Free Senior Cognitive Verbs Guide for Exam Success

OVERVIEW

Cognitive verbs are the command words that tell students exactly what a question is asking them to do, yet they are one of the most common stumbling blocks in senior exams. A student who can write a strong response will still lose marks if they explain when they were asked to evaluate, or describe when they were asked to compare.

This printable guide breaks down ten of the most important senior cognitive verbs, from Analyse and Explain through to Evaluate, Persuade, and Interpret. Each verb is paired with a plain-language definition, a simple three-step framework built around an easy-to-remember mnemonic, and a ready-to-use sentence starter.

Designed for classroom display, revision folders, or exam preparation lessons, it gives your students a shared vocabulary and a repeatable process they can lean on under pressure.

THIS GUIDE PROVIDES

• Ten senior cognitive verbs – Covers Analyse, Explain, Justify, Compare, Discuss, Evaluate, To What Extent, Create, Persuade, and Interpret.
• Plain-language definitions – Each verb is explained in clear terms so students understand exactly what the question demands of them.
• Three-step frameworks – Every verb is broken into a simple mnemonic (such as C-E-S for Analyse or M-E-I for Interpret) that guides students through a complete response.
• Ready-made sentence starters – A scaffolded opening line for each verb helps students move from blank page to structured answer.
• A consistent visual format – Every card follows the same layout, making the guide easy to scan, teach from, and return to across subjects.

TEACHING TIPS

• Display one verb at a time: Print individual cards and rotate them on your classroom wall as you focus on each skill through the term.
• Use the sentence starters as a warm-up: Give students a short text and ask them to respond using a specific verb’s sentence starter before tackling a full question.
• Decode the question first: Train students to circle the cognitive verb in any exam question and name its three-step framework before they start writing.
• Build a cross-subject vocabulary: Share the guide across faculties so students meet the same definitions in English, Humanities, and Science, reinforcing the skill everywhere.
• Turn it into revision practice: Have students cover the frameworks and try to recall the three steps for each verb from memory as a quick exam-prep activity.