Understanding what these verbs mean when used in exam questions is an essential exam preparation tip, as it helps you interpret exactly what the examiner is asking for, structure your answers effectively, and demonstrate the required depth of knowledge. Mastering these command words can make the difference between a good answer and an excellent one, ensuring you approach your exams with confidence and precision.
Analyse
Actual meaning: Break into separate parts and discuss, examine, or interpret each part
Key tips: Give reasons for the current situation or what has happened.
Apply
Actual meaning: To put into action pertinently and/or relevantly
Key tips: Properly apply the scenario/case.
Assess
Actual meaning: To judge the worth, importance, evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or significance
Key tips: Determine the strengths/weaknesses/importance/ significance/ability to contribute.
Calculate
Actual meaning: To ascertain by computation, to make an estimate of; evaluate, to perform a mathematical process
Key tips: Provide description along with numerical calculations.
Comment
Actual meaning: To remark or express an opinion
Key tips: Your answer should include an explanation, illustration or criticism.
Compare
Actual meaning: Examine two or more things to identify similarities and differences
Key tips: Clearly explain the resemblances or differences.
Conclusion
Actual meaning: The result or outcome of an act or process or event, final arrangement or settlement Key tips: End your answer well, with a clear decision.
Criticise
Actual meaning: Present the weaknesses/problems; evaluate comparative worth. Don’t explain the situation. Instead, analyse it
Key tips: Criticism often involves analysis.
Define
Actual meaning: Give the meaning; usually a meaning specific to the course or subject
Key tips: Explain the exact meaning because usually definitions are short.
Describe
Actual meaning: Give a detailed account or key features. List characteristics, qualities and parts
Key tips: Make a picture with words; identification is not sufficient.
Discuss
Actual meaning: Consider and debate/argue about the pros and cons of an issue. Examine in detail by using arguments in favour or against
Key tips: Write about any conflict, compare and contrast.
Evaluate
Actual meaning: Determine the scenario in the light of the arguments for and against
Key tips: Mention evidence/case/point/issue to support evaluation.
Explain
Actual meaning: Make an idea clear. Show logically how a concept is developed. Give the reason for an event
Key tips: Don’t just provide a list of points, add in some explanation of the points you’re discussing.
Illustrate
Actual meaning: Give concrete examples. Explain clearly by using comparisons or examples
Key tips: Add in some description.
Interpret
Actual meaning: Comment on, give examples, describe relationships
Key tips: Include explanation and evaluation.
List
Actual meaning: List several ideas, aspects, events, things, qualities, reasons, etc
Key tips: Don’t discuss, just make a list.
Outline
Actual meaning: Describe main ideas, characteristics, or events
Key tips: Briefly explain the highlighted points.
Prepare
Actual meaning: Set out a response using an appropriate format
Key tips: The format of your answer should suit the document you’re preparing.
Recommend
Actual meaning: Advise the appropriate actions to pursue in terms the recipient will understand
Key tips: Give advice or counsel.
Relate
Actual meaning: Show the connections between ideas or events
Key tips: Relate to real time examples.
State
Actual meaning: Explain precisely
Key tips: Focus on the exact point.
Summarise
Actual meaning: Give a brief, condensed account. Include conclusions. Avoid unnecessary details
Key tips: Remember to conclude your explanation.
Summary
Knowing how to Analyse, Apply, Assess, Calculate, Comment, Compare, and use all other action verbs correctly can significantly improve your performance when taking ACCA exams. It allows you to structure your answers more effectively and earn higher marks. For students looking to reinforce these skills, exploring the best apps for exam preparation can provide interactive practice, quick reference guides, and personalised study tools to make learning more efficient and targeted.
