Some verbs for writing learning outcomes and assessment criteria

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Acknowledgement: This list is taken and slightly adapted from Appendix 1 (p. 39) of:

Gosling, D., & Moon, J. (2001). How to use learning outcomes and assessment criteria. SEEC.

Finding the right words for use in writing learning outcomes / assessment criteria can be difficult, particularly when the statements must mesh with the generic level descriptors. The verbs are categorized according to Bloom’s revised taxonomy.

Verbs which require evidence of remembering:

define	list	present	reproduce
describe	match	recall	select
extract	measure	recognise	state
identify	name	recount	underline
know	organise	relate	write
label	outline	repeat

Verbs which require evidence of understanding:

clarify	estimate	identify	perform
classify	explain	illustrate	predict
compare	express	indicate	present
contrast	extend	infer	report
convert	find	interpret	restate
defend	formulate	justify	rewrite
discuss	generalize	name	select
distinguish	give examples of	paraphrase	summarize

Verbs which require evidence of applying:

apply	draw up	modify	show
change	explain how	predict	solve
choose	find	prepare	use
construct	give examples	produce	verify
demonstrate	illustrate	relate
discover	manipulate	select

Verbs which require evidence of analyzing:

analyze	diagnose	identify	relate
break down	differentiate	illustrate how	select
categorize	distinguish between	infer	separate
compare	divide	outline	subdivide
conclude	elucidate	point out
contrast	examine	question

Verbs which require evidence of evaluating:

appraise	conclude	describe how	judge
assess	contrast	determine	justify
choose	criticize	discriminate	rate
compare	defend	evaluate	value

Verbs which require evidence of creating:

account for	create	generate	put together
alter	derive	integrate	re-arrange
argue	design	manage	recommend
build up	develop	modify	reconstruct
combine	devise	organize	re-organize
compile	enlarge	plan	report
compose	formulate	present	revise
conclude	generalize	propose	synthesize