Article by Natalie Vlachakis (an ex-teacher who also worked for AQA) & Jenny Shipway
Command Words: What do you Suggest?
There are many ways that examiners can ask an A-level Biology question. They might ask you to describe the structure of DNA. Or to explain the importance of the xylem being kept open as a continuous tube.
In exam questions, words like ‘describe’, ‘explain’ (and ‘suggest’) are known as command words. Always pay attention to command words because they tell you what type of knowledge or skill is being tested, and how you should approach the question.
So - when you get a question that asks you to ‘suggest’ something, what exactly does it want from you?
‘Suggest’ Questions
‘Suggest’ questions are usually asking you to use your biology knowledge and understanding to make sense of, and build upon, information about an unfamiliar organism and/or experiment.
Using unfamiliar contexts is a way for examiners to check that you really understand the content; rather than just having memorised set phrases and information.
You aren’t expected to already know the answer, or even be absolutely 100% certain that you’re correct. You just need to come up with something that would make sense biologically, and is likely to be true.
Example Exam Question
Q6 Paper 1 2023
The question:
How to approach this question:
1. Don’t panic!
A question about historical classification of bacteria?! That topic is not in the spec!! Don’t panic – all the information you need about any off-spec topic will be provided in the question.
This example question is going to test your knowledge of classification, bacteria and microscopy (all from the spec), and – most crucially - your ability to apply that knowledge in an unfamiliar context.
2. Use your knowledge to make sense of the background information:
You know that bacteria are uni-cellular organisms. Your knowledge of bacterial structure will allow you to understand the description of how bacteria appear under the microscope. You know what a flagellum is. (3.2.1.2)
You know how ‘species’ and ‘genus’ are used in classification (3.4.5)
Your knowledge and experience of microscopy will allow you to understand the description of the limitations of optical microscopes. (3.2.1.3)
3. Answer questions in order
Answering question 6.2 (‘consider’ = ‘review and respond’) first will help you. This question gets you thinking in more detail about things that will help you answer 06.3.
4. Check the Command Word:
Question 6.3 asks you to ‘suggest’. So you know that you should use your existing knowledge/skills to make sense of, and build upon, the information given. You don’t need to know the exact answer for sure, but you need to give a biologically reasonable answer.
5. Understand the question:
The question asks “why” the species have been renamed.
Why might someone rename a species? – because they were misclassified before
Why might they have been misclassified before? – because of the limitations as in your answer to 6.2
Something has changed in recent years that has made it possible to classify these bacteria more accurately than before. What might this be?
6. Think about relevant information from the spec
What have you learned that is related to this question?
Phylogenetic classification (3.4.5)
Methods of studying cells (3.2.1.3)
7. How many marks are there available?
There is only one mark available – you can do this! But if possible, try to include more than one thing that might get a mark, so if one fails you are still ok.
8. So, what’s your answer?
Give it a go before looking at the markscheme below. Remember you need to use specific, technical language to win marks.
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Q6 Paper 1 2023 6.3 - mark scheme
A range of answers are acceptable for this 1 mark. How did you do?
Q6 Paper 1 2023 6.3 – example answers
Successful answer that would win marks:
✅ “Different species will have different DNA sequences so by using genome sequencing they can identify different species”
✅ “Comparing the base sequences of mRNA from the different bacteria will show how similar they are to one another so whether or not they are the same species”
✅ “Electron microscopes have better resolution that optical microscopes so scientists can see the arrangement of the flagella in more detail”
Poor answers that would not get the mark – can you identify where they’ve gone wrong?
❌ “They can identify phylogeny better now, by looking at the DNA”
❌ “They can see more detail with microscopes now so there are fewer mistakes”
❌ “Advanced techniques allow more accurate determination of phylogeny“
A final thought:
The word ‘Suggest’ can be used in different types of questions (e.g. “Suggest two reasons why … ”, “Suggest how … ”) . But the word ‘Suggest’ always invites you to think about the problem in your own way - to use the information in the question with your biology knowledge to come up with your best possible answer.
Want more? Find another “Suggest” exam question walk-through here