Geography Command Words - what do they mean?

These can be used for Year 11 and all the years below. 

Learn them so that you understand what the question is asking you to do. 

Assess - Consider all the relevant factors or arguments and weigh them up so as to come to a conclusion about their effectiveness of validity. 

    e.g. - "Assess how effective your presentation technique(s) were in representing the data collected in this enquiry." (6 marks) 

Calculate - Work out the value of something.

    e.g. "Using Figure 7, calculate the increase in retail sales of Fairtrade bananas between 2000 and 2012." (1 mark)

        Have you thought about the calculation? Have you included the £ sign or relevant measure?

Compare - describe similarities and differences

    e.g. "Using Figure 4, compare the HDI values in Africa and South America." (2 marks)

        What is similar?

        What is different?

        Use data to to support points.

Complete - Finish the task by adding in information. 

    e.g. "Complete  the following sentences: 

    The greatest number of category four tropical storms happen in the ............. Ocean. Apart from very strong winds one often associated weather feature of a category four storm is ................." (2 marks) 

Describe - set out the characteristics . It could be an event, feature, pattern, a distribution or a process. 

    e.g. - "Using Figure 9, describe the distribution of areas with existing licences for fracking in the UK." (2 marks) 

        Refer to the figure - place, distance, etc. For example, if describing a landform, say what it looks like, give some indication of size or scale, what is it made of, and where it is in relation to something else. 

Discuss - present key points about different ideas or strengths and weaknesses of an idea. 

    e.g. "Discuss the effects of urban sprawl on people and the environment. Use Figure 3 and a case study of of a major city in the UK. (6 marks)

        How are people effected? The environment? What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects? 

Evaluate - consider several options or arguments and come to a conclusion about their importance/worth.

    e.g. "Evaluate the effectiveness of an urban transport scheme(s) you have studied." (9 marks)

        Demonstrate a clear understanding of your case study. (Where is it? How does it work? When/why was it introduced?) 

Explain - set out the causes, purpose or reasons. 

    e.g. "Using Figure 12 and your own knowledge, explain how different landforms may be created by the transport and deposition of sediment along the coast." (6 marks)

        This usually requires an understanding of a process(es) and features involved. 

Give - produce an answer from recalling information.

    e.g. "Give one condition that is needed for a tropical storm to form." (1 mark)

        This particular question asks for ONE condition. So only give ONE.

Identify - name or otherwise characterise.

    e.g. "Identify the coastal landform in figure 2." (1 mark)

        What is the landform in the image?

Justify - give reasons for the validity of a view or idea why some action should be undertaken. 

    e.g. Transnational corporations (TNCs) only bring advantages to the host country. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your decision. 

Outline - set out the main characteristics.

    e.g. "Outline one way that Fairtrade helps to deal with the problems of unequal development." (2 marks) 

        You need to ensure you develop your point. 

State - express in clear terms

       e.g. "State one characteristic of the course of the River Ouse in grid square 4754." (1 mark)

        Have you used the correct key term? Meander, Ox Bow Lake, etc.   

Suggest- present a possible case

    e.g. "Suggest how the sea defences shown in Figure11 help to protect the coastline." (4 marks)

        What is it? How does it work? How does it protect the sea defences? Develop your points. This command term is similar to "explain". 

To what extent - Form and express a view. What is the importance or success of strategy/scheme/ project, etc. 

    e.g. "To what extent do urban areas in lower income countries (LICs) or newly emerged economies (NEEs) provide social and economic opportunities for people?" (6 marks)

        Think about the opportunities and challenges? Case studies? What is the significance of the different points made?