Command Words — H2 Management of Business (9587)
Note: The 9587 syllabus does not publish an official command-word list. This guide adapts the Cambridge 9609 command-word definitions and standard SEAB A-Level business usage. It is a teaching aid, not a syllabus document.
Command words signal which AO is being tested and therefore how many marks and what depth are expected. Every answer should be planned against the command word + mark count.
Quick reference
| Command word | AO focus | Typical marks | What it wants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Define / State / Identify / List / Outline | AO1 | 1–2 | Precise meaning or recall |
| What is meant by | AO1 | 2–3 | Definition + brief context |
| Describe | AO1 (+AO2) | 2–4 | Say what + relevant detail |
| Explain | AO2 + AO3 | 4–8 | Cause/effect, reasons, “why/how” |
| Analyse / Examine | AO3 | 6–12 | Break into parts; show relationships & consequences |
| Compare | AO3 | 4–6 | Similarities AND differences |
| Contrast / Distinguish | AO3 | 4–6 | Differences only |
| Calculate | AO3 | 2–8 | Work out from data (show working) |
| Interpret | AO3 | 3–6 | Explain meaning of a result/chart |
| Discuss | AO3 + AO4 | 8–25 | Balanced argument + judgement |
| Evaluate | AO4 | 10–25 | Weigh evidence → justified judgement |
| Assess | AO4 | 8–25 | Judge importance/value, with reasons |
| Justify | AO4 | 6–12 | Support a choice with evidence/argument |
| Recommend / Advise | AO4 | 8–25 | Decision + reasons + why over alternatives |
| “To what extent…” / “Do you agree…” | AO4 | 10–25 | Balanced evaluation ending in a clear judgement |
Detailed entries (the high-stakes ones)
Define / State / Identify
- AO1. Give the precise business meaning (use syllabus terminology). One or two marks → one or two accurate points.
- Skeleton:
[Term] is …— a complete, correct sentence. No examples needed unless asked.
What is meant by
- AO1 (+1 application mark). Definition + one sentence applying it to the given context.
- Skeleton:
X means [definition]. In this case/context, …
Explain
- AO2 + AO3. Say why or how, with a chain of reasoning ending in a consequence.
- Skeleton (per point):
Point → because → this leads to → therefore [effect on the business]. - Pitfall: describing what instead of why. Every “explain” needs at least one “because” and one “so”.
Analyse / Examine
- AO3. Deconstruct the issue; show links between causes and effects; draw a valid inference.
- Skeleton:
Identify factor → explain mechanism (chain) → state the implication/consequence for the business → link back to the question. - Aim for 2–3 developed points per 8 marks.
Compare / Contrast / Distinguish
- Compare = similarities and differences. Contrast/Distinguish = differences only.
- Skeleton: a structured two-column comparison, or
"Both A and B … However, A … whereas B …". - Never write two separate descriptions — the mark is in the juxtaposition.
Calculate
- AO3. Show full working (formula → substitution → answer → units). Always state the formula first.
- Even if a later step is wrong, the formula + correct substitution earn method marks.
- Common 9587 calculations: break-even (quantity, margin of safety, profit), capacity utilisation, variances, payback, ARR, NPV, marketing indices (market size/growth/share).
Interpret
- AO3. Explain the meaning of a figure/result/chart in business terms — not just read it.
- Skeleton:
The figure shows … This means … This suggests/implies for the business … - E.g., for a ratio: state what it measures, what the number means, and whether it is healthy for this business.
Discuss
- AO3 + AO4. Present both sides (arguments for and against), then a judgement.
- Skeleton:
Arguments for (2–3) → arguments against (2–3) → overall judgement tied to the context. - The judgement is non-negotiable — “discuss” without a verdict caps the answer at AO3.
Evaluate
- AO4 (highest-weighted skill — 25% of the paper). Weigh competing factors/evidence and reach a justified conclusion.
- Skeleton:
Consider options/arguments → weigh them against criteria (context, objectives, stakeholders, time horizon) → justified judgement → (where asked) recommendation. - Use explicit evaluative language: “depends on…”, “in the short run… however in the long run…”, “this is more significant because…”, “on balance…”.
Assess
- AO4. Judge the importance/value/extent of something, with reasons and a sense of scale.
- Skeleton:
State the extent (significant/limited) → evidence for that view → acknowledge the counter → conclude on overall importance in this context.
Justify
- AO4. Defend one chosen course of action against alternatives.
- Skeleton:
Recommendation → why it best meets the objective → why it beats the alternatives → acknowledge a limitation and manage it.
Recommend / Advise
- AO4. Make a decision (not a menu of options), grounded in the data/case.
- Skeleton:
Decision → criteria used → how the chosen option satisfies them → why alternatives are weaker → condition/risk to watch. - Pitfall: listing options without committing. The examiner wants one defensible call.
“To what extent…” / “Do you agree…”
- AO4. Balanced evaluation ending in a clear, positioned judgement (“largely / partly / to a limited extent”).
- Skeleton:
Arguments supporting the statement → arguments against → weigh → "To a large extent because … however …".
Golden rules
- Command word + mark count = plan. Before writing, ask: which AO, how many points, is a judgement required?
- Application is not optional. Use the names, figures and context from the data/case in every paragraph (AO2 is 25%).
- A chain beats a list. One developed “because → leads to → therefore” is worth more than three bare points.
- Evaluation must conclude. No “on balance” = no AO4.
- Calculations need working. Formula first, always.