Instruction words

Key words

Command Words

Tell you that you must use an example

or named place, it creates the box inside

which you must answer the question

Are instructions that tell you what you

must write your answer about, they

provide the focus of the question

Tell you what approach to adopt in

answering the question, whether you’ll

be comparing, analysing or justifying

Instruction words tell you that you must:

use examples (named, located)

use a range of examples (two or more)

use country examples (not individuals or businesses)

use examples which might increase energy security

Instruction words form a ‘box’ which sets the boundaries

for your answer. If you stray outside this box, you will not

be answering the question.

Take a close look at the most

commonly used keywords on your

sheet.

RAG them for how likely you were to

have known the meaning without being

given the definition

AS Term A2 Term

State Explain

Describe Compare

Comment on Assess

Explain Evaluate

Suggest reasons Justify

A2 Standard writing requires us to be more

evaluative, we need to use a higher proportion

of words like: although, but, despite,

nevertheless, yet, on the other hand, however

Using a highlighter read through answers A

and B to the energy security question;

highlight uses of evaluative language