Skip to content

3 Draft Leaving Certificate specifications consultations

3 Draft Leaving Certificate specifications consultations

View Info

Glossary of action verbs

Action verbs Students should be able to
Analyse study or examine something in detail, break down in order to bring out the essential
elements or structure; identify parts and relationships, and to interpret information
to reach conclusions
Appreciate acknowledge and reflect upon the value or importance of something
Assess show skills of judgement and evaluation, balancing different perspectives
Communicate use written, visual, verbal or signs/gestures to share meaning or exchange
information with an audience
Compare give an account of the similarities and/or differences between two (or more) items,
perspectives or positions, referring to both/all of them throughout
Consider reflect upon the significance of something
Critique state the positive and negative aspects of, for example, an action, idea or perspective
Demonstrate prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence, showing by examples or practical
application
Describe give an account, using words, diagrams or images, of the main points of the topic
Devise plan, develop or create something by careful thought
Discuss examine different concepts, perspectives or opinions on a topic and then come to
their own conclusion/viewpoint, supported by appropriate evidence or reasons
Evaluate collect and examine information/evidence to make judgements and appraisals; describe
how evidence supports or does not support a judgement; identify the limitations of
evidence in conclusions; make judgements about ideas, solutions or methods
Examine enquire into/look closely at arguments, data, information and stories in a way that
uncovers its origins, assumptions, perspectives and relationships
Explain implies more than a list of facts/ideas: the reasons or cause for or further detail
about these facts/ideas must also be given
Explore systematically look into something closely for the purpose of discovery; to
scrutinise or probe
Express communicate or present information and ideas clearly and accurately
Identify recognise and state briefly a distinguishing fact, feature or example
Interpret use knowledge and understanding to recognise trends and draw conclusions from
given information
Investigate observe, study, or make a detailed and systematic examination, in order to establish
facts and provide supporting evidence for conclusions
List provide a number of points or facts
Outline set out the main points of information on a topic
Present show something for others to examine
Recognise to come to know or be aware of something based on personal experience
Reflect give thoughtful and careful consideration to their actions, experiences, values and
learning in order to gain new insights and make meaning of it for themselves
Research find suitable information, sort, record, analyse and draw conclusions
Share communicate to exchange information with an audience
Survey examine or measure in a detailed manner
Successfully added to the clipboard.