Command Term Practice 

Sharpen Exam Technique with Command Term Practice

In IB Chemistry, command terms are more than just instructions — they tell you exactly what kind of response is expected. Practicing with command terms like "describe," "explain," "deduce," "evaluate," or "compare" helps you develop precision in your answers and strengthens your understanding of the content.

Here’s how to use them in revision:

🔹 Turn your checklist statements into questions using different command terms (e.g. “Explain the factors that affect rate of reaction” vs. “State the effect of temperature on rate”)

🔹 Practise writing full responses to each command term — not just defining the concept, but explaining, justifying, or calculating

🔹 Use past paper questions to identify which command terms trip you up

🔹 Create a personal glossary of what each term really requires, with sample sentence starters (e.g. “Describe…” = state observable facts; “Explain…” = give reasons or causes)

Getting comfortable with command terms helps you answer the question accurately, structure your response clearly, and gain marks consistently — especially in Paper 2.