Each command word tells you what kind of answer earns the marks. If you write everything you know about the topic, you spend time on sentences the marker cannot reward.
This page belongs to the student study resources. The full list of words with subject examples is in the question command reference.
What do the common command words ask for?
| Command word | What to write | Length signal |
|---|---|---|
| State | The fact, with no reason | A word or a short phrase |
| Describe | What you see or what happens, in order | Sentences that match the marks |
| Explain | What happens and why | A reason joined to each point |
| Compare | Similarities and differences, side by side | Both items in each sentence |
The marks in brackets are a size guide. A 2-mark question does not need a paragraph.
One question, three command words
Take the same facts: a student puts a potted plant in a dark cupboard for a week and its leaves turn pale yellow.
- State why the leaves changed colour: “No light.” Or “Chlorophyll was not made.”
- Describe what happened to the plant: “The leaves changed from green to pale yellow after one week in the dark.”
- Explain why: “Without light, the plant could not make chlorophyll, so the green colour faded and less food was produced.”
The facts are the same. The command word decides how much of them you use, and whether you add the “because”.
What is the usual mistake?
The student sees “plant”, “dark” and “week” and writes a full photosynthesis summary. The answer is long and correct, but the marker looks for one linked reason about light and chlorophyll.
The repair is to underline the command word before writing. Then write a single first sentence that answers it directly, and add a second only if the marks need it.
A three-step routine before you write
- Circle the command word and the key noun.
- Look at the marks and count how many separate points you need.
- Write one sentence per point, each starting with a reason or a fact from the question.
For practice, the command word practice coach gives you questions and checks your choice of answer type. After each attempt, compare it with a model using how to learn from a model answer without memorising it.
Try this self-check
Question: “Compare a plant cell and an animal cell.” Write two sentences without looking at your notes.
A weak answer describes each cell in a separate paragraph. A strong answer uses both in one sentence: “A plant cell has a cell wall and chloroplasts, but an animal cell has neither.” Check whether your sentences name both cells.
How can a teacher help?
A teacher working with you one-to-one can give you ten short questions, watch how you read each command word, and stop you before you over-write. You can see what that feels like in the one-hour trial class, from RM50, with the fee agreed before the lesson.