Same topic, different jobs
Read two questions about the same bus:
"Name one bus company." "Evaluate the bus service in your town."
The topic is the same. The job is not. The first needs one word. The second needs reasons, good and bad points, and a decision.
The first word of a question tells you the job. It is the command word.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Command word | The word at the start of a question that tells you what to do. | Describe, Explain, Evaluate |
| Justification | A reason that supports a point. | because it saves time |
| Conclusion | Your final decision, with a reason. | So I think it is good |
| Point | One clear idea you want to make. | The tool stops double bookings |
| Context | The situation in the question. | a sports club |
| Diagram | A drawing that shows steps or parts. | a flowchart |
| Flowchart | A diagram of steps with arrows. | start, check, book |
| Function | A named piece of code that does one job. | price_for() |
| Test plan | A table of tests: what you try and what should happen. | book hour 21: refused |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
The ten command words
| Command word | What to do | Example about the club tool |
|---|---|---|
| Give, state, name | Say it. A short answer is enough. | Name one thing the tool must store. |
| Identify | Pick the right answer from what you are given. | Identify the court that is free at 10. |
| Write | Write code from the information given. | Write a function that adds two hours. |
| Describe | Say the steps or facts in a sensible order. | Describe how a booking is made. |
| Explain | Make a point and give a reason. | Explain why the tool checks the hour. |
| Explain with extra justification | Make a point, give a reason, then give a reason for the reason. | Explain why a test plan is useful. |
| Discuss | Look at both sides in this situation. No conclusion needed. | Discuss paper books and a booking tool. |
| Evaluate | Weigh good and bad points. End with a decision and evidence. | Evaluate your finished tool. |
| Draw | Make a diagram from the information given. | Draw a flowchart of a booking. |
| Complete | Add what is missing to a diagram. | Complete the flowchart. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
The recipe for Explain
An Explain answer has two parts. First the point. Then the because.
For extra justification, add a third part: so. It says why the reason matters.
Look at the table. Each part is one short sentence.
Worked example: explain, then add more
| Part | What it does | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Says the idea | The tool checks if a court is free. |
| Because | Gives the reason | Because two people cannot use one court at the same time. |
| So | Gives a reason for the reason | So the club has no angry members at the desk. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Quick check: the recipe
Have a go
Quick check: the recipe
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
A guide, not a promise
data-callouts.note.label
The specification says its list is for guidance. Not every paper uses every word. Ask your lecturer which words your assessments use and how long an answer should be.
Write: from words to code
# Question: "Write code that shows the price for 2 hours.
# A member pays 4 pounds an hour."
hours = 2
rate = 4
print(hours * rate)
# Change the numbers and run it again.