Command Words (Edexcel IGCSE Biology): Revision Note

Command words & their meanings

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

  • It tells you what kind of answer is needed

• Pearson Edexcel lists its command words in Appendix 5 of the International GCSE Biology specification, and each one has a fixed 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 state 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

Edexcel command words

• The command words below are listed in Appendix 5 of the Edexcel International GCSE Biology specification

  • Each definition is Pearson's own wording, followed by what your answer needs if this needs clarifying

  • The words are grouped here by the type of answer they ask for

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

• Give / State / Name

  • All of these command words are really synonyms

  • They generally all require recall of one or more pieces of information

  • Your answer should be short, often one word or one line, with no explanation

• State what is meant by

  • When the meaning of a term is expected but there are different ways for how these can be described

  • Your answer should give the full meaning of the term, including every key word

• Identify

  • Usually requires some key information to be selected from a given stimulus/resource

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

• Add / Label

  • Requires the addition or labelling of a stimulus material given in the question, for example, labelling a diagram or adding units to a table

• Complete

  • Requires the completion of a table/diagram

  • This could also refer to a fill-in-the-blanks style question

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

  • To give an account of something

  • Statements in the response need to be developed, as they are often linked but do not need to include a justification or reason

  • Your answer should say what happens or what a trend looks like, without giving reasons

• Explain

  • An explanation requires a justification/exemplification of a point

  • The answer must contain some element of reasoning/justification – this can include mathematical explanations

  • Your answer should give the reason for something

• Give a reason / reasons

  • When a statement has been made and the requirement is only to give the reason(s) why

• Calculate

  • Obtain a numerical answer, showing relevant working

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

• Determine

  • The answer must have an element that is quantitative from the stimulus provided or must show how the answer can be reached quantitatively

  • To gain maximum marks, there must be a quantitative element to the answer

  • Your answer will usually be a calculation

• Estimate

  • Find an approximate value, number or quantity from a diagram/given data or through a calculation

• Plot

  • Produce a graph by marking points accurately on a grid from data that is provided and then draw a line of best fit through these points

  • A suitable scale and appropriately labelled axes must be included if these are not provided in the question

  • Edexcel "Plot a line graph" questions will tell you whether to join the points with straight lines; when they do, use a ruler to join each point to the next instead of drawing a line of best fit

• Draw

  • Produce a diagram either using a ruler or freehand

• Sketch

  • Produce a freehand drawing

  • For a graph, this would need a line and labelled axes with important features indicated

  • The axes are not scaled

• Show that

  • Verify the statement given in the question

  • Your answer will likely involve a calculation or a numerical explanation

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

• Suggest

  • Use your knowledge to propose a solution to a problem in a novel context

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

• Predict

  • Give an expected result

• Deduce

  • Draw/reach conclusion(s) from the information provided

• Justify

  • Give evidence to support (either the statement given in the question or an earlier answer)

• Design

  • Plan or invent a procedure from existing principles/ideas

  • Every Paper 1 has included a 6-mark question asking you to design an investigation

• Comment on

  • Requires the synthesis of a number of variables from data/information to form a judgement

• Discuss

  • Identify the issue/situation/problem/argument that is being assessed within the question; explore all aspects of it; investigate it by reasoning or argument

  • Make as many separate points as there are marks

• Evaluate

  • Review information (e.g. data, methods) then bring it together to form a conclusion, drawing on evidence including strengths, weaknesses, alternative actions, relevant data or information

  • Come to a supported judgement of a subject's quality and relate it to its context

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