HSC Science command terms
HSC Science Command Terms: Explain, Analyse, Justify, Evaluate
A student-friendly explanation of HSC Science command terms and how to shape answers for explain, analyse, justify, and evaluate questions.
Independent. Not official HSC/NESA.
Explain
Explain answers need a cause-effect link. Do not just name a process. Show how or why the process leads to the outcome in the question.
Analyse
Analyse answers break the situation into parts and show relationships. In Science, that often means linking data, process, and impact.
Justify
Justify answers need a decision plus evidence. The evidence must support the decision, not sit beside it.
Evaluate
Evaluate answers need a judgement. A good response explains strengths, limitations, and why the final judgement follows from the evidence.
Fast practice routine
- Take one answer you wrote recently.
- Circle the command term.
- Underline the sentence that actually answers that command term.
- Rewrite the answer so the command-term sentence is obvious.
Related practice
Keep the next click useful.
These internal links help students move from reading to practice, and help search engines understand the HSC Science topic cluster.
FAQ
Quick answers.
Why do command terms matter?
They tell you the job of the answer. A response that describes when the question asks you to evaluate will usually miss marks.
Do I need different structures for different command terms?
Yes. Explain needs clear cause-effect links. Analyse needs parts and relationships. Justify needs evidence for a decision. Evaluate needs a judgement.
Is this only for Biology?
No. The same command-term problem appears across Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, and Investigating Science.