COMMAND WORDS USED IN ECONOMICS
Analyse
Compare
Contrast
Define
Explain
Explain fully
Explain in detail
Extrapolate
Identify/Recognise
Integrate
Justify
Justify fully
Link
Examine all information and draw a conclusion or make a connection.
Give an account of the similarities between two or more items.
Give an account of the differences between two or more items.
Give the precise meaning of.
Straightforward account that demonstrates an understanding, but provides no
elaboration.
The explanation is complete and demonstrates an understanding of the reasons that
contribute to the outcome; to provide clarity with a detailed answer.
The explanation includes specific information, case study, facts, or resource material.
To infer(reach a conclusion) using statistical data.
Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognise and state briefly a
distinguishing fact or feature.
Incorporate concepts and evidence into the answer to demonstrate comprehensive
understanding.
Demonstrate why the chosen course of action is the best. This may include reference
to the alternative courses of action.
An in-depth response that demonstrates why the chosen course of action is better
than any other course of action
Make connections between one piece of information and other
NCEA Level
Analyse
Compare/Contrast
Define
Explain/Fully explain
Extrapolate statistical data
Identify/Recognise
Integrate
Justify
Link
Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
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Economics
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ECONOMICS ~ language progressions
LEVEL 1
1.1
CONSUMER CHOICES
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


Defining, identifying,
describing or
explaining …
Clearly illustrating
changes using the
demand model
MERIT
Detailed understanding

Providing a detailed
explanation of …



1.2
DECISIONS ABOUT PRODUCTION
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


1.3
Defining, identifying,
describing or
explaining …
Presenting data or
information
MERIT
Detailed understanding


Providing a detailed
explanation …
Using data or
information to
support explanations
of …


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Linking detailed
explanations of …
with detailed
explanations of …
Integrating supporting
data or information
into explanations of …
PRODUCER CHOICES USING SUPPLY
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


1.4
EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Providing an
integrated
explanation of …
Linking detailed
explanations of … with
detailed explanations
of …
Integrating changes in
demand into detailed
explanations
Defining, identifying,
describing or
explaining …
Clearly illustrating
changes using supply
model
MERIT
In-depth understanding

Providing a detailed
explanation …


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Linking detailed
explanations of …
with detailed
explanations of …
Integrating changes in
supply into
explanations of …
MARKET EQUILIBRIUM
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


Identifying, describing
or providing an
explanation …
Clearly illustrating
MERIT
In-depth understanding

Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
Providing a detailed
explanation …

EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Linking detailed
explanations of …
with detailed
explanations of …
2

changes using supply
and demand model
1.5
GOVERNMENT CHOICE
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria




1.6
Integrating changes in
… into detailed
explanations
Describing or
providing an
explanation of …
Identifying options by
collecting information
…
Identifying costs and
benefits of options
Explanation of a
recommendation
MERIT
In-depth understanding

Providing a detailed
explanation of …
Identifying options
and compromises by
collecting information
…
Ranking options on
the basis of costs and
benefits
Justifying a
recommendation by
…







EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Providing a detailed
explanation of …
Identifying options
and compromises by
collecting information
…
Ranking options by
weighting different
costs and benefits
Justifying a
recommendation by
providing detailed
explanations of …
INTERDEPENDENCE
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria



Identifying, defining or
describing …
Providing an
explanation of …
Constructing an
economic model …
MERIT
In-depth understanding

Providing a detailed
explanation of …
using economic
models


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Providing a detailed
explanation of …
using an economic
model
Linking detailed
explanations of …
with detailed
explanations of …
using an economic
model
LEVEL 2
2.1
INFLATION
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


Identifying, defining
or describing …
Explaining …
MERIT
Detailed understanding

Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
Providing a detailed
explanation of …


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
Analysing by
integrating changes
shown on economic
models into detailed
explanations
3
2.2
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Achievement criteria
2.3
ACHIEVED
Analyse international
trade
 Identifying, defining
or describing …
 Explaining …
MERIT
Analyse international
trade in-depth
 Providing detailed
explanation of …
EXCELLENCE
Analyse international
trade comprehensively
 Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
 Analysing by
integrating changes
shown on economic
models into detailed
explanations
ACHIEVED
Analyse economic growth
MERIT
Analyse economic
growth in-depth
 Providing detailed
explanation of …
EXCELLENCE
Analyse economic growth
comprehensively
 Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
 Analysing by
integrating changes
shown on economic
models into detailed
explanations
MERIT
Analyse unemployment
in-depth
 Providing detailed
explanation of …
EXCELLENCE
Analyse unemployment
comprehensively
 Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
 Analysing by
integrating changes
shown on economic
models into detailed
explanations
MERIT
Analyse statistical data
in-depth
 Providing detailed
explanations …
EXCELLENCE
Analyse statistical data
comprehensively
 Making a justified
forecast … using
extrapolated
statistical data …
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Achievement criteria


2.4
UNEMPLOYMENT
ACHIEVED
Analyse unemployment
Achievement criteria


2.5
Identifying, defining
or describing …
Explaining …
Identifying, defining
or describing …
Explaining …
TWO CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES
ACHIEVED
Analyse statistical data
Achievement criteria


Processing and
presenting statistical
data … to show trends
Providing explanations
of inter/relationships …
using economic
concepts and/or
models
Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
4
2.6
GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
ACHIEVED
Analyse
Achievement criteria


2.7
Identifying, stating or
describing …
Providing
explanations of …
MERIT
Analyse in-depth

Providing detailed
explanations …


EXCELLENCE
Analyse
comprehensively
Justifying a …
Integrating changes
shown on … into
detailed explanations
ANALYSE CONTEMPORARY ISSUE USING CONCEPTS/MODELS
ACHIEVED
Analyse
Achievement criteria


Identifying, stating or
describing …
Providing
explanations of …
MERIT
Analyse in-depth

Providing detailed
explanations …


EXCELLENCE
Analyse
comprehensively
Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
Integrating changes
shown on … into
detailed explanations
LEVEL 3
3.1
MARKET EQUILIBRIUM
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


3.2


Providing detailed
explanations of …
Using economic
model to … support
detailed explanations
of …


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Analysing … by
comparing and/or
contrasting …
Integrating … into
explanations … that
compare and/or
contrast …
MARGINAL ANALYSIS
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


3.3
Explaining …
Using economic
model to illustrate
concepts …
MERIT
Detailed understanding
Explaining …
Using economic
model to illustrate
concepts …
MERIT
Detailed understanding


Providing detailed
explanations of …
Using economic
model to … support
detailed explanations
of …


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Comparing and/or
contrasting …
Integrating … into
explanations …
MICRO-ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


Explaining …
Using economic
model to illustrate
MERIT
Detailed understanding


Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
Providing detailed
explanations of …
Using economic

EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Using detailed
explanation,
supported by models
5

3.4
model to … support
detailed explanation
Using data or
information to
support detailed
explanation
and data, and/or
information to justify
…
MERIT
Detailed understanding
EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Making justified
recommendation …
Integrating an
economic model into
justified
recommendation

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria


3.5
concepts …
Processing and/or
presenting data or
information …
Explaining …
Using economic
model to illustrate …

Providing detailed
explanations of …
Using economic
model to … support
detailed explanation



MACRO-ECONOMIC INFLUENCES
ACHIEVED
Understanding
Achievement criteria



Explaining …
Identifying, defining,
calculating, describing
or explaining …
Using economic
models to illustrate
concepts …
MERIT
Detailed understanding


Academic language of ECONOMICS ~ Sue McVeigh, Team Solutions 2013
Providing detailed
explanations of …
Using economic
model to … support
detailed explanations
…


EXCELLENCE
Comprehensive
understanding
Comparing and/or
contrasting …
Integrating … into
explanations … that
compare and/or
contrast …
6