Which Words Examiners Use To Test A Specific Area Of Knowledge?

WORDS IN EXAM QUESTIONS TO TEST PARTICULAR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Level: Advanced

Which Words Examiners Use To Test A Specific Area Of Knowledge?

Examiners often use specific words in questions to test particular areas of knowledge. By using these specific words in questions, examiners can target different cognitive skills and assess the depth of understanding in various areas of knowledge.

 Here are some words normally used by examiners to test your knowledge :

1. Define: This word requires the test-taker to provide a clear and precise explanation or meaning of a concept or term.
2. Explain: This word prompts the test-taker to elaborate on a concept, providing details, examples, and possibly a rationale or reasoning behind it.
3. Compare: This word indicates that the test-taker should identify similarities and differences between two or more concepts, theories, or entities.
4. Contrast: This word is similar to “compare,” but it specifically focuses on highlighting differences between two or more items.
5. Discuss: This word requires a comprehensive analysis of a topic, including different perspectives, arguments, and possibly implications or consequences.
6. Evaluate: This word instructs the test-taker to assess the strengths, weaknesses, and overall significance of a particular concept, theory, or argument.
7. Analyze: This word requires breaking down a complex topic into its constituent parts, examining each part in detail and exploring their relationships.
8. Interpret: This word prompts the test-taker to offer their understanding or interpretation of a text, data, or situation, often considering context and perspective.
9. Illustrate: This word asks for examples or instances that demonstrate or support a given concept or argument.
10. Apply: This word requires the test-taker to use their knowledge or understanding of a concept to solve a problem or address a specific scenario.

Here are examples of each word :

Define:

Please define the term “democracy” in your own words.

Explain:

Can you explain the process of photosynthesis?

Compare:

Compare and contrast the characters of Romeo and Juliet.

Contrast:

Contrast the differences between a cat and a dog.

Discuss:

Discuss the impact of globalization on culture.

Evaluate:

Evaluate the effectiveness of social media in communication.

Analyze:

Analyze the causes of climate change.

Interpret:

Interpret the meaning of this poem.

Illustrate:

Can you illustrate the concept of supply and demand with an example?

Apply:

Apply the principles of physics to solve this problem.

Here are the words in a table for a quick revision:

Word	Description	Example
Define	This word requires the test-taker to provide a clear and precise explanation or meaning of a concept or term.	Please define the term “democracy” in your own words.
Explain	This word prompts the test-taker to elaborate on a concept, providing details, examples, and possibly a rationale or reasoning behind it.	Can you explain the process of photosynthesis?
Compare	This word indicates that the test-taker should identify similarities and differences between two or more concepts, theories, or entities.	Compare and contrast the characters of Romeo and Juliet.
Contrast	This word is similar to “compare,” but it specifically focuses on highlighting differences between two or more items.	Contrast the differences between a cat and a dog.
Discuss	This word requires a comprehensive analysis of a topic, including different perspectives, arguments, and possibly implications or consequences.	Discuss the impact of globalization on culture.
Evaluate	This word instructs the test-taker to assess the strengths, weaknesses, and overall significance of a particular concept, theory, or argument.	Evaluate the effectiveness of social media in communication.
Analyze	This word requires breaking down a complex topic into its constituent parts, examining each part in detail and exploring their relationships.	Analyze the causes of climate change.
Interpret	This word prompts the test-taker to offer their understanding or interpretation of a text, data, or situation, often considering context and perspective.	Interpret the meaning of this poem.
Illustrate	This word asks for examples or instances that demonstrate or support a given concept or argument.	Can you illustrate the concept of supply and demand with an example?
Apply	This word requires the test-taker to use their knowledge or understanding of a concept to solve a problem or address a specific scenario.	Apply your understanding of Newton’s laws to explain the motion of a falling object.