English tests often use common terms and phrases to introduce questions.
Being able to
identify these phrases will help you develop a strong understanding of questions before you
start to answer them. There are two types of questions you will likely encounter:
1. Descriptive Questions – These phrases focus on general descriptions of sources and
often involve on characteristics you can easily identify.
2. Analytical Questions – These phrases focus on developing a deeper understanding of
sources to form your own arguments and opinions.
Descriptive Questions
Compare – focus on the similarities between two sources. You can also discuss the differences
but should focus mainly on similarities. It is often good practice (and often required) to describe
each source and then provide similarities and differences and elaborate on these.
- If ONLY similarities are wanted, then the question will likely explicitly ask for these
similarities.
Clarify – clear up potential confusion/ambiguity on a topic with explanations.
Contrast – provide the differences between sources. Describing each source before providing
these differences is good practice.
Define – provide the exact meaning of a word or phrase.
Describe – provide insight into the main characteristics and details. Focuses on characteristics
rather than meaning. Often entails observable features.
Explain – two types of question.
- “Explain why…” – provide the reasons behind an event or choice with facts and details.
- ”Explain how…” – provide the ways in which a source achieved the goals of the
question.
- “Explain the effect” – provide the ways in which the choice or event contributes to the
meaning of the source or the ways this choice affects the reader/audience.
Explore – ask questions and present all viewpoints on a topic (be objective) before providing
any of your own opinions or arguments.
Identify – provide essential characteristics. Often listed or stated directly without explanations.
Illustrate – use examples to show understanding of a topic and explain further using these
examples.
Outline – provide an organised description of the main, general points of a topic (not details)
Summarise – provide the most important facts from a source in a shortened, concise format
compared to the source itself.
State – Clearly present your point with no elaboration required.
Analytical Questions
Analyse – break up/deconstruct the source into smaller pieces and examine each part in detail.
You are required to BOTH identify and explain these aspects.
Assess – make an informed judgement about the value of a statement or source by weighing up
the positives and negatives of ALL views on the topic. Make sure to make your own thoughts
clear and support these with evidence.
“Critically…” – this is used with another question word such as “Critically assess…” or
“Critically evaluate…”:
- Your answer should be similar to an answer to the second question word. Your answer
should go into further detail with deeper explanations and should also compare the
positives and negatives of the argument.
Discuss – consider ALL aspects of a source. You should provide an in-depth response with
evidence to make a case for different opinions on the topic.
Examine – “look at” in close detail. Focus on specific aspects of a source and provide context
and explanations of these aspects.
Justify – provide evidence for an argument. This evidence should strongly support your
argument and give a basis for why you chose this view on the topic. You should also consider
other viewpoints which disagree with the statement and why they are unsatisfactory.
“To what extent” – These questions often ask, “how much do you agree with this statement”.
This requires identifying key aspects of the argument, formulating your argument with evidence
and explanations to support it, and making a conclusion based on this.
