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IB Command Terms Explained

Decode what examiners expect from every IB command term - essential knowledge for exam success.

Command terms are the verbs in exam questions that tell you exactly what examiners expect. Understanding the difference between 'describe' and 'explain', or 'analyse' and 'evaluate', is crucial for exam success. Many students lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because they misinterpret what the question is asking. Our command term guides break down each term with examples, structures, and subject-specific applications to help you maximise your exam marks.

Key Takeaways

  • The command term tells you what to do with your knowledge
  • Higher-level terms (evaluate, analyse) require judgement, not just facts
  • Check the mark allocation - more marks means more development expected
  • Practise with past papers and study markscheme expectations
  • Misinterpreting a command term costs more marks than knowledge gaps

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