Task Verbs Used in Free Response questions

Calculate

Perform mathematical steps to arrive at a final answer (e.g., algebraic expressions or diagrams with properly substituted numbers and correct labeling). Calculate tasks are also phrased with “Find” or interrogatory questions such as “How many?”, “What is?”, “How likely?”, or How often?”.

Compare

Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.

Construct/Complete

Represent data in graphical or numerical form

Describe

Provide the relevant characteristics of representations, distribution, or methods

Determine

Apply an appropriate definition or perform calculation to identify values, intervals, or solutions. Determine tasks are also phrased with interrogatory questions such a as “Do the data support?”, “Do the data provide?”, “Is there evidence?”, “Which is better?”, “Does your answer match?”, or “Can it be assumed?”

Estimate

Use models or representations to find approximate values for functions

Explain

Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning to support or qualify a claim. “Explain” tasks may also be phrased as ‘Give a reason for….”

Give a point estimate or interval estimate

Use models or representations to find approximate values for uncertain figures

Give Examples

Provide a specific example that meets given criteria

Identify/Indicate/Circle

Indicate or provide information about a specified topic in words or by circling, shading, or marking given information, without elaboration or explanation. Also phrased as “What is?" or “Which?”

Interpret

Describe the connection between a mathematical expression, representation, or solutions and its meaning within the realistic context of a problem, sometimes including consideration of units

Justify

Provide evidence to support, qualify, or defend a claim and/or provide statistical reasoning to explain how that evidence supports or qualifies the claim

Verify

Confirm that the conditions of a particular definition, distribution, or interference method are met in order to verify that it is applicable in a given situation. Verify tasks may also be phrased as “Have the conditions been met?” or “Can it be assumed?”