CIPD Command Verbs: Analyse vs Evaluate vs Explain
What CIPD command verbs mean and how to answer them. Understand the difference between explain, analyse and evaluate to match the depth your assessment needs.
09 July 2026 · 5 min read
Command verbs are the small words in a brief that tell you how deep your answer needs to go. Misreading them is one of the most common reasons CIPD answers lose marks. Getting them right is one of the fastest ways to improve.
Explain and describe
These ask you to make something clear. Give reasons, detail and context so the reader understands the what and the why. This is the level of depth expected most often at Level 3.
Analyse
To analyse is to break something into parts and examine how they relate. You are not just saying what something is; you are showing how and why it works, and what its components mean for a situation. Analysis is central to Level 5.
Evaluate and assess
To evaluate is to weigh strengths and limitations and reach a judgement. You compare options, consider evidence, and conclude which is more appropriate and why. Critical evaluation dominates Level 7.
A simple ladder: explain tells the reader what and why. Analyse breaks it down and shows how. Evaluate weighs it up and reaches a judgement.
Other verbs you will meet
- Identify or list: state the relevant points briefly.
- Justify: give evidence and reasoning to support a position.
- Compare: set two or more things side by side and draw out similarities and differences.
- Discuss: consider different sides of an issue before reaching a view.
Before you write, underline the command verb in each task and match your depth to it. If you are unsure what a task really wants, our brief-analysis support translates it into a clear plan.
Send your assessment brief today and receive a clear quote
Tell us your level, deadline and word count. We'll reply quickly with a transparent quote and a simple support plan, with no obligation.
Confidential · UK & UAE · CIPD Level 3, 5 & 7