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exam command words

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: exam command words

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about exam command words. Then check against the key terms: key terms from exam command words. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from exam command words.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: exam command words. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Engineering because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of exam command words

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about exam command words.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: exam command words

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on exam command words. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: State: give a brief factual answer without explanation.
Key Fact: Describe: give a detailed account of what something is or how it works.
Key Fact: Explain: give reasons or causes - say how AND why.
Key Fact: Compare: identify similarities AND differences between two or more items.
Key Fact: Evaluate: weigh up strengths and weaknesses and make a justified judgement.
Key Fact: Justify: give reasons to support a decision or choice.

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of exam command words

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: exam command words

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from exam command words. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: exam command words

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Exam-Style Question

Attempt a past-paper style question on exam command words from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Underline the command word before answering - it tells you exactly what structure is needed. | Explain = how + why; Describe = what only; Evaluate = strengths + weaknesses + judgement. | Compare requires structured comparative sentences (X is... whereas Y is...). | Justify answers must start with a clear choice, then support it with specific reasons. | For calculate questions, always write the formula, substitute values, show working and state units.
Common Errors: ✗ Answering explain the same as describe. ✓ Explain requires reasons AND mechanisms (how and why); describe only requires an account of what happens. ✗ Writing everything you know regardless of the command word. ✓ You must answer the specific command word: compare needs similarities and differences, not just descriptions. ✗ Giving a judgement without evidence in an evaluate answer. ✓ An evaluation judgement must be supported by strengths and weaknesses; an unsupported opinion gains no marks. ✗ Only listing differences in a compare answer. ✓ Compare requires both similarities AND differences; listing only differences is incomplete.
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how exam command words connects to another Engineering topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of exam command words
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in exam command words?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)