One word in an examination question can change the entire job. A learner may know the topic and still lose marks because they describe when asked to explain, state when asked to justify, or give an opinion when asked to evaluate.
Eight command words are especially useful across English, Science, Mathematics explanations, Humanities and other written subjects: state, describe, explain, compare, suggest, predict, justify and evaluate.
The eight command words
- State: give the required fact, result or position directly.
- Describe: say what is observed, shown or happening.
- Explain: connect cause, evidence or mechanism to outcome.
- Compare: identify a meaningful similarity or difference using a shared criterion.
- Suggest: propose a plausible answer consistent with the evidence or context.
- Predict: use a relationship or pattern to infer a likely outcome.
- Justify: give reasons or evidence showing why a claim or choice is warranted.
- Evaluate: make a judgement using criteria, evidence, strengths, limits or trade-offs.
The 10-second command-word routine
- Identify the command word.
- Translate it into the job: fact, pattern, cause, comparison, possibility, forecast, defence or judgement.
- Identify the evidence or knowledge needed for that job.
- Write the smallest answer shape that can fully satisfy it.
Answer-shape skeletons
- State: X is ______.
- Describe: As ______ changes, ______ changes in the pattern ______.
- Explain: Because ______, this causes or leads to ______.
- Compare: A is ______ than B with respect to ______.
- Suggest: One plausible ______ is ______ because it fits ______.
- Predict: If ______, then ______ because ______.
- Justify: I choose or claim ______ because ______ evidence or principle shows ______.
- Evaluate: Overall ______, because ______; however ______ limits or qualifies this judgement.
These are thinking skeletons, not sentences to memorise mechanically. Subject knowledge still has to fill the answer.
How to practise
- Classify ten old questions by command word before solving them.
- Rewrite one question by changing “describe” to “explain” and discuss how the answer changes.
- Contrast “suggest” with “state” using the same topic.
- Mark answers for job mismatch before marking content.
Where this page sits in Atlas V2.0
This is a cross-subject question-reading owner under Learning Atlas V2.0. It supports English, Science, Mathematics explanation, Humanities and Examination Craft.
Last updated: 26 September 2026.
