In the high-stakes environment of IB exams, students often possess the knowledge to answer a question but lose crucial marks because they misinterpret the command term. These words—”evaluate,” “analyse,” “discuss”—are not just fancy synonyms for “describe”; they are specific instructions from the examiner. Understanding their distinct requirements is one of the most effective ways to boost your score.
This guide breaks down three of the most critical and frequently confused command terms, providing a clear framework for crafting responses that earn top marks.
Why Command Terms Are Your Secret Weapon
IB command terms are standardized across subjects, meaning “analyse” demands the same core skill in Economics as it does in History. They are designed to assess different levels of thinking, from simple recall to critical evaluation. Misreading them is a common and costly error—writing a brilliant description when the question asks for evaluation will cap your score, no matter how insightful your answer.
Mastering these terms transforms your approach to exams. You move from hoping you have the “right” answer to strategically constructing a response that directly hits the mark scheme.
Deconstructing the Big Three: Evaluate, Analyse, Discuss
Let’s dive into the specific meanings, requirements, and common pitfalls for each command term.
1. “Analyse” – The Architect
What it means: To break down a concept, theory, or event into its core components and explain how these parts interrelate and contribute to the whole. It’s about showing the “how” and “why” behind something.
Key Requirements:
- Break it down: Identify the essential elements or steps.
- Explain the relationships: Show how one part leads to or influences another.
- Avoid mere description: Don’t just list the parts; explain their function and connection.
The Pitfall to Avoid: The most common mistake is describing the topic in detail without deconstructing its internal logic or causality. Analysis requires going beneath the surface.
Subject-Specific Examples:
- Economics: “Analyse the impact of an increase in interest rates on an economy.”
- Weak response: Describes what interest rates are.
- Strong response: Breaks down the impact into effects on consumption (decreases due to higher cost of borrowing), investment (decreases as loans are more expensive), and inflation (may decrease due to reduced demand). Explains the chain of causality.
- History: “Analyse the causes of the Cold War.”
- Weak response: Lists ideological differences between the USA and USSR.
- Strong response: Breaks down causes into ideological, political, and economic spheres, and explains how tensions in one sphere (e.g., the Truman Doctrine) exacerbated tensions in another (Soviet expansionism).
2. “Discuss” – The Balanced Debater
What it means: To offer a considered and balanced review of a topic, presenting different perspectives, arguments, or factors. A discussion requires you to explore multiple sides before arriving at a conclusion.
Key Requirements:
- Present multiple viewpoints: This could be for/against, advantages/disadvantages, or different theoretical interpretations.
- Weigh the evidence: Don’t just list opposing views; explain their relative merit or significance.
- Reach a conclusion: Your answer should end with a reasoned judgment based on the evidence you’ve presented.
The Pitfall to Avoid: Presenting only one side of the argument. “Discuss” inherently requires a multi-perspective approach. Another pitfall is failing to structure the answer clearly, leading to a confusing jumble of points.
Subject-Specific Examples:
- Biology: “Discuss the ethical implications of genetic engineering.”
- Weak response: Only argues for the benefits of curing genetic diseases.
- Strong response: Presents benefits (potential cures, improved crop yields) and drawbacks (safety concerns, “designer baby” ethical issues), weighs their importance, and concludes with a nuanced stance.
- Business Management: “Discuss the use of a SWOT analysis for a start-up company.”
- Weak response: Only lists what a SWOT analysis is.
- Strong response: Presents the advantages (simple, provides a strategic overview) and the limitations (subjective, a snapshot in time), and concludes by stating when it is most useful.
3. “Evaluate” – The Judge
What it means: This is the highest-order command term. To make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of a subject. You must make a judgment, based on evidence and a clear set of criteria. Think of yourself as a judge summarizing a case.
Key Requirements:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses: Present the arguments for and against, or the advantages and disadvantages.
- Weigh the evidence: Which side is more significant? Under what conditions?
- Make a final judgment: The key differentiator. Your answer must conclude with a clear, justified verdict. Use phrases like “The most significant factor is…” or “Ultimately, the advantages outweigh the limitations because…”
The Pitfall to Avoid: The cardinal sin when answering an “evaluate” question is to fail to give a final judgment. A list of “good things” and “bad things” without a concluding appraisal is incomplete.
Subject-Specific Examples:
- Psychology: “Evaluate one model of memory.”
- Weak response: Describes the Multi-Store Model and lists its strengths and weaknesses.
- Strong response: Does the above, but then concludes: “While the MSM was foundational in understanding memory structures, its oversimplification and lack of explanation for everyday memory phenomena limit its validity. Therefore, it serves as a basic but incomplete model.”
- Geography: “Evaluate strategies for sustainable urban water management.”
- Weak response: Lists different strategies like rainwater harvesting and desalination.
- Strong response: Analyses the cost, effectiveness, and environmental impact of different strategies and concludes: “While desalination is effective, its high energy cost makes rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling more sustainable for long-term urban planning in most regions.”
Quick-Reference Table: Command Terms at a Glance
| Command Term | Core Question it Answers | Must-Include Element | Final Step |
| Analyse | “How do the parts work together?” | Causal relationships & linkages | An explanation of the system. |
| Discuss | “What are the different viewpoints?” | A balanced presentation of arguments | A reasoned conclusion. |
| Evaluate | “What is the overall value or success?” | Strengths & Limitations | A final, justified judgment. |
Your Action Plan for Exam Success
- Memorize the Definitions: Use the table above as a checklist. Know what each term requires before you walk into the exam hall.
- Keyword Your Answers: As you write, use verbs that signal you are following the command. For “evaluate,” use words like “a key strength is,” “a major limitation is,” “this is ultimately successful because…”
- Practice with Past Papers: The best way to internalize these terms is to apply them. Find past paper questions, identify the command term, and outline or write a full response focused solely on fulfilling that command.
By moving beyond knowledge recall and mastering the language of the IB, you shift from being a passive student to an active exam strategist. You stop losing easy marks and start earning the difficult ones.
Learning the All Round Way
Master the IB exam command terms ‘evaluate,’ ‘analyse,’ and ‘discuss’ with our essential guide to craft high-scoring responses and maximize your marks. If you find yourself needing more guidance, we invite you to connect with us at All Round Education Academy. Our dedicated team is here to support you in achieving your academic goals. For more information, please contact us at tuition@allround-edu.com or +852 6348 8744.