How to Understand IB Biology Command Terms for Exam Success

🧠 Why Command Terms Matter in IB Biology

Command terms such as define, describe, compare, evaluate, and discuss dictate exactly how examiners expect answers to be structured. Misinterpreting them—even if your content is accurate—can cost marks. RevisionDojo emphasizes their importance for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 responses in biology exams. (revisiondojo.com)

1. Common IB Biology Command Terms Explained

From RevisionDojo's complete biology guide, here’s how key terms should be interpreted:

Define: Provide a formal meaning.
Describe: Summarize characteristics, processes, or features.
Outline: Give a brief, structured overview.
Explain: Clarify how or why something happens—link cause and effect.
Compare: Identify similarities and differences between two concepts.
Evaluate: Assess strengths and weaknesses; draw justified judgments.
Discuss: Explore multiple perspectives and conclude with reasoned opinion. (revisiondojo.com)

RevisionDojo’s general exam strategy article also illustrates how misreading terms like “describe” vs. “explain” leads to incomplete responses. (revisiondojo.com)

2. Apply Command Terms in IB Biology Context

🧬 Examples in Biology Context:

Compare mitosis and meiosis: list similarities (e.g. cell division) and differences (e.g. genetic variation).
Evaluate using enzyme-linked responses versus diffusion assays: weigh advantages and limitations of each method.
Discuss the pros and cons of preserving biodiversity versus allowing human development.

RevisionDojo stresses using command terms as anchors to shape depth and structure in exam responses. (revisiondojo.com)

3. Use Command (Term) Awareness to Boost Exam Technique

Scan the question: Identify the command term first.
Plan accordingly: Choose your answer strategy—brief overview for outline, detailed breakdown for explain or analyze.
Structure answers: Use paragraphs guided by command term expectations (e.g. comparison tables when prompted).
Answer concisely and accurately. Avoid rambling when only description is asked. (revisiondojo.com)

4. Practice Using Command Terms Effectively

Past Paper Practice: As per RevisionDojo guidance, practice with exam-style questions focusing on one command term at a time. Use their question bank and flashcards. (revisiondojo.com)
Self-Check: After answering, re-evaluate whether you truly addressed the command term (e.g. your “describe” wasn’t actually explanatory).
Peer or Tutor Feedback: Swap answers to check interpretation of terms like evaluate or discuss. (revisiondojo.com)

📌 Quick Tips

Command terms determine depth and style of response.
Use RevisionDojo’s command-term methodology guides and practice platform to refine responses. (revisiondojo.com)
Practice every term explicitly rather than guessing what it means.
When evaluating diagrams or data, make sure the way you explain is driven by the command used in the question.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What’s the difference between explain and discuss?
"Explain" requires cause–effect connections; "discuss" involves giving multiple viewpoints before concluding. (revisiondojo.com)

Q2: How should I answer ‘compare’ questions?
Use balanced points showing both similarities and differences—often best in a table format. (revisiondojo.com)

Q3: Can I over-answer a ‘describe’ question?
Yes—describing too deeply when only description is asked can waste time and reduce clarity. (revisiondojo.com)

Q4: How can I practice using command terms?
Use RevisionDojo’s past-question generator, focus on one command term per session, and review markschemes. (revisiondojo.com)

Q5: Are command terms the same across subjects?
In IB, most subjects share core terms (define, evaluate, discuss), but interpretation in Biology relates to scientific depth. Use biology-specific past papers to hone nuance.

Q6: Does RevisionDojo offer term-specific feedback?
Yes—answer feedback highlights whether you addressed the command term properly and flags mismatches. (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com)

✅ Final Thoughts

Mastering IB Biology command terms is a key strategy for securing top marks. By tailoring your answers to exactly what each term instructs—with structure, depth, and clarity—you reduce the risk of losing marks unnecessarily. RevisionDojo’s tools, practice questions, and study guides provide a robust system to study command terms until they become intuitive.

📣 Call to Action

Kick off your command-term mastery today:

Explore RevisionDojo’s flashcards and glossaries for Biology command terms.
Use questionbank and past papers filtered by term type to practice targeted responses.
Review markscheme-style feedback from Jojo AI to refine your term-accurate writing.