GCSE Biology): Revision Note

Command words & their meanings

• A command word is the instruction word in a question, e.g. give, describe, explain

  • It tells you what kind of answer is needed

• AQA publishes a list of command words for GCSE Biology, and each one has a set meaning

• Some command words are more demanding than others; the higher the demand, the more thinking your answer needs to show

  • Lower-demand words, such as give, name and identify, ask you to recall a fact

  • Higher-demand words, such as predict, evaluate and suggest, often ask you to apply what you know to something new

• Even if the biology in your answer is correct, it is still possible to score zero if you have not responded correctly to the command word in the question

AQA command words

• The command words for AQA GCSE Biology are listed below

  • Words have been divided into lower-, medium- and higher-demand

  • Each definition is AQA's own wording, followed by what your answer needs

Lower-demand command words

• Lower-demand command words ask you to recall a fact or pick something out

• The answers are generally short, often one word or one line

• Identify

  • Name or otherwise characterise

  • Your answer will usually be a name, a letter or a label

• Name

  • Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description

  • Often it can be answered with a single word, phrase or sentence

• Give

  • Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description

  • Your answer should be short and focused

• Define

  • Specify the meaning of something

  • Your answer should give the exact definition, including every important key word

• Write

  • Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description

• Choose

  • Select from a range of alternatives

• Label

  • Provide appropriate names on a diagram

• Complete

  • Answers should be written in the space provided, for example, on a diagram, in spaces in a sentence or in a table

• Measure

  • Find an item of data for a given quantity

• How, What, When, Where, Which, Who, Why

  • These can be used for more direct questions

Medium-demand command words

• Medium-demand command words may require you to recall content in more detail or ask you to apply knowledge or skills

• You are expected to set out what happens, give the reasons behind it or work something out

• Describe

  • Students may be asked to recall some facts, events or process in an accurate way

  • Your answer should focus on detailing what happens or what a feature/trend looks like, without giving the underlying scientific reasons

  • When describing a graph or table, mention both variables and quote data

• Explain

  • Students should make something clear, or state the reasons for something happening

  • Your answer should give the reason for, or the biology behind, something; the word 'because' often appears

• Sketch

  • Draw approximately

  • Your answer should be a freehand graph or diagram with the right shape and sensible proportions

  • A sketch graph shows the general shape of the relationship between two variables; it has no plotted points, and the axes should be labelled but may not have a scale

• Calculate

  • Students should use numbers given in the question to work out the answer

  • Your answer should show your working and give the unit where relevant

• Determine

  • Use given data or information to obtain an answer

  • Your answer should be worked out from the information given; this may or may not need a calculation

• Plot

  • Mark on a graph using data given

• Draw

  • To produce, or add to, a diagram

• Estimate

  • Assign an approximate value

• Plan

  • Write a method

• Design

  • Set out how something will be done

• Use

  • The answer must be based on the information given in the question. Unless the information given in the question is used, no marks can be given. In some cases students might be asked to use their own knowledge and understanding

Higher-demand command words

• Higher-demand command words ask you to apply your knowledge and understanding to new information or a new situation, or to make a judgement

• Compare

  • This requires the student to describe the similarities and/or differences between things, not just write about one

  • Always link the two items using comparative language such as whereas, while, both, higher than or lower than

  • Simply stating a feature about one item is not enough to gain credit

• Predict

  • Give a plausible outcome

  • Your answer should say what will happen, based on data provided and/or your scientific understanding

• Evaluate

  • Students should use the information supplied, as well as their knowledge and understanding, to consider evidence for and against when making a judgement

  • Your answer should weigh up the points for and against, then make a judgement

  • This may also involve providing evidence from data, or suggesting improvements to experiments

• Suggest

  • This term is used in questions where students need to apply their knowledge and understanding to a new situation

  • Your answer should apply your biological understanding to an unfamiliar situation

• Justify

  • Use evidence from the information supplied to support an answer

• Show

  • Provide structured evidence to reach a conclusion

How to answer each command word

• Exam questions usually assess a piece of biology content using a range of different command words

  • Each command word needs a different answer, even when the biological context is the same

  • The number of marks tells you how many points to make