IB command term
Define in IB exams: what the command term asks for
By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator
In IB exams, 'define' asks you to give the exact meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity. The answer is the precise, syllabus-level meaning. It is not an example and not a description of what the thing does.
Paraphrased from the command-term definitions in the IB Diploma Programme subject guides (International Baccalaureate Organization).
At a glance
Short, precise answers
Answer shape: A word to a few exact lines, no reasoning attached
What 'define' asks you to do
Define is a command term that asks for the exact meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity. The examiner wants the precise, syllabus-level meaning. A loose explanation, a story about the term or a list of features does not answer the question.
Include the criteria that set the term apart
A good definition contains the criteria that separate the term from its neighbours. If your wording would fit a neighbouring concept just as well, the definition is incomplete. Before you write, ask yourself which related term could be confused with this one and what your sentence says to rule it out.
Examples support a definition but never replace it
An example can back up a definition, but it cannot stand in for one. Likewise, describing what a thing does is a different task from saying what it is. You may paraphrase the syllabus wording, but you must not drop one of its defining criteria.
Learn definitions as an active list
Definition questions are the most predictable marks on the paper, so they reward preparation. For each topic, build a list of key terms and practise writing each definition from memory. Then check your wording against the syllabus and see whether any criterion is missing.
Where it appears
Economics
Economics has many technical terms, and each one has defining criteria. Practise writing them in precise syllabus language, and keep a definition separate from an example or a description of how the concept works.
Economics tutoringBiology
In biology, define asks for the exact meaning of a term, not a description of the process around it. Check that your wording keeps every criterion and could not describe a closely related term.
Biology tutoringBusiness Management
Business management has many key terms that sound similar. State the criteria that make each one distinct, and use a business example only to support the definition, never in place of it.
Business Management tutoringPhysics
In physics, define can apply to a physical quantity as well as a concept. Give the precise meaning of the quantity itself, rather than only describing a situation where it appears.
Physics tutoringCommon mistakes
- Giving an example instead of a definition.
- Describing what the thing does when the question asks what it is.
- Writing a definition so loose that it also fits a neighbouring concept.
- Paraphrasing the syllabus wording and losing one of its defining criteria.
- Leaving key terms to chance instead of learning them as an active list per topic.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 'define' mean in an IB exam?
- It means giving the exact meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity. The answer should be the precise, syllabus-level meaning, not an example and not a description of what the thing does.
- Can I use an example in a definition answer?
- An example can support your definition, but it never replaces it. Write the definition first. Add an example only if it helps show that you understand the term.
- Do I have to copy the syllabus wording exactly?
- No. Paraphrasing the syllabus wording is fine. What matters is that you keep every defining criterion. Dropping one of them makes the definition incomplete.
- How is 'define' different from 'state', 'describe' and 'distinguish'?
- Define asks for the exact meaning of a term. The other command terms ask for different things, so read each linked page to see how they differ. Using the wrong approach can cost you marks even if your content is correct.
Related command terms
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