CAPS Exam Vocabulary: Understanding Instruction Words

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Understanding Exam Instructions

Exam questions in South Africa use specific action words (also called cognitive verbs or command words) that tell learners exactly what is expected in their answers. Understanding these terms is essential for performing well in CAPS assessments, from School-Based Assessment tasks to the National Senior Certificate examinations.

Misunderstanding an instruction word is one of the most common reasons learners lose marks. A question that asks you to “analyse” requires a very different response from one that asks you to “describe.”

Lower-Order Thinking (Knowledge and Recall)

Term What You Must Do Example
Define Give the exact meaning of a term or concept “Define photosynthesis.”
Identify Name or point out specific information from a source “Identify the dependent variable in the experiment.”
List Write items one below the other without explanation “List three causes of soil erosion.”
Name / State Give the answer briefly without elaboration “Name the capital city of the Western Cape.”
Label Add names to a diagram or illustration “Label the parts of the digestive system.”
Calculate Work out the answer using mathematical operations. Show all working “Calculate the percentage increase in sales.”

Middle-Order Thinking (Application and Analysis)

Term What You Must Do Example
Describe Say what something is like, how it works, or what happened. Give details “Describe the process of mitosis.”
Explain Give reasons for why or how something happens. Use words like “because” and “therefore” “Explain why the reaction rate increased.”
Distinguish Point out the differences between two or more things “Distinguish between weather and climate.”
Compare Show both similarities and differences between two things “Compare the powers of national and provincial government.”
Classify Sort items into groups based on shared characteristics “Classify the following substances as elements or compounds.”
Illustrate Give examples or draw a diagram to make something clearer “Illustrate the relationship between supply and demand using a graph.”
Summarise Give the main points briefly, without detail or examples “Summarise the causes of World War I.”
Account for Explain the reasons or process behind something “Account for the decline in biodiversity in the region.”

Higher-Order Thinking (Evaluation and Synthesis)

Term What You Must Do Example
Analyse Break something into its parts and explain how they relate to each other “Analyse the impact of urbanisation on water resources.”
Evaluate Assess the value or effectiveness of something. Consider strengths and weaknesses “Evaluate the success of South Africa’s land reform programme.”
Argue Present a case for or against a position using evidence and reasoning “Argue whether social media does more harm than good for teenagers.”
Discuss Consider different perspectives or aspects of an issue. Present arguments for and against “Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.”
Justify Give reasons to support a decision, conclusion, or position “Justify your choice of research method.”
Critically evaluate Make a judgement based on evidence. Weigh up the merits and limitations “Critically evaluate the claim that technology always improves learning.”
Suggest Propose a solution or course of action based on your knowledge “Suggest ways to reduce water usage in the school.”

Tips for Using Instruction Words in Exams

  • Underline the instruction word in each question before you start writing
  • Match your answer to the instruction – if the question says “explain,” don’t just “list”
  • Check the mark allocation – a 4-mark “explain” question requires at least four distinct points
  • Use linking words for higher-order questions: “because,” “therefore,” “however,” “on the other hand”
  • Practice with past papers – identify the instruction words and practice giving appropriate responses