When answering an exam question, it is important to consider the question requirements carefully to make sure you understand exactly what is being asked. We highlight common question verbs used in exams
| Question requirement | Actual meaning | Key tips | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advise | To offer guidance or some relevant expertise to a recipient, allowing them to make a more informed decision | Counsel, inform or notify | |
| Analyse | Break into separate parts and discuss, examine, or interpret each part | Give reasons for the current situation or what has happened | |
| Apply | To put into action pertinently and/or relevantly | Properly apply the scenario/case | |
| Assess | To judge the worth, importance, evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or significance | Determine the strengths, weaknesses, importance, significance, ability to contribute | |
| Calculate | To ascertain by computation, to make an estimate of; evaluate, to perform a mathematical process | Provide description along with numerical calculations | |
| Comment | To remark or express an opinion | Your answer should include an explanation, illustration or criticism | |
| Compare | Examine two or more things to identify similarities and differences | Clearly explain the resemblances or differences | |
| Conclusion | The result or outcome of an act or process or event, final arrangement or settlement | End your answer well, with a clear decision | |
| Criticise | Present the weaknesses/problems; evaluate comparative worth. Don’t explain the situation. Instead, analyse it | Criticism often involves analysis | |
| Define | Give the meaning; usually a meaning specific to the course or subject | Explain the exact meaning because usually definitions are short | |
| Describe | Give a detailed account or key features. List characteristics, qualities and parts | Make a picture with words; identification is not sufficient | |
| Discuss | Consider and debate/argue about the pros and cons of an issue. Examine in detail by using arguments in favour or against | Write about any conflict, compare and contrast | |
| Evaluate | Determine the scenario in the light of the arguments for and against | Mention evidence, case, point, issue to support evaluation | |
| Explain | Make an idea clear. Show logically how a concept is developed. Give the reason for an event | Don’t just provide a list of points, add in some explanation of the points you’re discussing | |
| Illustrate | Give concrete examples. Explain clearly by using comparisons or examples | Add in some description | |
| Interpret | Comment on, give examples, describe relationships | Include explanation and evaluation | |
| List | List several ideas, aspects, events, things, qualities, reasons, etc | Don’t discuss, just make a list | |
| Outline | Describe main ideas, characteristics, or events | Briefly explain the highlighted points | |
| Recommend | Advise the appropriate actions to pursue in terms the recipient will understand | Give advice or counsel | |
| Relate | Show the connections between ideas or events | Relate to real time examples | |
| State | Explain precisely | Focus on the exact point | |
| Summarise | Give a brief, condensed account. Include conclusions. Avoid unnecessary details | Remember to conclude your explanation |