Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

command words & question types

FoundationHigherAll Boards

4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: command words & question types

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about command words & question types. Then check against the key terms: key terms from command words & question types. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from command words & question types.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: command words & question types. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Law because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of command words & question types

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about command words & question types.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: command words & question types

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on command words & question types. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Command words tell you exactly what the examiner expects — misreading them is the most common reason for losing marks
Key Fact: 'Describe' requires a straightforward account of what something is or how it works — give factual detail without analysis or evaluation
Key Fact: 'Explain' requires you to give reasons or show how something works — go beyond description by showing causes, effects or the reasoning behind a legal principle
Key Fact: 'Analyse' requires you to break down a topic into its component parts and examine the relationship between them — identify strengths and weaknesses
Key Fact: 'Evaluate' or 'How far' or 'To what extent' requires a balanced assessment with a supported judgement — present arguments for and against and reach a reasoned conclusion
Key Fact: 'Compare' requires you to identify similarities and differences between two or more things — use comparative language such as 'whereas', 'similarly', 'in contrast'

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of command words & question types

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: command words & question types

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from command words & question types. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: command words & question types

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Extended Answer

Extended question: Full-Mark Response How should you approach a 'how far' question in a GCSE Law exam? (15 marks) <div class="

A 'how far' question requires you to assess the extent to which a statement is true by presenting balanced evidence and reaching a justified judgement. Begin with a brief introduction that defines key terms and indicates the approach you will take. For example, if asked 'How far does the Human Rights Act 1998 protect individual rights?', start by briefly explaining what the HRA does. Then present two to three paragraphs of balanced analysis. In the first paragraph, discuss the strengths — for instance, section 3 requires legislation to be interpreted compatibly with Convention rights, and section 6 makes it unlawful for public authorities to violate rights. In the next paragraph, discuss the limitations — such as the fact that courts cannot strike down legislation, only issue declarations of incompatibility, and that the Act only applies to public authorities. Support each point with a specific legal example. Finally, write a conclusion that clearly states your judgement and briefly explains the key reason for it. Avoid sitting on the fence — make a clear judgement, but ensure it is supported by your analysis. Use connective phrases such as 'on one hand', 'however', 'furthermore' a

Exam Tips: Underline the command word and the focus of the question before you start writing — this keeps your answer on track | For evaluation questions, always present both sides before reaching a conclusion — one-sided answers cannot access the top mark bands | Use connectives to signal your argument: 'On one hand...', 'However...', 'Furthermore...', 'In conclusion...' | For scenario questions, always apply the law to the facts — don't just state legal principles without connecting them to the specific case | Plan your 15-mark answer before writing — even 2 minutes of planning produces a more coherent and better-structured response
Common Errors: ✗ Describing the law when the question asks you to evaluate it ✓ Evaluation requires assessing strengths and weaknesses and reaching a judgement — description alone will not access the higher mark bands for an evaluation question ✗ Giving a one-sided argument for evaluation questions ✓ Evaluation requires balanced analysis — present arguments for and against before reaching a justified conclusion; one-sided answers lose marks ✗ Ignoring the scenario facts in problem questions ✓ You must apply the law to the specific facts given — state the legal rule, then explain how it applies to the particular situation in the scenario ✗ Writing an unsupported conclusion ✓ Your conclusion must be justifie
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how command words &amp; question types connects to another Law topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of command words &amp; question types
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in command words &amp; question types?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)