IB Command Terms Dictionary
Command terms are the instruction words in IB questions that tell you what kind of answer the examiner expects. Learning them is not only about vocabulary. It is about understanding how to shape your response so it matches the assessment task.
When students lose marks on otherwise familiar content, the problem is often not knowledge but command-term mismatch. This guide helps you spot the difference between similar instructions and respond with the right level of detail, comparison, explanation, or judgment.
Analyse
Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.
Comment
Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation.
Compare
Give an account of the similarities between two or more items.
Contrast
Give an account of the differences between two or more items.
Define
Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity.