VCE glossary of command terms

Have you ever found it confusing when the command term ‘compare‘ means one thing in a certain subject, but is different in another subject? Worry no more – VCAA have released a glossary of command terms commonly used across VCE Study Designs and VCE examinations. We’ve bolded the ones that we commonly see in SACs and end-of-year exams:

Term	Explanation
account of	Describe a series of events or transactions.
account for	State reasons for; report on.
analyse	Identify components/elements and the significance of the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications; determine logic and reasonableness of information.
apply	Use; employ in a particular situation or context.
assess	Make a judgment about, or measure, determine or estimate, the value, quality, outcomes, results, size, significance, nature or extent of something.
calculate	Determine from given facts, figures or information; obtain a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working; determine or find (e.g. a number, answer) by using mathematical processes.
clarify	Make a statement or situation more comprehensible.
compare	Recognise similarities and differences and the significance of these similarities and differences.
construct	Make, build, create or put together by arranging ideas or items (e.g. an argument, artefact or solution); display information in a diagrammatic or logical form.
contrast	Show how things are different or opposite.
deduce	Draw a conclusion from given information, data, a narrative, an argument, an opinion, a design and/or a plan.
define	Give the precise meaning and identify essential qualities of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity.
demonstrate	Show ideas, how something can be done or that something is true by using examples or practical applications, or by applying algorithms or formulas.
describe	Provide characteristics, features and qualities of a given concept, opinion, situation, event, process, effect, argument, narrative, text, experiment, artwork, performance piece or other artefact in an accurate way.
discuss	Present a clear, considered and balanced argument or prose that identifies issues and shows the strengths and weaknesses of, or points for and against, one or more arguments, concepts, factors, hypotheses, narratives and/or opinions.
distinguish	Make clear the differences between two or more arguments, concepts, opinions, narratives, artefacts, data points, trends and/or items.
evaluate	Ascertain the value or amount of; make a judgment using the information supplied, criteria and/or own knowledge and understanding to consider a logical argument and/or supporting evidence for and against different points, arguments, concepts, processes, opinions or other information.
examine	Consider an argument, concept, debate, data point, trend or artefact in a way that identifies assumptions, possibilities and interrelationships.
explain	Give a detailed account of why and/or how with reference to causes, effects, continuity, change, reasons or mechanisms; make the relationships between things evident.
extract	Select relevant and/or appropriate detail from an argument, issue or artefact.
extrapolate	Infer and/or extend information that may not be clearly stated from a narrative, opinion, graph or image by assuming existing trends will continue.
identify	Recognise and name and/or select an event, feature, ingredient, element, speaker and/or part from a list or extended narrative or argument, or within a diagram, structure, artwork or experiment.
infer	Derive conclusions from available information or evidence, or through reasoning, rather than through explicit statements.
interpret	Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or artwork and determine significance within context.
investigate	Observe, study or carry out an examination in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
justify	Show, prove or defend, with reasoning and evidence, an argument, decision and/or point of view using given data and/or other information.
list	Provide a series of related words, names, numbers or items that are arranged consecutively.
name	Provide a word or term (something that is known and distinguished from other people or things) used to identify an object, person, thing, place etc.
outline	Provide an overview or the main features of an argument, point of view, text, narrative, diagram or image.
persuade	Induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument; convince.
predict	Give an expected result of an upcoming action or event; suggest what may happen based on available information.
propose	Suggest or put forward a point of view, idea, argument, diagram, plan and/or suggestion based on given data or stimulus material for consideration or action.
recall	Present remembered ideas, facts and/or experiences.
recommend	Put forward and/or approve (someone or something) as being suitable for a particular purpose or role.
recount	Retell a series of events or steps in a process, usually in order.
state	Give a specific name or value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.
suggest	Put forward for consideration a solution, hypothesis, idea or other possible answer.
summarise	Retell concisely the relevant and major details of one or more arguments, text, narratives, methodologies, processes, outcomes and/or sequences of events.
synthesise	Combine various elements to make a whole or an overall point.

Use this glossary as the basis of your understanding for what certain command terms require of you in VCE Assessments – both SACs and end-of-year exams. This will ensure that you are answering the question in the way that VCAA is directing you to, so you can earn the maximum number of marks for your answer.

Still, please note that there will be subject-specific differences in the use of these command terms; a question asking you to ‘interpret‘ a quote in English will be very different to another question asking you to ‘interpret‘ a graph in another subject. For more subject-specific exam tips and tricks, look out for the ACED Exam Revision Lectures in September each year, by signing up to our mailing list:

ACED wishes you the best VCE exam success!