VCE Command Terms

What does the command term 'Analyse' require you to do?

• Consider an argument, concept, debate, data point, trend or artefact in a way that identifies assumptions, possibilities and interrelationships.

• Identify components/elements and the significance of the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications; determine logic and reasonableness of information.

• Recognise similarities and differences and the significance of these similarities and differences.

• Derive conclusions from available information or evidence, or through reasoning, rather than through explicit statements.

What does the command term 'Identify' require you to do?

• 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.

• Provide a series of related words, names, numbers or items that are arranged consecutively.

• Make a judgment about, or measure, determine or estimate, the value, quality, outcomes, results, size, significance, nature or extent of something.

• 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.

What does the command term 'Evaluate' require you to do?

• Give an expected result of an upcoming action or event; suggest what may happen based on available information.

• Observe, study or carry out an examination in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

• 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.

• 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.

What does the command term 'Summarise' require you to do?

• Provide an overview or the main features of an argument, point of view, text, narrative, diagram or image.

• Retell concisely the relevant and major details of one or more arguments, text, narratives, methodologies, processes, outcomes and/or sequences of events.

• Present remembered ideas, facts and/or experiences.

• Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or artwork and determine significance within context.

What does the command term 'List' require you to do?

• Draw a conclusion from given information, data, a narrative, an argument, an opinion, a design and/or a plan.

• Derive conclusions from available information or evidence, or through reasoning, rather than through explicit statements.

• Provide a series of related words, names, numbers or items that are arranged consecutively.

• Select relevant and/or appropriate detail from an argument, issue or artefact.

What does the command term 'Discuss' require you to do?

• 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.

• Make a judgment about, or measure, determine or estimate, the value, quality, outcomes, results, size, significance, nature or extent of something.

• Identify components/elements and the significance of the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications; determine logic and reasonableness of information.

• 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.

What does the command term 'Recount' require you to do?

• State reasons for; report on.

• Make a statement or situation more comprehensible.

• Retell a series of events or steps in a process, usually in order.

• Present remembered ideas, facts and/or experiences.

What does the command term 'Interpret' require you do?

• Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or artwork and determine significance within context.

• Derive conclusions from available information or evidence, or through reasoning, rather than through explicit statements.

• 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.

• Show ideas, how something can be done or that something is true by using examples or practical applications, or by applying algorithms or formulas.

What does the command term 'Synthesise' require you do?

• Select relevant and/or appropriate detail from an argument, issue or artefact.

• Present remembered ideas, facts and/or experiences.

• Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or artwork and determine significance within context.

• Combine various elements to make a whole or an overall point.

What does the command term 'Predict' require you do?

• Show, prove or defend, with reasoning and evidence, an argument, decision and/or point of view using given data and/or other information.

• Provide an overview or the main features of an argument, point of view, text, narrative, diagram or image.

• Give an expected result of an upcoming action or event; suggest what may happen based on available information.

• Give a specific name or value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.