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Command Words
Command Words
Page 1 of 15
Table of Contents Page No.
Introduction 3
Knowledge 4
Understanding 5
References 15
This comprehensive list of command words has been produced to clarify the demands of each
command word used by AKU-EB and hence align teaching, learning and assessment. It has been
produced for use in AKU-EB’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary
School Certificate (HSSC). However, it will also be beneficial for schools taking Middle School
Programme (MSP) to create a smooth progression onto SSC.
This requires retrieving learnt information, for example, recall of facts and figures,
terminologies, key ideas, concepts, etc.
y
Most
S.No. Command Word Definition Frequently
nl
Used In
gO
To give a formal statement or equivalent
1 Define paraphrase that precisely conveys the All Subjects
meaning; examples are not required
in
arn
To write down information in points. No
2 List All Subjects
explanation or sequence is required
Le
To give a brief response, mostly as a word or
3 Mention All Subjects
phrase
nd
ga
Additional words that can be used to evaluate knowledge: who, when, where, what
a ch
r Te
Fo
This requires associating new information to prior knowledge in a meaningful way, for example,
by seeing patterns, organising parts, making links, summarising, finding evidence, etc.
Most
S.No. Command Word Definition Frequently
Used In
y
1 Classify etc. into categories with predefined All Subjects
nl
characteristics or criteria
gO
To mention the similarities and differences
2 Compare between two or more items, situations or All Subjects
phenomena
in
arn
To be able to understand an event, problem,
3 Comprehend1 All Subjects
situation or process
Le
To mention differences between two or more
4 Contrast All Subjects
items, situations or phenomena
nd
specific experiment
ch
1
Used in syllabi but not in examination questions
y
To name or to specify as in a list following a
9 Enumerate All Subjects
specific sequence/ order
nl
gO
To clarify a concept using appropriate and
10 Exemplify All Subjects
relevant example(s)
in
To give a detailed account of ideas/
arn
situations/ problems or process with relevant
11 Explain All Subjects
supporting information (data, facts,
examples, graphs, etc.)
Le
To draw out the exact/ relevant information
12 Extract All Subjects
needed from the given content
nd
ga
y
Languages
18 Recount To retell in spoken or written form
and History
nl
gO
To show or make connections or association
19 Relate between two or more different ideas/ All Subjects
aspects/ quantities
in
arn
To give a spoken or written answer to
20 Respond All Subjects
somebody or something
Le
To give a description of progress, historical Languages,
21 Trace sequence or development from the point of Sciences and
nd
origin History
ga
2
Used in syllabi but not in examination questions
This includes multiple cognitive levels including application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and
creation. It requires using information or concepts in new situations, solving problems, analysing
relationships, relating knowledge from several areas, drawing conclusions, evaluating worth,
using old ideas to create new ones, etc.
Most
S.No. Command Word Definition Frequently
y
Used In
nl
To break an aspect into its constituent parts.
Look in depth at each part using supporting
1 Analyse/ Critique All Subjects
gO
arguments and evidences. See how the parts
relate to the whole
in
To relate, place and use an idea, principle,
2 Apply All Subjects
theory or law in a given situation
arn
To make a judgment by considering
available information and context, e.g.
3 Assess
Le
conflicting points of view, negative vs.
All Subjects
positive, strength vs. limitation
nd
Sciences and
5 Calculate/ Solve and/or numerical and/or graphical methods
Mathematics
(working should be shown)
a ch
features or characteristics
r
7 Complement Art
artwork
y
10 Construct diagram by combining and arranging parts All Subjects
nl
of given information or idea
gO
Sciences,
To change information from one form into Mathematics
11 Convert
another form (one system or unit to another) and
Commerce
in
arn
To transform materials/ ideas into a new
12 Create Art
form
Le
To reach a conclusion, by extracting
13 Deduce meaning with the help of contextual/ All Subjects
nd
y
19 Employ To utilise the information gained Art
nl
gO
20 Establish To discover or prove that something is true All Subjects
in
Sciences,
arn
To make an approximate judgment/ Mathematics
21 Estimate
numerical value and
Le Commerce
To make judgment regarding a given
information by identifying and discussing its
22 Evaluate convincing aspects, limitations and All Subjects
nd
y
identify what is implied but is not stated. To
28 Infer All Subjects
derive by reasoning or from premises of
nl
evidence
gO
To extract and make connections between
29 Interpret explicit and implicit details of the given All Subjects
information and draw relevant conclusions
in
To support the given phenomenon/ event/
arn
statement by providing valid evidences,
30 Justify All Subjects
reasons and/ or examples to reach the asked
conclusionLe
To find a specified position or point on a
31 Locate All Subjects
diagram or map
nd
ga
Sciences,
ch
3
mostly used as a supporting command word in questions
y
following a suitable procedure, such as
37 Prepare Commerce
making final accounts, general journal
nl
entries
gO
To establish the validity of an assumption/
38 Prove All Subjects
fact/ law by using evidences
in
To simplify an expression by removing
arn
radicals in the denominator of an algebraic
39 Rationalise Mathematics
fraction without changing the value of the
expression
Le
40 Recommend/ Suggest To give plausible suggestions All Subjects
nd
of prime entry
(used for general journal entries)
ch
y
To look through a text or image to locate a
46 Scan Languages
particular piece of information
nl
gO
Sciences,
To demonstrate with evidence, i.e. working,
Mathematics
47 Show calculations, experimentation or illustrations
and
(including graphs)
Commerce
in
To reduce (an equation, fraction, etc.) to a
arn
simple form by cancellation of common Science and
48 Simplify
factors, regrouping of terms in the same Mathematics
variables, etc.
Le
To represent through a diagram or graph
(labelled as appropriate). The sketch should Art,
49 Sketch give a general idea of the required shape or Mathematics
nd
Additional words that can be used to evaluate application: show relationship, propose an
alternative, prioritise, give reasons for, predict consequences
4
used on understanding level in all subjects except languages where it is used in application
These words are simple command words and questioning words which can be used across
cognitive levels in all the subjects.
Complete
Explore
Find
y
Give
nl
Label
gO
Read
Use
Write
in
arn
Le
nd
ga
in
a ch
r Te
Fo
y
nl
gO
in
arn
Le
nd
ga
in
a ch
r Te
Fo