Distinguish between 'describe' (what it is like) and 'explain' (why/how it works) to avoid losing marks in exams.
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Visual anchors for descriptive and explanatory command words
A multi-panel educational graphic illustrating 8 basic command verbs: 'describe' as a camera taking a surface picture; '…
Deep dive into the most confused pair of command words in CBSE exams
Imagine you are holding a smartphone. If you state its color, screen size, and weight, you are describing it. You are answering the question: What is it like?
But if you open the phone up and discuss how the microchips process data using electric current, you are explaining it. You are answering the question: How or why does it work?
Interactive card grid with sentence starters for each command word
What it asks: Say what it looks like or what happens.
Sentence Starter: "It has..." / "The process involves..."
What it asks: Say why or how it works.
Sentence Starter: "This happens because..." / "The reason is..."
What it asks: Give an example or draw a diagram.
Sentence Starter: "For instance..." / "To illustrate this..."
What it asks: Give the main points or steps only.
Sentence Starter: "The key steps are..." / "Briefly, the..."
Practice selecting the correct command word based on the question's intent
When writing exam answers, you must choose the correct action word to match the question's goal. If a question asks how a process works, you should the steps to show cause and effect. If you are asked what a specific object or structure looks like, you must its features in detail. When you need to provide a clear example or a diagram to make your point clear, you should your answer. Finally, if you only need to list the main points or summary of an event without deep details, you should the key events. Paying close attention to these instruction words will help you write precise answers in your exams.
Production task to upgrade a descriptive sentence into an explanatory one
Read this typical exam response:
"Metals are shiny, hard, and conduct heat."
This is a pure description (it tells us what metals are like, but not why).
Your task is to transform this into a scientific explanation of heat conduction in metals.
Explain what is missing from the original sentence.
Focus on the mechanism (why or how heat energy transfers through the metal).
Flashcards to reinforce the core differences between describe and explain