Micro Lesson in understanding Command Verbs in the APM Exams

In this episode of Project Management Insights, host Neil dives into a crucial yet often overlooked element of project management exams: command verbs. These action words, which guide your responses to exam questions, are key to unlocking the full potential of your answers and maximizing your marks. Neil explains the importance of command verbs and provides examples of common ones like “Identify,” “Describe,” “Explain,” and “Evaluate.” By mastering these verbs, you’ll be able to structure your answers effectively, demonstrate the right skills, and boost your chances of success in your exams.

The full transcript is available below. Enjoy listening!

Welcome back to Project Management Insights. I’m your host, Neil. You’ve studied hard, you’ve honed your time management skills, and you’ve practiced your exam technique.

But have you cracked the code of command verbs? In Project Management exams, understanding these crucial words is key to providing the right answers and maximising your marks. Think of command verbs as the directors of your answers.

They tell you exactly what to do in each exam question. Command verbs are the action words in exam questions that guide your response. They ensure you demonstrate the specific skills and knowledge being assessed.

Why are they so important? Provide relevant answers. They ensure you address the specific requirements of the question.

Demonstrate the right skills. They allow you to showcase your knowledge, comprehension, application, and analytical abilities. Maximise your marks.

They increase your chances of providing complete and accurate answers that meet the marking criteria. Let’s explore some common command verbs. Identify, simply name or list the key elements.

Example. Identify three potential risks in this project. Describe.

Provide a detailed account, including characteristics, features, or processes. Example. Describe the process of developing a project budget.

Explain. Clarify a concept, providing reasons and justifications. Example.

Explain the importance of stakeholder engagement. Analyse, break down information, examine relationships, and assess significance. Example.

Analyse the impact of a delay in project delivery. Evaluate. Assess value, importance, or effectiveness, providing judgments and evidence.

Example. Evaluate the suitability of an iterative approach for this project. Recommend.

Suggest a course of action, providing reasons. Example. Recommend a conflict resolution technique for this situation.

Define. Provide a clear and concise explanation of a term. Example.

Define scope creep in project management. Compare. Contrast.

Explain similarities and differences. Example. Compare and contrast predictive and adaptive project life cycles.

Discuss. Explore a topic in detail, considering different perspectives. Example.

Discuss the challenges of managing virtual teams. Outline. Provide a brief summary of the main points.

Example. Outline the key stages of a typical project life cycle. Summarize.

Condense the main points into a concise overview. Example. Summarize the benefits of a work breakdown structure.

Here’s how to master command verbs. Pay close attention. Read the question carefully and highlight the command verb.

Understand the meaning. If unsure, refer to a dictionary or study guide. Practice different question types.

Familiarize yourself with how command verbs are used in various formats. That’s all for this episode on understanding command verbs. By mastering these action words, you’ll be better equipped to decode exam questions, provide targeted responses, and demonstrate your project management expertise.

Thanks for tuning in to Project Management Insights. Don’t forget to subscribe for more, and we’ll see you in the next episode.