Command Word

Quick Definition

How it is...

Understanding and Recognition skills

Describe

To simply, but clearly, get across to the examiner what’s going on in a business situation.

Identify

To pick out, from case material or your own knowledge, key features of a business situation.

State

To make a list.

Why it is.....

Application and Analysis Skills

Analyse

To look into a business problem and clearly pick out the key features of the problem.

Examine

Similar to analyse - to pull a problem apart and see what makes the problem or business situation tick. To do some detective work!

Explain

Somewhere between describe and analyse: to not only describe a situation but clearly communicate why the situation is as it is - to give, if you like, a clear set of instructions.

Should it be..?

Evaluation Skills

Discuss

To examine a complex problem and see more than one view of it. To see the different sides of the problem.

Evaluate

To look at a solution to a business problem and assess just how good a solution it is, considering alternative solutions

Justify

To back up or support a proposed solution to a business problem, explaining why this solution is better than the alternative solutions.