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Glossary of Key Verbs

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  • What should you include when justifying an answer?
    A clear decision or claim supported by relevant scientific evidence and reasoning.
  • A question asks you to describe an investigation. Should you evaluate whether it was valid?
    Not unless the question specifically asks you to. Focus on the characteristics/features of the investigation.
  • What does derive mean?
    Obtain a result or expression using known information, principles or equations.
  • A question asks you to compare two investigations. What should your response contain?
    Similarities AND differences, supported by relevant evidence.
  • What does determine mean?
    Establish or find an answer using evidence, calculations or reasoning.
  • What is the key feature of an assess response?
    It must make a judgement, supported by relevant evidence.
  • A question asks you to explain why an investigation was reliable. What must you do?
    Give reasons explaining how features of the investigation produced consistent results.
  • What does justify mean?
    Provide reasons and evidence to support a conclusion or decision.
  • What does demonstrate mean?
    Show clearly, using evidence, examples or reasoning, that something is true or occurs.
  • A student writes a list of facts for a question beginning with evaluate. What is missing?
    A judgement supported by evidence and consideration of strengths, weaknesses, effectiveness or limitations.
  • What does interpret mean?
    Explain the meaning or significance of information, data, graphs or results.
  • What does assess mean?
    Make a judgement about the value, importance, effectiveness or quality of something using evidence.
  • What does critically analyse require?
    Detailed analysis that considers evidence, strengths, weaknesses, limitations, assumptions and significance.
  • What does recommend mean?
    Suggest a course of action based on evidence and reasoning.
  • What does state mean?
    Give a specific piece of information or answer without necessarily providing an explanation.
  • What does distinguish mean?
    Identify the differences between similar concepts, objects or processes.
  • What is the difference between describe and explain?
    Describe says what happens; explain says how or why it happens.
  • What does relate mean?
    Show the connection or relationship between ideas, concepts or pieces of information.
  • What is the most important thing to remember about HSC key verbs?
    The verb tells you how deeply you need to respond and what the marker is looking for.
  • A question asks you to assess the validity of an investigation. What must you do?
    Make a judgement about whether the investigation tested what it was intended to test, using evidence.
  • What does clarify mean?
    Make an idea or concept clear by explaining it more precisely.
  • What does discuss mean?
    Identify issues and provide points for and/or against, supported by evidence.
  • If an HSC question says analyse, should you simply describe the information?
    No. You must break the information into parts and explain relationships, patterns or significance.
  • A question asks you to justify which investigation is better. Is simply choosing one enough?
    No. You must make a choice and support it with scientific evidence and reasoning.
  • What does describe mean?
    Provide characteristics or features of something.
  • What is the difference between assess and describe?
    Describe provides characteristics; assess requires a judgement supported by evidence.
  • What does account for mean?
    Give reasons or explanations for why something occurs.
  • What does calculate mean?
    Work out a numerical answer using mathematical operations and appropriate data.
  • What does evaluate mean?
    Make a judgement based on criteria and evidence about the value, effectiveness or limitations of something.
  • What does compare mean?
    Identify similarities and differences between two or more things.
  • What does analyse mean?
    Identify components and examine their relationships to determine meaning or significance.
  • A question asks you to evaluate a scientific claim. What should you consider?
    Evidence supporting and challenging the claim, reliability, validity, limitations and the strength of the overall evidence.
  • What does explain mean?
    Provide reasons and/or mechanisms to show how or why something occurs.
  • What does review mean?
    Examine and summarise information, often considering its strengths, weaknesses or significance.
  • What does investigate mean?
    Carry out a systematic inquiry to gather and analyse evidence to answer a question.
  • What does summarise mean?
    Give a brief statement of the main points or ideas.
  • What is the difference between analyse and summarise?
    Analyse examines components and relationships in detail; summarise gives only the main points.
  • What is the difference between assess and evaluate?
    Both require judgement; evaluate particularly focuses on value, effectiveness, strengths and limitations against criteria.
  • When asked to calculate, should you show your working?
    Yes. Show the formula, substitution, working and appropriate units where relevant.
  • If asked to describe a graph, what should you include?
    Important patterns, trends, relationships and relevant data from the graph.
  • Does a discuss question always require a final judgement?
    Not necessarily, although a concluding statement can strengthen the response.
  • What does outline mean?
    Give a brief account of the main features or general ideas.
  • What does propose mean?
    Put forward an idea, explanation, method or solution for consideration.
  • Is an outline response expected to contain extensive detail?
    No. It should provide the main points concisely.
  • What does identify mean?
    Recognise and name the relevant feature, factor, characteristic or item.
  • What does predict mean?
    Suggest what is likely to happen based on patterns, evidence or scientific knowledge.
  • What does contrast mean?
    Identify differences between two or more things.
  • What does discriminate mean in an HSC question?
    Distinguish between different factors, features, ideas or pieces of information.
  • What is the difference between explain and justify?
    Explain gives reasons for how/why something occurs; justify supports a decision, conclusion or claim with evidence and reasoning.
  • What does examine mean?
    Investigate closely and consider the relevant evidence, relationships and implications.
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