Exam Question Keywords (Junior Cert English): Revision Notes
Exam Question Keywords
Understanding exam question language
Exams don't just test what you know - they also test your ability to answer specific types of questions correctly. This means you need to develop strong exam technique by practising how to interpret questions accurately and respond appropriately.
One of the biggest mistakes students make is misinterpreting what a question is actually asking for. When you answer a question that wasn't asked, you'll lose marks even if your knowledge is correct.
The key to avoiding this is learning to read questions carefully and understanding exactly what each part means.
How to read exam questions effectively
Every exam question is built from two distinct types of words that serve different purposes:
Topic words or phrases - These tell you what subject matter the question focuses on. You might want to highlight these words in one colour (like blue) to help identify the main theme or content area being examined.
Command words - These are instruction words that tell you exactly what you need to do with your knowledge. You could highlight these in a different colour (like red) to make them stand out.
Remember that questions often contain multiple command words, so look carefully for each one.
The most important step is understanding what each command word means. When you know the precise difference between words like "describe" and "explain", or "compare" and "contrast", you can shape your answer to match exactly what the examiner wants to see.
Essential command words and their meanings
Here's what each instruction word is asking you to do:
Analyse - Look at why events happened and examine how they influenced what came next. This requires you to break down causes and effects rather than just describing what occurred.
Amplify - Take the basic information and expand on it by providing additional details and explanations to give a fuller picture.
Assess - Make a judgement about whether something was successful or unsuccessful, effective or ineffective. You need to weigh up the evidence and reach a conclusion.
Brief/briefly - Provide a concise, to-the-point statement without unnecessary detail. Keep your response short and focused.
Calculate - Work out a numerical answer and show the steps you used to reach that result.
Classify - Organise information or items into specific groups or categories based on their characteristics.
Comment on - Share your observations and thoughts about the topic or issue presented.
Comment on the validity of - Examine whether a statement or claim is true or false, providing reasons to support your judgement.
Compare - Look at two or more items and identify both their similarities and differences. This requires balanced coverage of both aspects.
Contrast - Focus specifically on the differences between items, emphasising what makes them distinct from each other.
Correlate - Demonstrate the connections and relationships that exist between different pieces of information or concepts.
Criticise - Examine the evidence carefully and present your own informed viewpoint, supported by reasoning.
Define - Provide a clear, precise explanation of what a term or concept means.
Describe - Give a detailed account that paints a comprehensive picture of the topic, covering its main features and characteristics.
Discuss/discuss critically the view that - Present a balanced argument that considers different perspectives, including both supporting arguments (pros) and opposing arguments (cons).
Distinguish between - Clearly explain what makes different things unique and separate from each other.
Emphasise - Draw attention to particular points and stress their importance or significance.
Evaluate - Make a judgement about the worth, importance, or effectiveness of something. In mathematics, this might mean working out the value of an expression or equation.
Explore - Investigate a topic thoroughly, examining it in detail or discussing various aspects of it.
Give evidence - Provide specific proof, examples, or reasons that support your points.
Give an account of - Offer a description or explanation that covers the main aspects of the topic.
Give an illustrated account - Support your explanation with labelled diagrams, examples, or other visual aids to strengthen your response.
Give reasons for - Explain why something happened or provide evidence to support a particular viewpoint.
Identify - Point out or establish who someone is or what something is.
Indicate - Show or point something out clearly and directly.
Illustrate - Make your points clear by using specific examples, diagrams, or other supporting materials when appropriate.
Label - Add names or titles to identify the different parts of a diagram, graph, photograph, or map.
List - Provide a straightforward record of items without needing to include descriptions or explanations.
Mark - Draw or place an item in its correct position on a map or diagram.
Name - Provide the specific title or identification of someone or something.
Outline - Give a concise overview of the main points, features, or ideas without going into detailed explanations.
Refer to/with reference to - Make specific mention of particular information or sources.
Relate/what is the relationship - Explain the connection or link between different elements.
Show - Display your working process clearly, or mark/draw items accurately on maps or diagrams.
State - Present information clearly using words.
Summarise - Provide a concise overview that covers only the main points, similar to an outline.
Trace - Follow the development of an idea, argument, or theme from beginning to end, or track changes over a period of time.
What is the significance for - Explain why something is important or what meaning it holds.
Write notes on - Create a brief summary using key points and important information.
Putting this knowledge into practise
To make the most of understanding these command words, try going through previous exam papers and identifying which instruction words appear most frequently in your subjects. This will help you become familiar with the types of responses that are commonly expected.
When you encounter a question in an exam, take a moment to identify both the topic words (what the question is about) and the command words (what you need to do). This two-step approach will help ensure you're answering the right question in the right way.
Remember that developing good exam technique takes practise. The more you work with different question types and focus on interpreting the language correctly, the more confident and accurate your responses will become.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Every exam question contains both topic words (what it's about) and command words (what to do)
- Misinterpreting questions is one of the biggest causes of lost marks in exams
- Each command word has a specific meaning that determines how you should structure your answer
- Practise identifying and responding to different command words using past exam papers
- Take time to read questions carefully and highlight the key instruction words before you start writing