Exam Technique
Stop losing marks you've already earned.
Most students don't fail because of knowledge — they fail because of technique. This guide covers command words, evaluation, time management and the mistakes examiners see in every paper.
Command words decoded
| Command | What it means | Typical marks |
|---|---|---|
| Define | State the precise meaning of a term. | 1–2 |
| Identify | Pick out from a source. No explanation required. | 1–2 |
| Explain | Give clear reasons or causes. Use a logical chain. | 2–4 |
| Analyse | Break the issue into parts and show how they connect. | 6–10 |
| Discuss | Present arguments for and against with judgement. | 9–12 |
| Evaluate | Weigh up arguments and reach a justified conclusion. | 12–25 |
| To what extent | Make a judgement on the strength of a claim. | 12–25 |
The PEEL+E essay framework
Used by every top-band Economics and Business student. Each paragraph follows the same skeleton — examiners reward structure.
P
Point
State the argument clearly.
E
Explain
Causal chain with theory.
E
Example
Apply data / case context.
L
Link
Back to the question.
+E
Evaluate
Counter, judge, justify.
Top mark-losing mistakes
- ✕Describing instead of analysing — listing facts without causal chains.
- ✕Forgetting to use the context in the data — generic answers lose application marks.
- ✕Writing a one-sided evaluation — no counterpoint, no judgement.
- ✕Mis-reading the command word and answering the wrong question.
- ✕Drawing diagrams without labelling axes, curves, equilibrium points or shifts.
- ✕Running out of time on the last essay because of over-writing on short answers.
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