🔎 What Do "Explain" and "Analyse" Actually Mean?
In your iGCSE Travel & Tourism exam, the words used in a question are called command words. They tell you exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Two of the most important and most misunderstood are Explain and Analyse. Getting these right can be the difference between a grade C and a grade A.
Key Definitions:
- Explain: Give reasons for something. Say why or how something happens. Don't just describe go one step further.
- Analyse: Break something down into parts. Look at how different factors connect, what the consequences are and how important each part is.
- Command word: The instruction word in an exam question that tells you what kind of answer to write.
- Developed point: A point that is backed up with a reason, example, or consequence not just a bare statement.
💡 Quick Rule of Thumb
Describe = What is it? | Explain = Why does it happen? | Analyse = How do the parts connect and what does it mean overall?
Think of it like a ladder. Each command word takes you one rung higher. Examiners reward students who climb the ladder!
📋 Explain Questions How to Nail Them
Explain questions are usually worth 3–4 marks. They want you to give a reason or a chain of reasoning. The golden rule: never stop at the first sentence. Always follow up with "because…", "this means that…", or "as a result…"
📝 The "Because Chain" Technique
A simple but powerful method. Make your point, then keep asking yourself "so what?" or "why?" until you've built a full chain of reasoning. Here's how it works:
❌ Weak Answer (1 mark)
Question: Explain why tourism has grown in Thailand.
"Tourism has grown in Thailand because it has nice beaches."
This is a description. It doesn't explain the mechanism or give any development. An examiner would award 1 mark at most.
✅ Strong Answer (3–4 marks)
Question: Explain why tourism has grown in Thailand.
"Tourism has grown in Thailand because it offers a wide range of natural attractions such as beaches and national parks, which means it appeals to many different types of tourists. Furthermore, the development of budget airlines has reduced the cost of flights, making Thailand more accessible to tourists from Europe and Asia who previously could not afford to visit."
Notice how the strong answer uses connective phrases to build the chain. These are your best tools:
- 👉 "…which means that…"
- 👉 "…because…"
- 👉 "…therefore…"
- 👉 "…as a result…"
- 👉 "…this leads to…"
🔍 Worked Example: Explain Question with Examiner Notes
Question: Explain how the development of budget airlines has affected tourism. (3 marks)
Model Answer: "The growth of budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet has made air travel significantly cheaper, which means that people on lower incomes can now afford to travel abroad for holidays. This has led to a large increase in short-haul tourism across Europe, as destinations like Malaga and Krakow have become accessible to millions of new tourists who would previously have had to travel by car or train."
✅ Examiner Note: Named example âś“ | Chain of reasoning âś“ | Consequence identified âś“ = Full marks
📈 Analyse Questions Going Deeper
Analyse questions are usually worth 4–6 marks. They expect you to do more than just explain one thing you need to look at multiple factors, consider how they link together and often make a judgement about which factor is most significant.
🔭 The PEEL+ Method for Analyse Questions
You may already know PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link). For analyse questions, we add a + a comparative or evaluative comment that shows you're thinking at a higher level.
📌 P Point
Make a clear, relevant point that directly answers the question. Don't waffle get straight to it.
"One factor that affects the success of a tourist destination is its accessibility…"
📌 E Evidence
Back up your point with a named example, statistic, or case study. Vague answers lose marks.
"…For example, Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, handling over 86 million passengers per year…"
📌 E Explain
Explain why your evidence supports your point. Use those connective phrases.
"…This means tourists from across the globe can reach Dubai quickly and easily, which has helped it attract over 16 million visitors annually…"
📌 L Link
Connect your point back to the question or lead into your next point.
"…However, accessibility alone does not explain Dubai's success the range of attractions also plays a key role…"
➕ + Evaluate
For higher marks, make a judgement. Which factor is most important? Are there any limitations? Is there a counter-argument?
"…While all four A's contribute to success, accessibility is arguably the most critical because without it, even the most attractive destination cannot grow its visitor numbers."
🔍 Worked Example: Analyse Question with Examiner Notes
Question: Analyse the factors that have made ecotourism in Costa Rica successful. (6 marks)
Model Answer:
"Costa Rica's ecotourism success is largely due to its exceptional natural attractions. The country contains around 5% of the world's biodiversity despite covering less than 0.1% of its land area, which means it offers tourists unique wildlife experiences unavailable elsewhere. This has created strong demand from high-spending tourists interested in nature.
A second key factor is government policy. Costa Rica has placed over 25% of its land under protected status, ensuring that natural habitats are preserved for future tourism. This demonstrates a long-term commitment to sustainability, which has enhanced Costa Rica's reputation as a responsible destination.
However, the most significant factor is arguably the combination of accessibility and infrastructure. The development of eco-lodges, guided tours and well-maintained national parks means tourists can access remote areas safely. Without this infrastructure, the natural attractions alone would not be enough to sustain a successful tourism industry.
Overall, it is the interaction between natural assets, government protection and quality infrastructure that explains Costa Rica's ecotourism success no single factor is sufficient on its own."
✅ Examiner Note: Multiple factors âś“ | Named examples and data âś“ | Factors linked together âś“ | Evaluative conclusion âś“ = Full marks
🔎 Spot the Difference Explain vs Analyse Side by Side
Let's look at the same topic answered at two different levels, so you can see exactly what changes when you move from explaining to analysing.
Topic: The impact of over-tourism on Venice, Italy
📝 Explain Answer (3 marks)
"Over-tourism in Venice has caused environmental damage because the large number of tourists over 30 million per year puts pressure on the fragile lagoon ecosystem. Cruise ships cause wave erosion to the canal walls, which means historic buildings are being damaged. This threatens the long-term sustainability of the destination."
✅ Why it works: Clear point + reason + consequence. Uses a statistic. Answers "why" and "how".
📈 Analyse Answer (6 marks)
"Over-tourism in Venice creates both environmental and socio-cultural problems. Environmentally, cruise ships erode canal walls and pollute the lagoon, threatening UNESCO World Heritage status. Socially, rising property prices caused by tourist demand have forced many local residents to leave Venice's population has fallen from 175,000 in the 1950s to under 50,000 today.
These two impacts are linked: as locals leave, the city loses its authentic culture, which ironically reduces the very appeal that attracted tourists in the first place. Management strategies such as the 2021 cruise ship ban show the government is aware of this, but critics argue it is too little, too late.
Overall, the environmental impacts are serious, but the social displacement of residents may be the most damaging long-term consequence, as it fundamentally changes the character of the destination."
✅ Why it works: Multiple impacts âś“ | Data âś“ | Impacts linked âś“ | Management discussed âś“ | Evaluative judgement âś“
✍ Command Word Decoder Your Exam Cheat Sheet
Different command words require different approaches. Here's a quick guide to the most common ones in iGCSE Travel & Tourism:
👉 Describe (1–2 marks)
Say what something is like. No reasons needed. Keep it factual and brief.
"Describe the pattern of tourist arrivals shown in the graph."
💡 Just say what you see don't explain why.
👉 Explain (3–4 marks)
Give reasons. Use "because", "therefore", "this means". Build a chain of reasoning.
"Explain why tourist numbers declined after 2020."
💡 Always go beyond the first sentence.
👉 Analyse / Assess (5–6 marks)
Look at multiple factors, link them and make a judgement. Use PEEL+.
"Analyse the factors affecting the growth of ecotourism."
💡 Always end with an evaluative conclusion.
💡 The "So What?" Test
After every sentence you write in an explain or analyse answer, ask yourself: "So what? Why does this matter?"
If you can answer that question and you haven't written it down yet write it down. That's where the marks are hiding.
📚 Using Named Examples Don't Be Vague
One of the most common reasons students lose marks is being too vague. Examiners love specific named examples. "A country in Asia" is worth nothing. "Thailand, which received 39 million tourists in 2019" is worth marks.
🔍 Your Named Example Toolkit
Here are some reliable examples you can drop into explain and analyse answers across different themes:
🌿 Ecotourism
- Costa Rica 25% land protected, biodiversity tourism
- Bhutan high value, low volume policy, $200/day tourist tax
- Maasai Mara, Kenya community-based tourism
🌞 Over-Tourism / Negative Impacts
- Venice, Italy 30 million visitors/year, population decline
- Bali, Indonesia water shortages, cultural erosion
- Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching, tourist pressure
🏛 Destination Development
- Dubai built tourism attractions, Burj Khalifa, 16 million visitors
- Benidorm, Spain TALC model, mass tourism, rejuvenation
- The Gambia developing tourism, dependency risk
📊 Marks Breakdown What Examiners Are Looking For
Understanding how marks are awarded helps you write smarter answers. Here's what a typical mark scheme looks like for explain and analyse questions:
📝 Explain Question (4 marks)
- 1 mark: Simple point made, no development
- 2 marks: Point + one reason or consequence
- 3 marks: Developed point with chain of reasoning OR two separate explained points
- 4 marks: Two well-developed points with reasons, consequences and/or named examples
📈 Analyse Question (6 marks)
- 1–2 marks: Simple points, little development
- 3–4 marks: Several explained points, some use of examples
- 5 marks: Multiple factors explained, some links made between them
- 6 marks: Multiple factors, clear links, named examples, evaluative conclusion
🔍 Real Exam Scenario: Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Question: Explain how Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) can help managers plan for the future of a tourist destination. (4 marks)
Step 1 Read the command word: "Explain" I need reasons and consequences, not just a description of TALC stages.
Step 2 Plan quickly (30 seconds): Point 1 = TALC shows when decline is coming → managers can act early. Point 2 = TALC shows what stage a destination is at → helps choose the right strategy (e.g. rejuvenation vs. consolidation).
Step 3 Write with connectives: "Butler's TALC model is useful for managers because it shows the typical stages a destination passes through, which means managers can identify warning signs of decline before it becomes severe. For example, Benidorm recognised it was entering the stagnation stage in the 1990s and invested in new hotels and attractions to rejuvenate the destination, resulting in a recovery in visitor numbers. Furthermore, TALC helps managers choose appropriate strategies for each stage therefore a destination in the involvement stage would focus on building infrastructure, while one in decline would prioritise rebranding."
✅ Result: 4/4 Two developed points, named example, connective phrases used throughout.
✍ Quick Practice Try These Yourself
Use the techniques from this guide to write your own answers. Aim for the mark targets shown.
📌 Practice Prompts
📝 Explain Questions (aim for 3–4 marks)
- Explain why some tourists choose ecotourism over mass tourism. (3 marks)
- Explain how improved transport links can increase tourist arrivals at a destination. (4 marks)
- Explain why community-based tourism can benefit local people. (3 marks)
💡 Tip: Write at least 3–4 sentences per answer. Use "because", "this means", "therefore".
📈 Analyse Questions (aim for 5–6 marks)
- Analyse the economic impacts of tourism on a developing country. (6 marks)
- Analyse how sustainable tourism strategies can reduce the negative impacts of tourism on fragile environments. (6 marks)
💡 Tip: Use PEEL+. Include at least two factors, link them together and finish with a judgement.
✅ Last-Minute Checklist Before You Submit
- 👉 Have I answered the command word (explain/analyse)?
- 👉 Have I used connective phrases (because, therefore, this means)?
- 👉 Have I included at least one named example?
- 👉 Have I developed each point beyond the first sentence?
- 👉 For analyse questions have I made a judgement or conclusion?
- 👉 Have I checked my answer makes geographical sense?