IB Math exams are not just about solving problems—they’re about understanding exactly what the question is asking you to do. Many students lose marks because they misinterpret command terms such as state, explain, or hence. These keywords determine the level of detail, reasoning, and precision required in your answer.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to decode IB Math command terms effectively using RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder, so you can respond precisely and earn every mark available.
Quick Start Checklist
Before your next paper or practice session, make sure you:
- Understand the meaning of all IB command terms.
- Practice identifying them in past exam questions.
- Know the difference in mark expectations between terms.
- Use RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder to test your interpretation accuracy.
- Review your answers for alignment with command term requirements.
Decoding command terms is one of the simplest ways to raise your exam score quickly.
Why Command Terms Matter
Command terms act as the instructions for your response. They tell you how much explanation, reasoning, or calculation is required. Even perfect math won’t earn full marks if your response doesn’t match the term’s intent.
For example:
- “Calculate” expects a numerical result.
- “Show that” requires full logical working.
- “Explain” demands reasoning and justification.
Understanding this difference prevents careless mark losses.
Step 1: Learn the Key IB Math Command Terms
Here are the most common terms you’ll see and what they mean:
State
Give a brief answer without explanation.
Example: State the value of sin(90°).
Expected answer: 1.
Write down
Similar to state, but typically refers to information you can extract directly from the question.
Example: Write down the gradient of the line y = 3x + 2.
Expected answer: 3.
Find / Calculate
Obtain an answer showing working or use of a method.
Example: Calculate the area under the curve from x = 0 to 3.
Requires: Full solution steps, not just the final number.
Show that
Demonstrate a result through logical and mathematical reasoning.
Example: Show that f(x) = x² + 3x + 2 has no real roots.
Requires: Substitution, justification, and conclusion.
Explain
Provide reasoning that connects mathematical steps clearly.
Example: Explain why the function has a maximum point.
Requires: Conceptual understanding, not just calculation.
Hence / Hence, or otherwise
Use your previous result to solve the next part.
Example: Hence, find the value of k.
Requires: Reference to earlier work—don’t start from scratch.
Deduce
Arrive at a conclusion logically from given information.
Example: Deduce that the sequence converges.
Requires: Reasoning based on established results.
Verify
Confirm that a given value or solution satisfies an equation.
Example: Verify that x = 2 is a solution.
Requires: Substitution and confirmation of truth.
Describe / Interpret
Explain patterns, trends, or implications using words or reasoning.
Example: Describe the behavior of the function as x → ∞.
Requires: Conceptual explanation supported by math.
Knowing these distinctions helps you tailor your response precisely to what examiners expect.
Step 2: Match Command Terms to Mark Weighting
Different command terms correspond to different cognitive levels:
- 1-mark questions: “State,” “Write down.”
- 2–3 marks: “Calculate,” “Find,” “Show that.”
- 4–6 marks: “Explain,” “Hence,” “Deduce,” “Interpret.”
When you see a higher-mark term, prepare for multi-step reasoning and explanation.
Step 3: Practice Identifying Command Terms in Questions
Train yourself to highlight command terms as soon as you start reading a question.
For example:
Q: Show that the tangent to y = 2x² + 3x + 1 at x = 1 has a gradient of 7.
Here, “Show that” signals you must present full working and justification—not just an answer.
RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder automatically highlights command terms in its practice papers and gives instant feedback if your response lacks the required reasoning or explanation.
Step 4: Adjust Your Writing Style to Match the Term
Each term demands a specific tone or structure:
- State/Find: Concise and direct.
- Show/Explain: Step-by-step logical reasoning.
- Hence/Deduce: Build upon previous work; avoid restarting.
- Describe/Interpret: Use clear sentences with supporting evidence.
Learning to shift between these modes improves both communication and clarity marks.
Step 5: Review Mistakes by Command Term
After each past paper or mock, categorize lost marks by term type:
- Did you fail to justify enough for a “show that”?
- Did you over-explain a “state” question and waste time?
- Did you ignore a “hence” and redo unnecessary work?
The Exam Builder can track these trends automatically so you can see which command terms cause you the most trouble.
Step 6: Combine With Time Management
Command terms also affect how much time to spend on a question:
- 1-mark “state” → under 1 minute.
- 2–3-mark “calculate” → 2–4 minutes.
- 4–6-mark “explain/deduce” → 5–8 minutes.
Knowing this balance prevents overthinking simple questions or rushing through complex ones.
Step 7: Use the Exam Builder to Strengthen Command-Term Awareness
RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder includes:
- Built-in command term highlighting in all questions.
- Answer templates based on mark expectations.
- Step-by-step feedback on reasoning depth.
- Question filters sorted by command term type.
- Practice quizzes focused entirely on interpretation accuracy.
By training regularly with these tools, you’ll understand exactly what every question expects before you even start solving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these errors that cost easy marks:
- Ignoring key terms: Leads to incomplete answers.
- Over-explaining simple “state” questions: Wastes time.
- Skipping reasoning for “show that” questions: Loses method marks.
- Misreading “hence” as “find”: Forces unnecessary repetition.
- Writing too generally: Fails to meet IB precision standards.
Every command term signals a specific type of mathematical communication—treat them as your guide.
Reflection: Reading Like an Examiner
When you decode command terms effectively, you begin reading questions the way examiners do. You’ll know instantly what level of reasoning and explanation is expected, allowing you to respond precisely and confidently. Understanding command terms transforms your exam technique from reactive to strategic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How many command terms are in IB Math?
There are around 20 core terms, but roughly 10–12 appear most often across papers.
2. Should I memorize all of them?
Yes. They are standardized and directly linked to assessment rubrics.
4. Are command terms the same for AA and AI?
Yes, though the question style may vary slightly between the two courses.
5. Why do examiners penalize vague answers?
Because each term defines the expected level of reasoning. Precision shows understanding.
Conclusion
Decoding IB Math command terms is one of the simplest ways to improve your exam performance instantly. When you understand what “explain,” “show,” and “hence” truly require, you’ll write answers that align perfectly with examiner expectations.
Using RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder, you can practice interpreting command terms, build accuracy in reasoning, and communicate your mathematical thinking like a top scorer.
RevisionDojo Call to Action:
Read smarter, not harder. Use RevisionDojo’s Exam Builder to master IB Math command terms and deliver precise, confident answers in every exam.
