IGCSE Command Words Decoded: What Examiners Actually Want

The difference between a C and an A often comes down to one word in the question

IGCSE exams test knowledge, but they reward precision. Two students can know the same material and walk out with different grades because one of them misread what the question was actually asking. The culprit, almost every time, is the command word.

Command words are the verbs at the start of exam questions: State, Describe, Explain, Compare, Evaluate. Each one tells you exactly what the examiner expects in your answer, how much depth is required, and roughly how many marks are available. Treat them as instructions, not decoration.

This guide breaks down every IGCSE command word you'll encounter, shows you what examiners are looking for, and explains why mixing them up costs marks.

Why command words matter

Cambridge examiners mark against a scheme that is built around the command word. If the question says "Describe," the mark scheme awards points for observable features. If it says "Explain," the mark scheme expects a mechanism or a reason. Writing a perfect description when the question asks for an explanation earns zero marks for the reasoning component, no matter how accurate the description is.

This is not a trick. It is a communication system. Once you learn it, you can reverse-engineer what the examiner wants before you write a single word.

The command word reference table

The table below covers every command word used across IGCSE Cambridge papers. Keep it nearby during revision.

The traps: where students lose marks

Trap 1: Describing when asked to Explain

This is the single most common mistake across all IGCSE subjects. It costs thousands of students marks every session.

The difference is straightforward: Describe tells you WHAT happens. Explain tells you WHY it happens.

Trap 2: One-sided Compare answers

Compare requires you to address both items together. Writing two separate paragraphs about each topic is not comparing. Examiners look for paired statements.

Trap 3: Skipping the judgement in Evaluate and Discuss

Both Evaluate and Discuss require a conclusion. Students who present balanced arguments but forget to state what they actually think lose the final marks consistently. The mark scheme reserves 1-2 marks specifically for the concluding judgement.

A useful formula: present side A, present side B, then write one sentence starting with "Overall" or "On balance" that makes your position clear and gives one reason for it.

Trap 4: Over-writing for State and Define

State and Define questions carry 1 mark. Writing a paragraph wastes time and sometimes introduces errors that contradict the correct answer. One clear sentence is enough. For State, a phrase will do.

Command words grouped by difficulty

Understanding the hierarchy helps you gauge how much time and depth each question demands.

Higher-level command words appear more frequently on Extended papers and carry more marks. If you are sitting Extended, expect roughly 40-50% of your marks to come from Understanding and Analysis-level questions.

Subject-specific patterns

While the command words are standardised across Cambridge IGCSE, certain subjects lean on specific ones more heavily.

• Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics): Heavy on Explain, Describe, Suggest. Practical papers add Sketch, Draw, and Calculate.
• Mathematics: Calculate dominates, but Show that and Prove require a different approach: every step must be visible, even if the answer is given.
• History: Describe, Explain, and How far do you agree (a variant of Evaluate) carry the bulk of marks. Source-based questions add How useful and How reliable.
• Geography: Describe, Explain, and Suggest appear in nearly every paper. Map-based questions use Identify and Measure.
• English: Analyse and Evaluate feature heavily in reading comprehension. The composition paper uses Describe and Narrate as genre instructions rather than analytical commands.
• Economics and Business Studies: Discuss and Evaluate carry the highest marks. These subjects reward balanced argument more than most.

How to practise command word precision

Reading about command words helps. Practising with them is what changes your grade. Here is a focused method.

1. Highlight the command word in every past paper question before you start writing. This takes two seconds and prevents the most common errors.
2. Check the mark allocation. A 1-mark State question needs a phrase. A 6-mark Discuss question needs structured paragraphs. Let the marks tell you how much to write.
3. Write your answer, then cross-check against the mark scheme. Read the mark scheme's required elements. Did you give reasons when it asked for a description? Did you include a conclusion when it asked you to evaluate? Note the mismatch, not just the content gap.
4. Keep a command word error log. Track which command words you consistently mishandle. Most students find they have one or two recurring weak spots, not a broad problem.
5. Rewrite failed answers using the correct command word response. This is the step most students skip. Rewriting forces your brain to practise the correct pattern, not just recognise it.

Quick-reference card: the six most confused pairs

These pairs cause the most mark loss across IGCSE papers. If you learn nothing else from this guide, learn these distinctions.

Using command words with mark schemes

Mark schemes are written around command words. Understanding this relationship lets you predict how answers will be scored.

For a 4-mark Explain question, the mark scheme typically lists four distinct reasoning points. Each point that links a cause to an effect earns one mark. Simply listing four facts without causal links earns nothing.

For a 6-mark Discuss question, the mark scheme usually allocates 2 marks for arguments in favour, 2 marks for arguments against, and 2 marks for a reasoned conclusion. Omitting any section caps your score, regardless of how well you handle the other sections.

The bottom line

Command words are not ambiguous. Cambridge defines each one precisely, uses them consistently across all IGCSE subjects, and builds mark schemes directly around them. A student who can identify the command word, match it to the correct response type, and deliver that response at the right depth will outperform a student with stronger subject knowledge who ignores these signals.

Start with the six confused pairs above. Practise highlighting command words in past papers. Keep an error log. The improvement is usually rapid because this is a skill problem, not a knowledge problem, and skills respond to targeted practice faster than content gaps respond to re-reading notes.