Understanding exam command terms is essential for success in IB Digital Society. Many students lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because they misunderstand what the question is asking them to do. Command terms guide how responses should be structured, how deep analysis should go, and what examiners are looking for in a high-scoring answer.
This article explains the most important exam command terms used in IB Digital Society and how students should respond to them effectively.
Why Command Terms Matter in IB Digital Society
IB Digital Society is an analytical subject. Examiners assess not just what students know, but how they apply concepts, analyze digital systems, and evaluate impacts and implications.
Command terms matter because they:
- Define the level of thinking required
- Signal how much explanation or evaluation is expected
- Determine whether description or judgment is needed
Misinterpreting a command term often leads to answers that are too simple or unfocused.
Describe
Describe requires students to give a clear account of what is happening. This command term focuses on factual explanation without analysis or judgment.
In Digital Society, describing might involve:
- Outlining how a digital system operates
- Identifying key features of a system
To score well:
- Be clear and specific
- Avoid explanation of causes or impacts
- Stick to observable details
Description alone rarely earns high marks unless combined with higher-level command terms.
Explain
Explain goes beyond description by requiring reasons or mechanisms. Students must show how or why something happens.
