Command verbs used in the Associate and Fellowship exams

Exam questions should test a range of knowledge and skills. They should test and reward critical appreciation and the ability to apply what has been learned rather than the reproduction of memorised facts.

As you progress through the our聽exams, you are聽required聽to demonstrate higher-level cognitive and intellectual skills, i.e. it is not enough聽to demonstrate that you聽can remember facts and figures; you聽need to show you聽are able to interpret the meaning of data and evaluate their significance.聽

To assist you in answering exam questions we聽introduced a set of command verbs for the different levels of cognition. Please note that this list is for the standard online聽exam questions and does not cover direct questioning words for multiple-choice questions (e.g. What, Why, Who, etc.) or specific verbs.

Knowledge

Command Verb	Definition
Define	Give the exact meaning of.
Describe	Express, fully and clearly, the details/facts of.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒escribe the benefits payable under a term assurance policy鈥�.)
Draw	Produce a representation of鈥 diagram, graph, chart, etc.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒raw a diagram to illustrate the profit-maximising price鈥�.)
Label	Attach a name to unidentified terms 鈥n a graph, chart, diagram, table聽 (e.g. 鈥淟abel the axes鈥�.)
List	Make a list of.聽 (e.g. 鈥淟ist the Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council鈥�.)
State	Express the details/facts of鈥�. without elaboration.聽 (e.g. 鈥淪tate the principles of investment鈥�.)
Write Down	Provide exactly what has been asked for, without explanation or elaboration.

Application

Command Verb	Definition
Calculate	Ascertain or reckon mathematically.
Construct	Produce what has been asked for, with appropriate structure.聽 (e.g. 鈥淐onstruct a table showing鈥︹€�.)
Demonstrate	Prove with certainty or exhibit by practical means.
Derive	Develop a result from the first principles (or from the given starting point).
Describe	Express, fully and clearly, the details/facts of.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒escribe the risks arising鈥� under a specific given scenario.)
Determine	Find the solution by argument or calculation, making clear your reasoning.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒etermine the type of event that has occurred, based on the data provided鈥�.)
顿谤补蹿迟听	Produce a document in the specified format (e.g. report, letter, etc.)聽 (Note: 鈥淒raft鈥� applies to assessments for CP3 only.)
Draw	Produce a representation of a diagram, graph, chart, etc.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒raw a scatterplot鈥�.)
Explain	Make clear the meaning, purpose, details of, or the justification for.
Express	Write down the result in the specified terms.
Fit	Choose and implement a model or distribution that determines a relationship between observed values in a population and the expected values from the model or distribution. (e.g. 鈥淔it a generalised linear model to the data.鈥�)
Give	Write down what has been asked for, without elaboration.聽 (e.g. 鈥淕ive an example of鈥︹€�.)
Label	Attach a name to unidentified terms 鈥n a graph, chart, diagram, table.聽 (e.g. 鈥淟abel the curves which correspond to each of the given scenarios鈥�.)
List	Make a list of.聽 (e.g. 鈥淟ist the assumptions/rating factors that would be required to price this product鈥�.)
Outline	Describe briefly without elaboration or explanation.
Perform	Undertake the specified test or task.
Plot	Illustrate the given information or data using a chart or graph.聽 (Note: 鈥淧lot鈥� implies that more accuracy is required than 鈥淪ketch鈥�.)
Prepare	Make or get ready for use.聽 (Note: 鈥淧repare a Report鈥� is restricted to CP2 and CP3.)
Prove	Demonstrate the truth of what is indicated, through mathematical argument.
Sample	To take a sample from a distribution. (Note: 鈥淪ample鈥� applies to only problem-based assessments for CS1, CS2, CM1, and CM2.)
Show	1. Demonstrate that the given result is correct. 2. Display the output of a specific part of a computer package item. (Note: This second definition applies to only problem-based assessments聽for CS1, CS2, CM1, and CM2.)
Simplify	Give an equivalent, but simpler, version of a mathematical expression.
Simulate/Generate	Produce the values or models that have been asked for. (e.g. "Simulate 20,000 values from the stated distribution.") (e.g.聽"Generate 1,000 random values from a distribution".) (Note: "Simulate" applies to only problem-based assessments for CS1, CS2, CM1, and CM2.)
Sketch	Produce a rough graph, chart, or diagram of.
Solve	Find a mathematical answer to.
State	Express the details/facts of鈥�. without elaboration.聽 (e.g. 鈥淪tate whether the investor should take a long or short position on the option in this situation鈥�.)
Test	Check or examine something.聽 (e.g. 鈥淭est the hypothesis that鈥︹€�)
Update	Amend by adding new information or making corrections. (e.g. 鈥淯pdate the plot, overlaying the density function.鈥�) (Note: 鈥淯pdate鈥� applies to only problem-based assessments for CS1, CS2, CM1, and CM2.)
Verify	Demonstrate to be true.

Higher Order Skills

Command Verb	Definition
Analyse	Break down into component parts.
Assess	Judge the effectiveness, implications, relevance, importance, suitability, and/or value of.
Comment on	Give brief conclusions on.
Compare	Highlight the similarities and differences between.
Contrast	Highlight the differences between.
Determine	Find the solution by argument or calculation, making clear your reasoning.聽 (e.g. 鈥淒etermine the most appropriate course of action for the company, within the given constraints鈥�.)
Discuss	Write about it in some detail, taking into account different issues or points of view.
Estimate	Calculate a result, using judgement to decide on suitable assumptions and/or approximations.聽 (Used when the result is not definitive.聽 Assumptions made should be expressed clearly and intermediate workings should be shown.)
Evaluate	Judge the suitability of something for a given purpose.
Identify	Select after consideration of the possible options or alternatives.
Justify	Provide reasons to support.
Propose	Select and then communicate a solution, action, or range of possible solutions/actions.聽 (Justification is not expected unless explicitly asked for, e.g. 鈥渨ith reasons鈥�.)
Recommend	Select and then communicate a preferred solution or course of action. (Justification is not expected unless explicitly asked for, e.g. 鈥渨ith reasons鈥�.)
Set out	Write down in a structured way.
Suggest	Communicate a range of solutions, actions, or reasons without justification.聽 (This is normally used in a situation where there is insufficient information provided to form a definitive recommendation or proposal, e.g. 鈥淪uggest possible reasons鈥� or 鈥淪uggest possible actions鈥�.)聽

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