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Common Terms Used on Exam Questions Do these words look familiar?

Have you seen


them on tests before? Use these terms when creating summary questions from your lecture
notes and readings.

Agree, Disagree Take a definite stand; state an opinion on the question on an issue or
statement contained in the question. Explain persuasively, and in some detail, why you
agree or disagree. Analyze Break down a topic into its parts and discuss the relationships
that exist between the whole (topic) and the parts. Be specific. Compare, Contrast Show, in
detail, the similarities, the differences, or the similarities and the differences between the two
topics stated in the question. Define Give the exact meaning of a word, phrase or concept.
Be specific; use details and give examples. Describe, Discuss Explain, in detail, what the
question asks about the topic. Provide all the pertinent information you can about the topic,
using examples to illustrate your statements. Evaluate Make a judgment on the topic in
question based on the information at hand and your own values and experiences. Explain
Examine the topic in question based on the information at hand and your own values and
experiences. Identify Mention the two or three most important facts about a person or
subject area. Watch for directions that ask you to identify and explain briefly. These require
more than a few facts. Illustrate Provide five concrete examples to clarify or explain a
general statement. Outline Organize the main points and give supporting statements or
details. Prove Through support and/or illustration, show why the statement is correct. Use
persuasion, logic and reason. Summarize Give an overview of the subject. Trace Describe
the steps or process that brought some event to pass. Mock

Key verbs found in exam


questions
ANALYSE Break an issue down into its component parts; discuss them
and show how they interrelate.

ARGUE Make a case, based on appropriate evidence and logically


structured, for and/or against some given point of view.

ASSESS Estimate the value or importance of something, paying


attention to positive and/or negative aspects.

COMPARE Look for similarities and differences between.


CONTRAST Set in opposition in order to bring out differences.

CRITICISE Give your judgement about the merit of theories or opinions or


about the truth of facts, and back your judgement by a
discussion of the evidence.

DEFINE Set down the precise meaning of the word or phrase, giving
sufficient detail so as to distinguish it.

DESCRIBE Give a detailed or graphic account.

DISCUSS Investigate or examine by argument; sift and debate giving


reasons for and against.

EXPLAIN Tell how things work or how they came to be the way they are.

IDENTIFY Pick out what you regard as the key features of something,
perhaps making clear the criteria you use in doing so.

ILLUSTRATE Use a figure or diagram to explain or clarify, or make it


clear by the use of concrete examples.

JUSTIFY Express valid reasons for accepting a particular interpretation


or conclusion.

OUTLINE Indicate the main features of a topic or sequence of events,


possibly setting them within a clear structure or framework to
show how they interrelate.

PROVE Demonstrate or establish the truth or accuracy, giving


evidence or a logical sequence of statements from evidence to
conclusion.

RELATE Explain how things are connected to each other and to what
extent they are alike or affect each other.

REVIEW To make a survey of, examining the subject critically.

STATE Present in brief, clear form the main points.

SUMMARISE Give a concise account of the chief points or substance


of the matter, omitting details and examples.

TRACE Follow the development or history of a topic form some point of


origin.
List Just give the key words, no need to write long sentences
Name Simple answer, no need to write any explanation
Compare this means you should give the similarities and the differences
between two things
Contrast This means you need to only list the differences between two things
Outline Give the main points, It's the same as "explain briefly"
with the aid of a diagram this means there are marks going for your diagram
Give an illustrated account is another way of saying a diagram is expected
Describe This means give a fuller, longer answer
Explain Again this means you need to give a fuller, longer answer with several
points. Look at the marks being awarded to get an idea how
long your answer should be.
Plurals Keep an eye out for plurals as this will give you an idea of how much
information is required. “Give a reason for…” and “Give
reasons for…” are different questions.
And Lots of students go wrong here. The word “and” in a question means
there are marks going for the part before the “and” as well as
after the “and”. Many students lose marks by only answering
the second part of the question. e.g. Give examples of how
wave action creates and destroys our coastlines.

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