Examiners' Terms
Analyse: To break down complex issues, ideas and processes into component parts and to recognise how the various parts are related.
Argue: Candidates are required to use the evidence and concepts to make a case and to draw conclusions -arguments must be defended with facts.
Assess: The candidate is required to make an informed judgement about how good/effective something is - assessment is based on an awareness of the strengths and limitations of the quote/information/argument. The candidate would be expected to present a considered appraisal.
Consider: Requires candidates to think carefully about a proposition or statement, discuss its merits and offer a reasoned conclusion.
Compare: Requires candidates to point out similarities or likenesses between things. In practice, this may also involve pointing out contrasts or differences between things.
Criticise: Requires candidates to show an awareness of the weaknesses of the specified argument/method/perspective.
Describe: Requires the recall of facts, events, processes etc., in an accurate and detailed way. Requires candidates to give an account of what something looked like, or what happened.
Discuss: Requires description and evaluation by reference to different points of view.
Evaluate: Requires candidates to give a judgement or opinion as to the worth of something. Judgements should be reasoned, and whenever possible be supported by arguments or facts from sources such as books, articles or newspapers.
Examine: This requires candidates to look closely and analytically at a statement, test any proposition it contains and offer a reasoned conclusion.
Explain: This requires candidates to make something clear or to state the reasons for something.
Identify: Candidates should recognise, establish and indicate the information or examples given.
Illustrate: Candidates should provide examples to explain a statement.
Interpret: This requires candidates to explain the meaning of facts.
Outline: Requires candidates to offer a summary, such as a brief description of the specified perspective/method/research.
Reproduced from ėSocial Science: Citizenship Advanced Subsidiary Teachers' Guideķ.
Dr Peter Jepson (17th Sept 2000).