Why command words cost students marks

A huge share of marks lost on IGCSE papers has nothing to do with not knowing the content. It comes from answering the wrong type of question — writing a one-line answer when the command word demanded a developed explanation, or writing three paragraphs of description when one sentence of analysis was actually required. Command words are the examiner telling you, in advance, exactly what kind of answer earns marks. Learning to read them properly is one of the fastest ways to improve a grade without learning any new content at all.

The core command words and what they actually want

  • State / Name / Give — a short factual answer, often one word or one phrase. No explanation needed and none rewarded. Do not waste time writing sentences here.
  • Define — a precise statement of what a term means, usually matching specific wording from the syllabus. Vague paraphrasing loses marks.
  • Describe — set out what something is or what happens, in sequence or in detail, without explaining why. A common trap is sliding into explanation when the question only asked for description — this does not cost marks directly, but it wastes time you need elsewhere.
  • Explain — you must give reasons, causes, or mechanisms — the "why" or "how", not just the "what". An Explain question is rarely fully answered by a Describe-level response.
  • Calculate — show your working, not just the final answer. Method marks are usually available even if your final number is wrong, but only if the working is visible.
  • Compare — you must directly relate two things to each other (similarities and/or differences), not describe them separately one after another. Two separate paragraphs that never reference each other usually lose marks even if both are individually accurate.
  • Evaluate / Discuss — weigh up evidence or arguments on more than one side and reach a supported conclusion. The conclusion needs to follow from points you actually made, not appear from nowhere in the final sentence.
  • Suggest — give a plausible, reasoned answer even where there may be more than one acceptable response — often used for novel or unfamiliar contexts where you are expected to apply general principles rather than recall a fixed fact.

Matching answer length to mark allocation

The number of marks available is usually your best clue to how much to write. A 1-mark question wants one clear point. A 4 or 6-mark Explain question wants several distinct, developed points — writing one good point four different ways will not earn the marks available for four genuinely different points.

Command words differ slightly by board — always check your syllabus glossary

CAIE and Edexcel both publish a command word glossary at the back of each syllabus document, and the exact wording of definitions can differ subtly between boards and between subjects (a Geography "Describe" is not identical to a Biology "Describe"). Check your specific syllabus's glossary rather than assuming command words mean exactly the same thing everywhere.

Practising command-word discipline

A useful drill: take a past paper and, before answering anything, go through and label every question with its command word and mark allocation. This forces you to plan the right type and length of answer before you start writing, rather than discovering halfway through a long Explain answer that you have only made one point.

Using ExamPass.ai to build this habit

ExamPass.ai's mock papers and quizzes use the same command-word conventions as your real exam board, and AI marking gives feedback against the stored mark scheme — including whether your answer matched the depth the command word demanded, not just whether the content was correct.