How to understand the command word, choose the right response, and avoid losing marks by answering the wrong task.
In IGCSE English Language, the strongest answers are not just written well - they are answered correctly. Before you explain, analyse, compare, or write, you must first decode the question. This skill links directly to exam success because many marks are lost when students write everything they know instead of answering the exact task.
This topic connects all reading and writing questions: command word tells you the action, marks tell you the depth, text references tell you where to look, and exact wording keeps your response focused. If you do this well, you improve AO1 for understanding, AO2 for use of evidence and inference, and AO3 for evaluation in more challenging tasks.
In simple English, it means do not rush. Read the question slowly, underline the key words, and decide exactly what the examiner wants. In exam language, this means identifying the instructional focus, the scope, and the response type.
| What to check | Why it matters | Exam effect |
|---|---|---|
| Command word | Tells you the task | Prevents writing the wrong style of answer |
| One text or both texts | Tells you your evidence base | Stops incomplete responses |
| Marks available | Tells you how much to write | Helps you avoid underdeveloping or overwriting |
| Exact wording | Keeps you focused on the right idea | Improves relevance and precision |
The command word is the action instruction in the question. It tells you what kind of thinking to use. If you misread the command word, you may give a good answer to the wrong question.
| Command word | Plain English meaning | What to do in the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | Find or select | Give the exact information from the text |
| Explain | Show how or why | Give a reason and develop it clearly |
| Analyse | Break into parts and explore effects | Zoom in on words, methods, and their impact |
| Compare | Look for similarities and differences | Use both texts and make direct links |
| Evaluate | Judge how effective something is | Give a balanced judgement with reasons |
| Write | Produce a response in the required form | Match audience, purpose, and register |
Exam tip: If the question says compare, do not just describe one text and then the other separately. You must link them directly.
This is a very common source of lost marks. Some questions ask you to focus on one text only. Others require you to use both texts. The wording will tell you.
| Question type | What it means | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| One text question | Answer only from that text | Bringing in irrelevant details from the other text |
| Two text question | Use both texts and connect them | Writing about them separately with no comparison |
Guided prompt: Ask yourself, Do I need evidence from one source or two? Then highlight the text name or section number before writing.
The number of marks is your built-in guide to answer length and depth. A 2-mark question needs brief, accurate points. A 6-mark or 10-mark question needs fuller explanation, selection of relevant evidence, and clearer development.
| Marks | What examiners usually expect | Best strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Short, precise retrieval | Give direct, exact points |
| 3 to 4 | Several developed points | Explain each point clearly |
| 5 to 8 | Detailed reading, inference, or comparison | Use evidence and develop ideas |
| 9+ | Sustained explanation, analysis, or writing | Plan first, then write with precision |
Simple rule: More marks usually means more developed reasoning, not just more words.
Examiners reward relevance. Strong students keep returning to the exact wording of the question. This means they continuously check: What exactly am I being asked?
Underline the key task word and key topic words.
Example: How does the writer show fear?
Stay focused on show and fear, not on general story retelling.
Writing everything you know about the passage.
This often leads to repetition, irrelevance, and missed marks.
Even though this topic is mainly about exam technique, it supports all assessment objectives. Reading the question carefully is the first step toward meeting the criteria.
| Assessment focus | How careful reading helps | Why it is exam-useful |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 knowledge and understanding | You identify the correct task and relevant information | Prevents inaccurate or incomplete answers |
| AO2 analysis and use of evidence | You select the right evidence and zoom in on details | Improves precision and development |
| AO3 evaluation and judgement | You judge the task requirements before responding | Helps you give a balanced and relevant answer |
Scenario 1: A question asks: How does the writer make the visitor seem worried?
Guided application:
Model answer: The writer makes the visitor seem worried by using anxious language, such as short uncertain sentences and words that suggest hesitation. This creates the impression that the visitor feels nervous and lacks confidence.
Scenario 2: A question asks: Compare how the two writers present the weather.
Guided application:
Model answer: Both writers present the weather as powerful, but one creates excitement through vivid positive description while the other creates discomfort through dark and threatening imagery. This contrast shows that the same topic can be shaped for different effects.
Scenario 3: A 2-mark question asks: Give two reasons why the character left quickly.
Guided application:
Model answer: The character left quickly because they were frightened and because they did not want to be seen.
Since this topic is about exam technique, evaluation means judging how effective the method is for improving marks. Use these reusable evaluative phrases in longer responses about exam strategy.
| Evaluation angle | What to say |
|---|---|
| Strength | Reading the question carefully improves focus and increases the chance of gaining relevant marks. |
| Weakness | It takes time, so students who rush may feel pressured unless they practise it regularly. |
| Effectiveness | This is highly effective because it reduces common exam errors such as answering the wrong task or using the wrong text. |
| Fairness | The exam is fair because the wording and marks are visible, so careful candidates can work out what is required. |
| Reform idea | Students should be trained to annotate questions in practice so that this skill becomes automatic under timed conditions. |
Exam-ready evaluative phrases: This is effective because... / A limitation is that... / Overall, this matters because... / This is especially important when... / However, this can be a problem if...
Best exam habit: In the margin or on the page, write a tiny reminder of the task, such as explain effect, compare both texts, or give two reasons.
Question: Compare how the two writers present the idea of danger.
Model answer:
Both writers present danger as something serious and threatening, but they do it in different ways.
AO1: This shows clear understanding of the task because it identifies the shared idea and the contrast.
In Text 1, the writer uses sharp, vivid details to make danger feel immediate and intense, which makes the reader feel alert.
AO2: This analyses language choice and effect.
In Text 2, danger feels quieter but more unsettling because the writer suggests something is wrong without saying it directly.
AO2: This compares methods and uses inference.
Overall, Text 1 is more dramatic, while Text 2 is more subtle, and I think both are effective because they create danger in ways that suit their different purposes.
AO3: This gives a clear judgement with a reason.
Why this answer is strong: It stays focused on the command word compare, uses both texts, and includes explanation plus judgement.
Use a short revision video to remind yourself how to read questions carefully before practising exam tasks.
If you prefer, replace this embed with a classroom-approved revision video link on question words and exam technique.
Strong English exam answers begin before writing starts. If you read the question carefully, you give yourself the best chance of using the right evidence, the right focus, and the right amount of detail. In other words: understand the task first, then answer it well.