Command words in Higher exam papers!

Here is a table showing some of the command words that are used in the exams. I will give examples later. It is important to answer the correct command word in the right way or you are likely to not be awarded marks.

Do go through past paper questions and get examples of the different command words and then look at the marking instructions and see how they are answered.

response to questions that ask candidates to:
describe, you must provide a statement or structure of characteristics and/or features;
determine or calculate, you must determine a number from given facts, figures or information; You should use numbers given in the question to work out the answer. You should always show your working, as it may be possible for the examiner to award some marks for the method even if the final answer is wrong. Always give the units as the final mark is for the answer and unit.
estimate, you must determine an approximate value for something;
explain, you must relate cause and effect and/or make relationships between things clear. Students should make something clear, or state the reasons for something happening. The answer should not be a simple list of reasons. This means that points in the answer must be linked coherently and logically.All of the stages/steps in an explanation must be included to gain full marks.
identify, name, give, or state, you need only name or present in brief form. Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description. Often it can be answered with a single word, phrase or sentence. If the question asks you to state, give, or write down one (or two etc) examples, you should write down only the specified number of answers, or you may not be given the mark for some correct examples given.
justify, you must give reasons to support their suggestions or conclusions, eg this might be by identifying an appropriate relationship and the effect of changing variables;
predict, you must suggest what may happen based on available information;
show that,  you must use physics [and mathematics] to prove something e.g. a given value – All steps, including the stated answer, must be shown;
suggest, you must apply their knowledge and understanding of physics to a new situation. A number of responses are acceptable: marks will be awarded for any suggestions that are supported by knowledge and understanding of physics.
use your knowledge of physics or aspect of physics to comment on, you must apply your skills, knowledge and understanding to respond appropriately to the problem/situation presented (for example by making a statement of principle(s) involved and/or a relationship or equation, and applying these to respond to the problem/situation). you will be rewarded for the breadth and/or depth of their conceptual understanding.
Use the information in the passage/ diagram/ graph/ table to… The answer must be based on the information given in the question. Unless the information given in the question is used, no marks can be given.
compare This requires you to describe the similarities and/or differences between things, not just write about one. If you are asked to ‘compare x with y’, you need to write down something about x compared to y, using comparative words such as ‘better, ‘more than’, ‘less than’, ‘quicker’, ‘more expensive’, ‘on the other hand.’

Below I have taken examples of the command words contained in the 2015 Revised Higher paper, and given the expected response. I will continue to adjust this as I have time, for now just look over what is expected. You might need to refer to the paper to make sense of the question.

obviously I need a little practice at learning how to format tables, I'll work on that, but I've not been doing this a year yet!
Use a highlighter to underline the command words
Response examples based on the 2015 Revised Higher Paper
(2·2 × 10−25 /1·673 × 10−27 =) 134 (½) (Higgs boson is) 2 orders of magnitude bigger (½) If mass of neutron (1·675 × 10−27) is used, treat as wrong physics – award zero marks. 134 times bigger, (½) only Compare the mass of the Higgs boson with the mass of a proton in terms of orders of magnitude.
(when a) current (½) passes through a p-n junction (½) photons are emitted (1) Describe how an LED operates.
vh = 11·6 cos 40 = 8·9 m s−1 (1) (accept 8·886, 8·89, 9 not 9·0) Calculate the horizontal component of the initial velocity of the shot.
· (total energy remains the same) · the greater the angle the more energy used to lift the put to a greater height before release · less energy available to convert to Ek (½) · Kinetic energy is less (½) This statement is required before ANY marks can be awarded. Using information from the graph, explain the effect of increasing the angle of projection on the kinetic energy of the shot at release.
v = 11·6 m s−1

photon

State the release speed of the shot at this angle.

Name the boson associated with the electromagnetic force.

(an extra particle) the (anti)neutrino (1) would have (some kinetic) energy (1) From this evidence, what conclusion have particle physicists drawn about what happens in beta decay? Justify your answer.
(Constant speed  Þ ) upward force = weight (½) 3 Tcos20 = 1380 (1½) T = 490 (N) If 490N not stated then (1½ max) Show that the tension in each cord is 490 N at this instant.
A physics student notices that the digital clock in the family car loses one minute every six months. The student states “This must be due to time dilation as the car is driven at motorway speeds for much of the time.” Use your knowledge of physics to comment on the student’s statement.

 

On a similar matter, it is important that you don’t use the wrong adverb for a quantity.

Don’t use the terms quicker, slower, faster, for words such as time, acceleration, velocity.

Use terms longer, shorter for time greater than or less than for acceleration and velocity.

To say quicker time, you are talking about relativity! You want to say that the time will be less to do the same action.

…And here are my command words. Do your best, revise as hard as you can. This will be with you for the rest of your life.

 

 

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