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A Glossary of NESA Key Words
This glossary contains key words that appear frequently in New South Wales Education Standards Authority's (NESA, formerly BOS) syllabi, performance descriptions and examinations.
The glossary is designed to promote student achievement by familiarising learners with certain key words used in assessment and examination questions across the different subject areas.
GLOSSARY
Account - Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions
Analyse - Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications
Apply - Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation
Appreciate - Make a judgement about the value of
Assess - Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size
Calculate - Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information
Clarify - Make clear or plain
Classify - Arrange or include in classes/categories
Compare - Show how things are similar or different
Construct - Make; build; put together items or arguments
Contrast - Show how things are different or opposite
Critically (analyse/evaluate) - Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to (analyse/evaluate). See ALARM
Deduce - Draw conclusions
Define - State meaning and identify essential qualities
Demonstrate - Show by example
Describe - Provide characteristics and features
Discuss - Identify issues and provide points for and/or against
Distinguish - Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between
Evaluate - Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of. See PMI and Critical Thinking
Examine - Inquire into
Explain - Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how
Extract - Choose relevant and/or appropriate details
Extrapolate - Infer from what is known
Identify - Recognise and name
Interpret - Draw meaning from
Investigate - Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about
Justify - Support an argument or conclusion
Outline - Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of
Predict - Suggest what may happen based on available information
Propose - Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action
Recall - Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences
Recommend - Provide reasons in favour
Recount - Retell a series of events
Summarise - Express, concisely, the relevant details
Synthesise - Putting together various elements to make a whole
The glossary is designed to promote student achievement by familiarising learners with certain key words used in assessment and examination questions across the different subject areas.
GLOSSARY
Account - Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions
Analyse - Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications
Apply - Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation
Appreciate - Make a judgement about the value of
Assess - Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size
Calculate - Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information
Clarify - Make clear or plain
Classify - Arrange or include in classes/categories
Compare - Show how things are similar or different
Construct - Make; build; put together items or arguments
Contrast - Show how things are different or opposite
Critically (analyse/evaluate) - Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to (analyse/evaluate). See ALARM
Deduce - Draw conclusions
Define - State meaning and identify essential qualities
Demonstrate - Show by example
Describe - Provide characteristics and features
Discuss - Identify issues and provide points for and/or against
Distinguish - Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between
Evaluate - Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of. See PMI and Critical Thinking
Examine - Inquire into
Explain - Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how
Extract - Choose relevant and/or appropriate details
Extrapolate - Infer from what is known
Identify - Recognise and name
Interpret - Draw meaning from
Investigate - Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about
Justify - Support an argument or conclusion
Outline - Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of
Predict - Suggest what may happen based on available information
Propose - Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action
Recall - Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences
Recommend - Provide reasons in favour
Recount - Retell a series of events
Summarise - Express, concisely, the relevant details
Synthesise - Putting together various elements to make a whole
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References
NESA (2017). A Glossary of Key Words (HSC). New South Wales Education Standards Authority. Available at: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html
NESA (2017). A Glossary of Key Words (HSC). New South Wales Education Standards Authority. Available at: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html
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