What do IB Math command terms mean?
What is IB Math
Have you been struggling trying to get that high 7 in your IB Math class?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematics course is designed for students aged 16-19 to develop a deeper understanding of concepts and principles in Mathematics. Whether you are studying Mathematics: Analysis or Approaches and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation, the exams can be quite daunting due to the specific jargon used.
At Aegis Advisors, we specialize in guiding students through the intricate world of IB Math, offering personalized tutoring designed to help you excel. Today, we will look through specific command terms used in IB math exams and what they mean.
All information here has been taken from the official IBO glossary of command terms, with us having grouped them together thematically.
Calculation-based command terms
There are several command terms which ask you to find a solution to an answer.
Calculate
When asked to calculate, you are being asked to give a numerical answer to the given question, while showing all of your steps to obtain such a solution.
Find
Similarly to calculate, when asked to find you need to solve the question and to obtain a possible solution to the problem.
Solve
Implicit in its name, solve is asking you to find the answer to a given question using your mathematical knowledge.
Deduce
When asked to deduce, you are being asked to find a conclusion or an answer based on the given information in the question.
Determine
When asked to determine, it means that there is only one possible answer and you need to show the process and what that answer is.
State
Although with state you are being asked to find a solution, unlike the previous command terms, you are not required to show your calculations or give an explanation.
Estimate
When being asked to estimate, you are not expected to find the exact solution, but rather use your mathematical knowledge to give an approximate answer.
Predict
Similarly to estimate, predict doesn’t necessarily want you to find the exact solution but rather imagine what an expected result may look like.
Interpret
Draw conclusions based on your knowledge and interpreation of what the question is asking. This command term wants you to recognise and understand trends in the questions.
Identify
When asked to identify, you are usually given a number of possibilities, and it is your job to figure out which is the correct answer.
Hence – Hence or otherwise
When hence is used, it is asking you to use your previous work to figure out the necessary answer. If otherwise is added, it may mean that other methods can be used to find the necessary solution.
Make sure to pay attention to whether ‘hence’ or ‘hence or otherwise’ is used as using a different method to come to the same solution may mean you lose points.
Write down
Although it may be a bit of a stretch to consider this a calculation-based command term, like the rest of these command terms, what this is asking you to do is to simply ‘write down’ the answer. For this prompt, little to no working out is required or needs to be shown.
List
Similarly to write down, when asked to list you must simply write down a series of answers, without providing an explanation.
Show that
For a show that question you must solve the problem and obtain a result, but it does not need to be as formal as a proof and will often not require a calculator.
This is one of the common mistakes students will make as they do not pay attention to specific jargon and simply try to solve the answer any way possible.
Drawing-based command terms
Many times you will be asked to draw some form of graph, or plot a point. These are the command terms which will ask you to do so.
Construct
When being asked to construct, you are asked to display the information in a logical form or create a diagram.
Draw
When asked to draw, you are being asked to represent all the information in a diagram or a graph. This prompt tends to be more specific and has particular parameters:
- If drawing a straight line use a ruler
- Diagrams need to be drawn to scale
- Graphs must have correctly plotted points
- If applicable a straight or curved line must be used to join points
Sketch
Similarly to draw, sketch asks you to map out a specific diagram or graph, however it does not need to be as precise. For a sketch question, you simply need to give a general idea of what the problem is asking you through a shape or diagram, with all the necessary relevant features.
Label
Again, implicit in its meaning, this question will ask you to add labels into a diagram or a graph.
Plot
When asked to plot, you are being asked to take the position of a point and place it on a diagram.
Skill-specific command terms
Sometimes, questions will ask you about a specific skill in an area of maths, whether it be trigonometry or algebra, you will sometimes need to deduce the skill needed from the command term.
Differentiate
When asked to differentiate, you are being asked to find the derivative of a function.
Integrate
If you are asked to integrate, you are required to solve the integral of a given function.
Prove
Follow a series of logical steps that will allow you to show the necessary result. This will often be done in a formal manner therefore it is important you look over your proofs before going into an exam.
Show
When asked to show you must give a series of steps in a calculation or derivation.
Solving a math problem can be quite difficult, especially when there is specific knowledge you have to recall, but there are simple steps you can take to make them more manageable. If you are interested in how to tackle the toughest IB math problems, take a look at our step-by-step guide.
Explanation-driven command terms
Now, for our last group of command terms, these will often ask us to write out an explanation or justify our solution.
Comment
This prompt asks you to give your judgment based on the result of a calculation or a statement.
Compare – Contrast – Compare and Contrast
These command terms are found in almost every IB subject so by now we’re sure you are very familiar with them, but let’s have a refresher.
When asked to compare you are looking for any similarities within two or more accounts or situations.
When asked to contrast you are looking for any differences between two or more accounts or situations.
When asked to compare and contrast you must do both similarities and differences.
With these just make sure you are referencing all situations throughout the commentary.
Distinguish
Similarly to the contrast prompt, distinguish is asking you to identify any differences between items.
Describe
For a describe prompt you must provide a detailed account of the work.
Explain
When asked to explain, you must do what you do for the describe prompt, thus giving an account, but also to include any causes or reasons.
Demonstrate
When you are asked to demonstrate, you must give an explanation through evidence, supported by examples or applying it to practical situations.
Investigate
When you are asked to investigate, you must provide a detailed examination to reach a conclusion.
Justify
Rather than coming to a conclusion yourself, when asked to justify you must give reasons and evidence that will support a conclusion or answer.
Suggest
For a question that asks you to suggest you have to propose an answer, solution, or hypothesis for the given question.
Verify
When asked to verify you must give an answer that proves and validates the given results in the question.
Conclusion
Hopefully after reading this you feel a little more comfortable with the command terms that may appear on your IB Mathematics exams. Familiarising yourself with the style and structure of the test will help you feel more confident when the day comes around.
Contact Aegis Advisors today and discover how our personalized tutoring can help you excel in IB Math!