IB Command Terms Examples: How to Answer Evaluate, Discuss, Justify, Compare & Outline

23rd October, 2026 | Abhishek Malani | 10 Min Read
Introduction
Every IB examiner will tell you the same thing: students rarely lose marks because they don’t know the content. They lose marks because they answered a different question than the one asked. “Outline” gets treated like “explain”. “Discuss” turns into a one-sided rant. “Evaluate” becomes a summary with a hopeful last line. The command term, the first word of the question, tells you exactly what kind of thinking earns the marks.
This page is all about worked examples: what a strong answer to each of the most-tested IB command terms actually looks like, across subjects, and how the marks available change the shape of your answer. Built by Quest for Success to sharpen your revision with top-mark strategies. If you need the formal definitions, head to our live command terms page, linked at the end. No fluff, just answers you can model.
IB command terms examples explaining evaluate, discuss, compare, and other exam instructions, with guidance on answering based on marks available.

The 4-Step Method for Any Command Term

  • Circle the term, It’s the instruction, not decoration.
  • Check the marks, They tell you how many distinct points you need and how much depth.
  • Match the depth to the term, Outline is brief; evaluate needs a judgement.
  • Answer in the right structure before adding detail, so every sentence earns something.
Always check the command term list in your own subject guide, since a few terms are worded slightly differently by subject.
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Outline: Brief and Precise

Outline asks for a short account of the main points, with no deep explanation or evaluation.
Biology (2 marks): Outline the role of helicase in DNA replication.
Weak Answer Strong Answer
A paragraph on all the steps of DNA replication, including primers and ligase.
Helicase unwinds the double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs, separating the two strands so each can act as a template.
Why it works: two marks means two points (unwinds; separates strands for templates). Anything beyond that costs time, not marks.

Compare: Both Sides, Throughout

Compare means giving similarities and differences, referring to both items throughout the answer. Describing one item, then the other, is the classic trap.
Biology (3 marks): Compare mitosis and meiosis.
Weak Answer Strong Answer
Mitosis is division that makes body cells. Meiosis is division that makes gametes.
Both involve DNA replication before division, but mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces four genetically different haploid cells.
Why it works: each sentence links both processes using words like both, whereas and while. Aim for one linked point per mark.
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Three words do most of the work.

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Justify: Claim Plus Evidence

Justify means giving valid reasons or evidence for a conclusion or answer. State the claim, then prove it.
Chemistry (3 marks): Justify why ethanol has a higher boiling point than ethane.
Weak Answer Strong Answer
Ethanol is bigger and more polar, so it boils at a higher temperature.
Ethanol has an O–H group, so its molecules form hydrogen bonds. Ethane has only London dispersion forces between molecules. Hydrogen bonds are stronger, so more energy is needed to separate ethanol molecules, giving a higher boiling point.
Why it works: it names the specific evidence (hydrogen bonding vs dispersion forces) and connects it to the conclusion. “Because” is your best friend.

Discuss: A Balanced Range of Arguments

Discuss asks for a considered, balanced review covering a range of arguments, factors or perspectives, with conclusions supported by evidence.
History (10 marks): Discuss the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany by 1929.
Strong structure:
  • Opening line that frames the debate: the treaty had serious effects, but how far it was responsible for German instability is contested.
  • Perspective 1, with evidence: reparations, territorial losses and the “war guilt” clause fuelled resentment and economic strain.
  • Perspective 2, with evidence: other factors, such as hyperinflation, political divisions and the Dawes Plan recovery, complicated the picture.
  • Supported conclusion: a clear overall view that weighs both sides.
Sample paragraph: While the reparations burden contributed to the hyperinflation crisis of 1923, historians such as Sally Marks argue the payments were more manageable than German governments claimed, suggesting the treaty’s political and psychological impact outweighed its strictly economic one.
Why it works: it uses evidence, names a competing interpretation and doesn’t pretend the debate is one-sided.

Evaluate: Weigh It Up and Reach a Judgement

Evaluate means appraising by weighing strengths against limitations. The key difference from discuss: you must reach a justified judgement.
Economics (12-15 marks): Evaluate the effectiveness of a carbon tax in reducing emissions.
Strong structure:
  • Point and explanation (strength): a carbon tax raises the cost of polluting, internalising the externality and creating an incentive to cut emissions.
  • Limitation: effectiveness depends on price elasticity of demand. If demand is inelastic, emissions fall by less.
  • Further limitations or conditions: regressive effects on low-income households, carbon leakage if firms relocate, and political resistance.
  • Judgement: Overall, a carbon tax is effective where substitutes exist and revenue is recycled to offset regressive effects, but its impact is limited in sectors with inelastic demand.
Why it works: each strength is tested against a limitation, and the final line makes a conditional judgement, which examiners love.

Evaluate vs Discuss: What's the Difference?

Discuss Evaluate
Core task
Present a balanced range of arguments or perspectives
Weigh strengths against limitations
Judgement needed?
A supported conclusion is expected
A clear, justified judgement is essential
Typical language
“One view is… another is…”
“This is effective because… however it is limited by… overall…”
Common mistake
Listing views with no overall position
Describing pros and cons with no verdict

How Mark Allocation Changes Your Answer

The same command term needs different answers at different mark values. Use the marks as a depth guide.
Marks What the Examiner Expects Example With "Explain"/"Evaluate"-Type Terms
1
One precise fact or point
A single correct statement, no elaboration
2
Two distinct points, or one point developed
Two linked statements or a point plus a reason
3-4
Several developed points
Point, reason and a consequence for each
6
A structured paragraph or two with balance
Clear arguments, evidence and a brief conclusion
8-12+
Full structure with depth
Introduction, developed analysis, counterpoints, evaluation and a judgement
Rules of thumb:
  • Marks equal points, A 3-mark “outline” needs about three points, not a page.
  • Higher marks mean more evaluation, not more words. Depth and judgement matter more than length.
  • Check the time you have per mark for each paper, and don’t spend 10 minutes on a 2-mark question.
  • For top-mark questions, always end with a judgement that answers the question directly.

Common Mistakes Students Make

  • Describing when asked to evaluate, Summary earns descriptive marks at best.
  • Giving only one side for “discuss,” Balance is built into the term.
  • Treating “outline” like “explain,” Brief means brief.
  • Separating the two items in “compare,” Link them in every sentence.
  • Forgetting the conclusion on high-mark questions.

Summary

Command terms tell you the type of thinking an answer needs, and the marks tell you how much of it. Outline is brief, compare links both items throughout, justify pairs a claim with evidence, discuss balances a range of views, and evaluate weighs strengths against limitations to reach a judgement. Match your depth to the marks, and practise with past paper questions in your subject.
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FAQs

Discuss gives a balanced review of different arguments or perspectives. Evaluate goes further by weighing strengths against limitations and reaching a justified judgement.

Identify the term, check the marks, match your depth to both, and use a structure that fits the term, such as claim-and-evidence for justify or linked similarities and differences for compare.

Most are shared across subjects, but wording and expectations can vary slightly, so always check the command term list in your subject guide.

Our live IB command terms page lists definitions, and your subject guide is the final authority.

Want help turning command terms into top-mark answers? Reach out to Quest for Success; we’ll help you practise with real past paper questions.

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