Command words are words in exam questions that give you clues on what the examiners are looking for.
Depending on the command word, your answer to a
... [Show More] question will be very different.
There are four main ones you’ll come across; give, describe, explain and evaluate.
Give what is in the picture.
For this answer, you simply need to state using one or two words what is in the picture
A dress
Describe what is in the picture.
For this answer, you need to tell the examiners what it looks
like or recall an event or process
An orange halter neck dress with a pale band around the waist.
Explain what is in the picture.
For this answer, you need to give reasons why something is the way it is
The dress is a summer dress, so it has a halter neck, it is from the 1950s and shows the style at the time.
Evaluate what is in the picture.
Here you need to give good points, bad points, your opinion and justify your opinion
• This dress is good because it is made from a light fabric so will be cool in summer
• This dress is bad because the colour is too bright
• Overall, I think this is a good dress…
• … because it is well suited to the purpose of being a summer dress.
Glossary of exam command words
Calculate/ Determine - use maths to work out the answer
Choose - circle the answer from the selection
Compare - what the similarities and differences are
Complete - fill in the gaps - pay attention to any given words, some may be used more than once some not at all
Define - what does the word mean?
Describe - what it looks like, or recall an event or process
Design/ Plan – something
Draw - a scientific diagram, not an arty sketch
Estimate - give a sensible guess
Evaluate - give good points, bad points your option and justify your opinion
Explain - give reasons why something is the way it is
Give/Name - a short answer
Identify/Label - name a part
Justify – give an answer and support it with a reason
Measure - you might need to get your ruler out for this one
Plan - write a method, don’t forget your variables, controls and risk assessment
Plot - mark points on a graph using an x
Predict/suggest - what do you think is going to happen, you may need to use information from the question and knowledge from class
Show - give evidence and come to a conclusion
Sketch - a rough drawing, a graph doesn’t always need number labels on the axis,
but it must be an accurate representation
How to answer long-answer questions
1. Identify the command word; this tells you what the examiners are looking for. This is generally describe, explain or evaluate.
2. Go back over the question and use different colour highlighter pens to pick out key bits of information.
3. Plan the structure of your question. Table, paragraphs, diagram.
4. Write your answer
5. Check your answer fully answers the question, make sure is it balanced and cover all the points asked for in the question.
6. Check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Exam dates
Dates might be changed by AQA
Exam Duration of
exam 2019 exam dates
AS Paper 1 1hr30 21 May 2019 PM
AS Paper 2 1hr30 24 May 2019 AM
A level Paper 1 2hrs 6 June 2019 AM
A level Paper 2 2hrs 13 June 2019 AM
A level Paper 3 2hrs 17 June 2019 AM
Papers:
There is no higher, foundation, doubles or triples paper in A-level. There is only one paper for all students.
If you take papers at the end of AS and again at A-Level, you will take a total of 5 papers.
You do not HAVE to take the ones at the end of AS (as they do not count towards the A-Level mark), but they will help to get you ready for what is to come and give you an indication of the level at which you are working. General prediction is that you will get 1 grade less in A-level than in AS unless you work really really hard.
If you take the papers at the end of AS and then drop Biology, at least you will have an AS-Level grade in Biology.
AS Papers:
• Paper 1: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 1hr30mins; 75 marks, 50% of AS grade. 65 marks of short answer questions; 10 marks of long comprehension questions.
• Paper 2: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 1hr30mins; 75 marks, 50% of AS grade. 65 marks of short answer questions; 10 marks of long comprehension questions.
A level Papers:
• Paper 1: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 2hrs; 91 marks, 35% of A level grade. 76 marks a mix of long and short answer questions; 15 marks of extended response question.
• Paper 2: Content and practical work from Topics 5-8. 2hrs; 91 marks, 35% of A level grade. 76 marks a mix of long and short answer questions; 15 marks of extended response question. [Show Less]