State
Give a specific name, value or brief answer without explanation.
Answer in one precise sentence or value.
IB command terms · Answer construction
Know the verb. Build the response.
Command terms tell you what the question asks you to do. Read the meaning, identify the evidence you need and choose a practice question.
Define
Give the precise meaning of an economic term.
Term = category + distinguishing feature.
Identify
Select or recognise the relevant feature, value or economic concept.
Name the item and, if requested, cite its location or value.
Describe
Give a detailed account of a situation, trend, process or diagram without needing to explain why.
Overall pattern → specific supporting features → exceptions if relevant.
Outline
Give a brief account or summary of the main features.
Main point + essential supporting detail.
Calculate
Obtain a numerical answer and show the relevant stages of working.
Formula → substitution → answer → brief interpretation when useful.
Determine
Obtain the only possible answer from the information provided.
Use the supplied information → state the resulting value or classification.
Draw / Construct
Represent an economic relationship accurately in a diagram.
Axes → original curves → change → new equilibrium → labels/shading.
Distinguish
Make clear the differences between two concepts or situations.
Whereas A…, B…; repeat using matched criteria if needed.
Sketch
Represent the general shape or relationship in a clearly labelled diagram or graph, including the features relevant to the question.
Label axes → draw the essential relationship → add the labels needed to answer the question.
Explain
Give a detailed account including reasons or causes—showing how and why an outcome occurs.
Initial change → behavioural response → curve change → disequilibrium/adjustment → new outcome.
Compare and contrast
Give an account of similarities and differences using common criteria.
Similarity by criterion → difference by the same criterion → economic significance.
Analyse
Break an issue into its economic components and show the relationships between them.
Decompose the issue → apply theory → trace linked effects → interpret the result.
Examine
Consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers assumptions, interrelationships and important issues.
Develop the proposition → inspect assumptions → test against alternatives/evidence → finding.
Discuss
Offer a considered and balanced review including a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses.
Argument → counterargument → conditions/evidence → balanced conclusion.
Evaluate
Make an appraisal by weighing strengths and limitations against explicit criteria.
Set criteria → analyse benefits → analyse limitations → weigh significance → conditional judgement.
Justify
Give valid reasons or evidence supporting a conclusion or decision.
Decision → criteria → supporting analysis/evidence → why alternatives are less suitable.
Recommend
Present an advisable course of action for the given situation and support the choice with relevant economic evidence and reasoning.
Recommendation → applied mechanism → alternative/trade-off → defended policy package.
To what extent
Judge how far a proposition is valid, identifying its limits and the conditions affecting the degree of agreement.
Provisional position → supporting case → limits/countercase → conditions → final degree of agreement.