Edexcel International A-level Physics: Command words and keywords

Pearson Edexcel International A-level Physics uses the command words defined in the specification. Mark schemes emphasise correct terminology, working and units. Method marks available for correct working.

Command words

Command word	What to do	Common mistake
State / Name / Give	Recall; short answer	Overwriting
Define	Precise meaning	Vague
Describe	What happens; no “why”	Adding explanation
Explain	Why/how; use “because”	Only describing
Suggest	Apply to new context	Textbook recall
Calculate	Work out; show working; units	Missing working
Show that	Prove given value	No working
Determine	Numerical answer with working	Guess
Plot	Graph; line of best fit	Wrong scale
Draw	Diagram; correct symbols	Wrong symbols
Predict	What will happen	Unsupported
Compare	Similarities and differences	Listing separately
Evaluate	Judge; conclude with evidence	No conclusion
Deduce	Work out from information	Guess

Keywords examiners look for

Mechanics

Term	Use correctly	Avoid
Velocity	Vector	Speed
Acceleration	Change in velocity / time	”Getting faster”
Weight	mg; N	Mass (kg)
Mass	kg	Weight (N)
Momentum	mv	Wrong unit
Impulse	Change in momentum	”Force”
Work done	F × d; J	”Effort”
Power	Energy / time; W	”Strength”
Efficiency	(useful / total) × 100%	Wrong formula
Resultant force	Net force	Single force
Moment	F × perpendicular distance	”Turning effect”
Centripetal force	Towards centre; mv²/r	”Outward”

Waves and quantum

Term	Use correctly	Avoid
Phase difference	Radians or degrees	”Out of sync”
Coherence	Constant phase difference	”Same”
Photoelectric effect	Electrons by photons	”Light knocks”
Photon	Quantum of EM radiation	”Particle”
Wave-particle duality	Wave and particle	”Both”

Electricity and nuclear

Term	Use correctly	Avoid
Potential difference	Work per unit charge	”Voltage”
e.m.f.	Energy per unit charge from source	Pd
Capacitance	C = Q/V	”Stores charge”
Faraday’s law	Induced e.m.f. ∝ rate of flux change	”Flux change”
Lenz’s law	Induced current opposes change	”Opposes”
Half-life	Time for half to decay	”Half the time”
Activity	Decays per second; Bq	”Radiation”
Binding energy	Energy to separate nucleons	”Nuclear energy”

Tips for Edexcel A-level Physics

1. Learn formulae with correct symbols and units
2. Show working in every calculation
3. Check units before and after substitution
4. Suggest—apply to the specific scenario
5. Past papers + mark schemes show acceptable wording

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Based on Pearson Edexcel International A-level Physics specification. Check the latest specification for your exam series.