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Describe or Explain: How Do I Answer the Essay Question?Bonus Section · Video 4 of 6

Describe or Explain: How Do I Answer the Essay Question?

Describe or Explain: How Do I Answer the Essay Question?

Describing says what happened; explaining says why or how, and what resulted. In Sec 2, Section B usually has two structured-essay questions, each in two parts: describe (often 4 marks), then explain (often 6). These notes set out three steps (read the question, describe, explain with PEEL), a model explain paragraph, and a five-minute plan.

The Section B Questions

A sunburnt teenage boy sitting on a beach mat eating satay, with a bag and a bottle of sunblock beside him
Describe the weekend, or explain it? Illustration drawn for Our Study Tribe.
  • Describe vs explain: "Went to the beach. Ate satay. Got sunburnt." describes; "I got sunburnt because I forgot my sunblock. As a result…" explains.
  • The paper: usually two structured-essay questions, each in two parts. Some schools let you choose two out of three.
  • The marks: part one is describe, usually 4 marks; part two is explain, usually 6 marks.
  • Check: marks may differ in your school, so check with your teacher.

Step 1: Read the Question

  • Command word and topic: circle the command word, then underline the topic.
  • "Describe how the British tried to win support after World War Two." Command word: describe. Topic: what the British did.
  • "Explain why the PAP wanted merger with Malaya." Command word: explain. Topic: the PAP's reasons.

Step 2: Describe

  • Describe: what happened, with details.
  • Too bare: a plain list such as "The British built houses and opened restaurants" stays at level two.
  • Better: the Singapore Improvement Trust sped up its building, with about 21,000 homes and shops between 1947 and 1959.
  • And: the British opened People's Restaurants, where a meal cost 35 cents; by the end of 1946, there were ten.
  • The ladder: one described point usually gets 3 marks; two get 4.

Step 3: Explain, With PEEL

  • Explain: why or how, and the result. Use PEEL (some books call it Claim, Evidence, Reasoning).
  • Joining words: "because" and "as a result" turn facts into an explanation.
  • The ladder: one explained reason usually gets 4–5 marks; two get the top 6.
  • A second reason: for the PAP and merger, a common market would earn the top marks.

Describe or Explain: How Do I Answer the Essay Question?

Worked Example: Why the PAP Wanted Merger
  1. PointOne reason why the PAP wanted merger with Malaya was to gain independence from Britain.
  2. EvidenceDuring the Cold War, Britain feared that communism would spread. It would not let Singapore become independent on its own, but it would accept a bigger, stable federation.
  3. ElaborationBecause Britain would only give up Singapore as part of a larger federation that it trusted to resist communism, joining Malaya was the only road to independence that Britain would allow.
  4. LinkHence, the PAP saw merger as the way to end British rule.

The Five-Minute Plan

  1. Circle the command word.
  2. Jot down two points.
  3. Next to each, one fact or number.
  4. For the explain part, add "because" or "as a result" next to each point.
  5. Then write. Two strong points beat four weak ones.

In One Sentence

  • Read the command word first: describe what happened with clear details, and explain why or how with PEEL, because two well-supported points earn more marks than a list.

Think About It

  1. "In 1946, the British opened People's Restaurants." Is this describing or explaining? What would you add to make it explain?
  2. Why do two strong points usually score better than four weak ones?
  3. Write the command word and topic for: "Explain why Singapore introduced National Service in 1967."