Introduction: When Great Answers Miss the Question
Every IB teacher has seen it — a student writes an insightful, well-structured response but still loses marks because they misunderstood the command term. Whether it’s “evaluate,” “contrast,” or “justify,” these small words carry huge weight in the IB marking scheme.
Command terms determine how students must approach a question, not just what they must know. Yet most students only half-grasp the difference between them until it’s too late.
That’s why RevisionDojo helps teachers make command term mastery a routine part of revision, not a rushed explanation before exams.
Why IB Command Terms Cause Confusion
Command terms seem straightforward, but they involve subtle cognitive differences. Students often blur these lines, leading to incomplete or misaligned responses. Common challenges include:
- Misinterpretation: Students confuse terms like analyze and evaluate.
- Surface-level responses: They address content but not structure or purpose.
- Inconsistent feedback: Teachers explain terms differently across subjects.
- Weak exam training: Command terms are rarely practiced systematically.
- Panic under pressure: Students forget distinctions during timed exams.
Mastery of command terms is a skill — and like any skill, it needs structured, repetitive practice.
Quick Start Checklist: Teaching Command Term Awareness
Here’s how IB teachers can start reinforcing command term understanding immediately:
- Display definitions frequently: Keep command terms visible in your classroom.
- Use mixed examples: Show how the same topic changes under different terms.
- Make it a routine: Begin each lesson with a short command term activity.
- Link to assessment: Highlight how each term aligns with markscheme expectations.
- Encourage self-checking: Train students to identify command terms before planning answers.
These strategies build awareness — but consistency and feedback make mastery stick.
How RevisionDojo Builds Command Term Mastery
RevisionDojo embeds command term understanding directly into every IB practice task. Instead of memorizing definitions, students learn through real, contextual use — reinforced by feedback and analytics.
Here’s how it works:
- Command Term Tagging: Every question clearly displays its command term and cognitive expectation.
- Skill-Based Practice Sets: Students practice questions grouped by command term across multiple topics.
- Instant Feedback: Dojo explains what a perfect response should include for that command term.
- Cross-Subject Consistency: Teachers across disciplines use the same definitions and training framework.
- Performance Analytics: Teachers can track mastery by command term — seeing who struggles with “evaluate” vs “describe.”
This turns vague awareness into measurable understanding.
Example: Fixing Command Term Confusion in IB Biology
An IB Biology teacher noticed students losing marks on “explain” and “evaluate” questions, even though they knew the content. Using RevisionDojo, she created weekly “command term clinics” where students practiced targeted question types.
After one term:
- Misinterpretation errors dropped by 60%.
- Students’ essays aligned more closely with markschemes.
- Confidence during Paper 2 short-answer questions improved significantly.
By exam season, students didn’t just know biology — they knew how to answer IB biology questions correctly.
Teacher Tips for Command Term Success
- Embed terms across all tasks: Treat command terms as a constant focus, not a separate topic.
- Use Dojo’s analytics: Identify patterns — for example, if your class struggles with “contrast” tasks.
- Compare across subjects: Coordinate with other IB teachers to reinforce shared definitions.
- Reward mastery: Track command term growth as a visible part of assessment.
- Reinforce reflection: After each Dojo session, have students note which command term challenged them most.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does RevisionDojo teach command terms?
Each question includes a visible command term, an explanation of what it demands, and feedback aligned with IB markschemes — helping students learn through repetition and reflection.
2. Are the definitions based on official IB terminology?
Yes. RevisionDojo uses the official IB command term glossary for every subject group.
3. Can teachers track progress for individual command terms?
Absolutely. Analytics show mastery rates for each term, helping teachers target weak areas efficiently.
4. Does it support cross-subject teaching?
Yes. Dojo unifies command term understanding across disciplines, ensuring consistency from English to Chemistry.
5. How quickly do students improve?
Most students show measurable improvement after just a few weeks of targeted, term-specific practice within the platform.
Why RevisionDojo Makes Command Terms Click
Command terms are the IB’s hidden language — and understanding them transforms good answers into top-band responses. RevisionDojo helps teachers make that language visible, repeatable, and second nature for every student.
Help your students think — and write — like examiners:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/schools
