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This glossary contains key words that appear frequently in NSW Education Standards Authority syllabuses, performance descriptions and examinations.

The purpose behind the glossary is to help students prepare better for the HSC by showing them that certain key words are used similarly in examination questions across the different subjects they are studying.

In classrooms, teachers of different subjects could use the glossary to help students to better understand what the examination questions in their subject require. Students should recognise the consistent approach of teachers of different subjects and get cues about how to approach examination questions.

For example, students would be better placed to respond to 'explain' questions if, in the context of different subjects, they developed an understanding that 'explain' could require them to relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how.

It is also important that the key words should not be interpreted in an overly prescriptive way. Teachers must ensure that they do not use them in ways that conflict with their particular meaning within subjects. To do this would be counterproductive. A term like 'evaluate', for example, requires a different kind of response in Mathematics from that required in History and this needs to be respected.

When using key words to construct questions, tasks and marking schemes, it is helpful to ask what the use of the term in a particular question requires students to do.

Key words are best discussed with students in the context of questions and tasks they are working on, rather than in isolation.

It is important to note that examination questions for the HSC will continue to use self-explanatory terms such as 'how', or 'why' or 'to what extent'. While key words have a purpose, they will not set limits on legitimate subject-based questions in examination papers.

Account

Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions



Analyse

Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications



Apply

Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation



Appreciate

Make a judgement about the value of



Assess

Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size



Calculate

Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information



Clarify

Make clear or plain



Classify

Arrange or include in classes/categories



Compare

Show how things are similar or different



Construct

Make; build; put together items or arguments



Contrast

Show how things are different or opposite



Critically (analyse/evaluate)

Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to (analyse/evaluate)



Deduce

Draw conclusions



Define

State meaning and identify essential qualities



Demonstrate

Show by example



Describe

Provide characteristics and features



Discuss

Identify issues and provide points for and/or against



Distinguish

Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between



Evaluate

Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of



Examine

Inquire into



Explain

Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how



Extract

Choose relevant and/or appropriate details



Extrapolate

Infer from what is known



Identify

Recognise and name



Interpret

Draw meaning from



Investigate

Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about



Justify

Support an argument or conclusion



Outline

Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of



Predict

Suggest what may happen based on available information



Propose

Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action



Recall

Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences



Recommend

Provide reasons in favour



Recount

Retell a series of events



Summarise

Express, concisely, the relevant details



Synthesise

Putting together various elements to make a whole







