Exam mark scheme command words tell examiners exactly what kind of thinking to reward: "describe" earns marks for accurate detail, "explain" earns marks for reasoning ("because…"), and "evaluate" earns marks for a weighed-up judgement. Mark schemes assign points to each of these skills separately, so writing in the wrong register — describing when the question says explain — loses marks even if the content is correct.
Why command words control your marks
GCSE mark schemes are not vague — they are built from levelled or point-based criteria tied directly to the verb in the question. Examiners at AQA, OCR, Edexcel and WJEC/Eduqas train to specific mark-scheme wording, and each command word maps to a distinct skill the specification is testing (usually called an "assessment objective" or AO). A student can know the content perfectly and still drop marks by answering in the wrong style — for example, writing three separate facts when the question asks for one fact fully explained.
Command words exist because exam boards need every student's answer marked the same way regardless of who marks it. That consistency only works if the verb in the question links to a specific, checkable action in the mark scheme.
How mark schemes are actually written
Most GCSE mark schemes fall into two structures:
| Structure | How it works | Typical subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Points-based (indicative content) | Each valid point in a list scores 1 mark, up to a cap | Maths, Science short-answer, RS short-answer |
| Levels-based (level of response) | Answers are placed in a level (e.g. Level 1–4) based on overall quality, then a mark within that level's band | English, History, Geography, Science 6-markers |
In a points-based scheme, the command word tells you how much detail each point needs to score. "State" or "identify" scores a mark for a bare fact; "describe" needs that fact expanded with detail; "explain" needs the fact plus a reason or mechanism linked with a connective like "because," "this means," or "which leads to."
In a levels-based scheme, the command word sets the ceiling. A question asking students to "evaluate" cannot reach the top level with description alone, no matter how detailed — the mark scheme explicitly requires a supported judgement to access Level 3 or 4.
The core command words, decoded
Describe vs explain vs evaluate
These three cause the most lost marks because students often already know the content — they just don't shift register.
| Command word | What the mark scheme rewards | What loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Describe | Accurate detail of what happens, in sequence or with specifics (numbers, features, stages) | Saying why it happens instead of what happens |
| Explain | A stated point plus a reason, cause, or mechanism — "X happens because Y" | Description without any linking reason |
| Evaluate | A judgement (how far, how effective, how significant) supported by weighed evidence on more than one side | A one-sided answer, or a judgement with no supporting reasoning |
A useful test: if you removed the word "because" (or an equivalent — "as a result," "this leads to," "due to") from your answer, would it still make sense? If yes, you have described, not explained.
Other frequent command words
| Command word | What to do |
|---|---|
| Define / State / Identify | Give a precise fact or term — no elaboration needed, but it must be exact |
| Compare | Address two (or more) things directly against each other, using linking language like "whereas" or "similarly" — not two separate paragraphs |
| Analyse | Break something into parts and show how those parts relate or contribute to the whole |
| Justify | Give reasons that support a specific viewpoint or decision, showing why it is the stronger option |
| Discuss | Present more than one viewpoint or factor before reaching a conclusion |
| Calculate | Show working; the mark scheme usually awards method marks separately from the final answer mark |
| To what extent… | Evaluate-style: requires a supported judgement on a scale, not a yes/no answer |
Command words are broadly consistent across AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC/Eduqas, but exact wording of the assessment objectives can differ slightly by subject and specification — always check the command-word glossary in your own subject's specification document, published by the exam board.
How examiners award points per command word
For a typical 6-mark "explain" question marked by levels, the mark scheme usually breaks down like this:
- Level 1 (1–2 marks): Isolated or descriptive points, little or no linking reasoning.
- Level 2 (3–4 marks): Some points explained with a clear reason, but the answer may be partial or lack development.
- Level 3 (5–6 marks): Multiple points, each explained with a developed reason, forming a coherent, connected argument.
For an "evaluate" question, examiners additionally check for:
- A clear overall judgement (not sitting on the fence).
- Evidence or reasoning on both sides of the argument before the judgement is made.
- A conclusion that follows logically from the points raised, rather than appearing out of nowhere.
Points-based mark schemes for shorter questions (2–4 marks) usually list acceptable answers or alternative phrasings examiners are trained to accept, with a note like "accept any other valid point" — so unusual but correct answers can still score.
A quick answer-planning method
- Underline the command word in the question before reading anything else.
- Note the mark allocation — it signals how many separate points or how much development the mark scheme expects (a 1-mark question wants one precise fact; a 6-mark "explain" or "evaluate" wants multiple developed points).
- Match your sentence structure to the verb — use "because/this means" for explain, weigh both sides then conclude for evaluate, use comparative connectives for compare.
- Check your final sentence answers the actual command — especially for "to what extent" and "evaluate," where a summary judgement is often a required, separately-marked point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between describe and explain in a GCSE mark scheme?
"Describe" rewards accurate detail about what something is or what happens, without needing a reason. "Explain" rewards that same detail linked to a cause or reason using a connective such as "because" or "this means." A mark scheme will not award explain-level marks for a purely descriptive answer, even if the facts stated are correct.
How are GCSE mark schemes for 6-mark questions structured?
Most 6-mark questions, especially for "explain," "evaluate," or "discuss," use a levels-based (level of response) mark scheme with typically three levels. Examiners first decide which level the answer's overall quality fits, then choose a specific mark within that level's range based on how fully the response meets the level's descriptors.
Do all exam boards use the same command words?
The core command words — describe, explain, evaluate, compare, analyse, justify — are used consistently across AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC/Eduqas, and Ofqual's regulatory framework encourages this shared language. However, the exact assessment-objective wording behind each command word can vary slightly by subject and specification, so students should check their own exam board's command-word glossary rather than assume it is identical everywhere.
Can I lose marks for good content if I use the wrong command-word structure?
Yes. Mark schemes tie marks to demonstrating a specific skill (fact, reasoning, or judgement), not just to stating correct information. A factually correct but purely descriptive answer to an "explain" question will be capped at description-level marks, because the reasoning the mark scheme requires is simply not present on the page.
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