Chemistry A Level Command Words

Front 1

List

Back 1

Give a simple inventory

Front 2

State

Back 2

Give a simple response, no need to explain or expand

Front 3

Define

Back 3

Give a formal definition

Front 4

Calculate

Back 4

Do not forget to show your working

Front 5

Describe*

Back 5

A more detailed answer is required, possibly containing diagrams, graphs or tables

Front 6

Explain*

Back 6

Normall used when you are given a fact and asked to explain it, using your chemistry knowledge in your answer

Front 7

Predict*

Back 7

Often used to establish if you know a trend as stated in the specification

Front 8

Outline*

Back 8

Give general principles, not specific facts

Front 9

Sketch

Back 9

Usually applied to graphs where a tend is known but not the exact figures. The clue here is the term sketch, where only the general shape of the curve or gradient of the line is required. Remember that all axes must be labelled

Front 10

Suggest

Back 10

Frequently regarded as the hardest type of question, as you will probably not know the answer before you enter the exam room. Instead, you will be required to use information gleaned from the question as well as from your previous answers in order to come up with a suitable reply. For this type of question there are often many correct answers

Front 11

Discuss

Back 11

This type of question does not often appear in AS exams but when it does, then a fuller, more detailed account is required. You often need to introduce more than one topic into your response for this type of question

Front 12

Determine

Back 12

The quantity cannot be measured directly but is obtained by calculation, substituting values of other quantities into a standard formula