Test Taking Verbs to Know

“Thinking” Words: TEST TAKING VERBS TO KNOW Analyze Break it into parts and explain how the parts work together Apply Take an idea or formula and explain how to use it on this problem Approximate Give a good guess or a close answer Argue Give your opinion and back it up with reasons and evidence to prove your point Assess Look to find or prove the value of something Calculate Find the exact answer and show the steps to get that answer. Clarify State your answer in a simpler way, using examples and details Compare Show how two things are alike by giving examples Conclude Use what you read and what you know to make a decision or form an opinion Contrast Show how two or more things are different from one another by using examples Convince Write to prove a point using good reasons and accurate facts Debate State and explain your point of view on an argument, including reasons why the OTHER point of view does not make sense Define Use features of an idea or thing to explain it. Defend Give reasons why your point of view makes more sense than another Depict Draw a picture of an idea or event (or use words that describe it) Describe Explain something or someone in detail Differentiate Show the differences between things by describing the features that are not the same. Estimate Guess a answer close to the exact number or amount Evaluate Use criteria (reasons) to tell why something is important or worthy Examine Carefully look at something to explain its most important features Explain Tell in detail about an idea, event or thing so that someone can understand it Explore Look at other possibilities and explain the “what ifs” that could exist Generalize Make the idea part of a larger category, or relate it to something we already know Identify Find it and tell its name Illustrate Make it clear, give details so that someone could “see” it in his or her mind Infer Use what you know to make a conclusion, even when it isn’t stated; “read between the lines” Interpret Explain in your own words, and tell why Investigate Look for evidence and other possibilities Justify Use evidence to tell why you believe a point of view is right Outline Give or list the important ideas or details of something in order Persuade Use emotional language and evidence to convince a reader of your point of view Predict Give a good guess of what will happen and tell why you think so Prove Use evidence to show why something is true Relate Show how your example is like something else you know about Review List the ideas or answers that have been given Revise Make your meaning clearer with better sentences Simplify Reduce to the easiest answer Summarize Explain using main ideas and the most important details Support Give facts, statistics, or expert opinions to back up what you say Trace Show the sequence of events that led up to an event or act Utilize Apply a plan given you to solve a problem Validate Show that your facts or evidence are true Verify Prove your facts are true by giving a second source. Adapted from Green Oaks Career Campuses “Test Taking Verbs to Know”