📝 Command Words Why They Matter So Much
Every question in Paper 1 starts with a command word. This is the word that tells you exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Get it right and you pick up marks easily. Ignore it and you could write a brilliant paragraph that scores zero.
Think of command words like instructions in a recipe. If the recipe says "chop the onion" and you blend it instead, the dish goes wrong even if you worked really hard. Same idea here.
The four command words covered in this lesson Define, Identify, State and Give are the shorter answer command words. They appear mostly in Section A and carry 1–3 marks each. They reward students who know their stuff and keep it brief and accurate.
💡 The Golden Rule
These four command words do NOT ask you to explain, discuss or evaluate. Do not write long paragraphs. Short, accurate and to the point wins every time. One or two sentences is usually enough.
📑 The Four Command Words Up Close
① Define
What it means: Write the precise meaning of a term or concept. You are being asked to show you know what a word means in a Travel & Tourism context.
How many marks? Usually 2 marks. One mark for a basic meaning, a second mark for adding a little more detail or a relevant example.
Top tip: Don't just say what something "is like" say what it is. Avoid vague words like "when things happen" or "it's about tourism."
❌ Weak Answer
Question: Define the term 'ecotourism'.
"Ecotourism is when people go on holiday to nature places and try to be careful."
This is too vague. It doesn't use the right terminology and would likely score 1 out of 2.
✅ Strong Answer
Question: Define the term 'ecotourism'.
"Ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism that takes place in natural environments, aiming to conserve the environment and improve the wellbeing of local communities."
This is precise, uses the right language and earns full marks.
📚 Key Terms You Must Be Able to Define
- Tourism: The activities of people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year, for leisure, business or other purposes.
- Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the wellbeing of local people.
- Sustainable tourism: Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.
- Carrying capacity: The maximum number of people that can visit a destination at any one time without causing damage to the physical, economic or socio-cultural environment.
- Multiplier effect: The process by which money spent by tourists circulates through the local economy, creating additional income and jobs.
- Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC): A model that describes how tourist destinations develop over time through six stages: Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation and Decline or Rejuvenation.
- Leakage: The proportion of tourist spending that leaves the local economy, for example through the use of imported goods or foreign-owned hotels.
- Mass tourism: Large-scale tourism to popular destinations, typically involving package holidays and large numbers of visitors.
② Identify
What it means: Pick out or name something specific from a source usually a photograph, map, graph, table or written stimulus. You are pointing something out, not explaining it.
How many marks? Usually 1–2 marks. One mark per correct point identified.
Top tip: Always look carefully at the stimulus material. The answer is often right there in front of you. Don't overthink it just name what you can see or read.
📷 Example Identifying from a Photograph
Question: Identify two features of the photograph that suggest this is a mass tourism destination. [2 marks]
Model Answer:
- "A large hotel complex can be seen in the background." ✓
- "The beach is crowded with many tourists and sun loungers." ✓
Two clear, specific points from the image = 2 marks. No explanation needed.
📈 Example Identifying from a Graph or Table
Question: Identify the year in which international tourist arrivals were highest. [1 mark]
Model Answer: "2019" simple, direct, correct. That's all you need.
Students often lose marks here by writing "The year in which arrivals were highest was 2019 because the graph shows a peak..." the "because" part is unnecessary and wastes your time.
③ State
What it means: Give a fact, point or piece of information clearly and directly. No explanation or justification is needed. Just say it.
How many marks? Usually 1 mark per point. Questions might ask you to "state two" things, so you'd write two short answers.
Top tip: "State" questions are quick marks. Don't pad your answer out. One clear sentence per point is perfect.
📍 State Travel & Tourism Examples
Q: State two types of tourism. [2 marks]
- Domestic tourism
- International tourism
Done. Two marks. No waffle needed.
📍 More State Examples
Q: State one economic benefit of tourism. [1 mark]
- "Tourism creates jobs for local people."
Q: State the meaning of 'inbound tourism'. [1 mark]
- "Inbound tourism is when visitors from other countries travel to a destination."
📚 Key Facts to Be Able to State
- The three types of tourism are: domestic, inbound and outbound.
- The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.
- Tourism is one of the world's largest industries, accounting for around 10% of global GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The six stages of Butler's TALC are: Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation and Decline or Rejuvenation.
- Push factors encourage people to leave their home country; pull factors attract them to a destination.
- The four main types of tourist motivation are: physical, cultural, interpersonal and status/prestige (based on McIntosh's model).
④ Give
What it means: Provide a specific example, reason or piece of information. Very similar to "State" it's asking you to produce something from your knowledge, not explain it at length.
How many marks? Usually 1 mark per point. Sometimes "Give an example" is worth 1 mark; "Give two reasons" would be 2 marks.
Top tip: When asked to "Give an example," always name a real, specific place, organisation or event. Vague answers like "a country in Europe" score nothing.
🌎 Give Real Exam-Style Examples
Q: Give one example of an international tourism organisation. [1 mark]
✅ Strong: "The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)."
❌ Weak: "A tourism organisation that helps countries." No marks. Not specific enough.
Q: Give two reasons why tourists visit coastal destinations. [2 marks]
✅ Strong:
- "To enjoy warm weather and sunshine."
- "To take part in water sports such as snorkelling or surfing."
🔎 Spotting the Difference A Quick Comparison
These four command words can feel similar, so here's a clear side-by-side comparison to help you tell them apart instantly in the exam.
📝 Define
Write the meaning of a term. Use correct terminology. Usually 2 marks.
"Define the term 'heritage tourism'."
🔍 Identify
Pick something out from a source or stimulus. The answer is usually visible. Usually 1–2 marks.
"Identify one feature shown in the photograph."
📋 State / Give
Provide a fact, reason or example from your knowledge. Short and direct. Usually 1 mark per point.
"State two impacts of tourism." / "Give one example of a UNESCO site."
🏆 Case Study Snapshot: Costa Rica A Country That Gets Ecotourism Right
Costa Rica is a brilliant example to use when answering "Give an example of a sustainable tourism destination." Here's what you need to know:
- Costa Rica covers just 0.03% of the Earth's surface but contains nearly 5% of the world's biodiversity.
- Over 25% of the country is protected national park land.
- Tourism generates around $4 billion per year for the economy.
- The government actively promotes ecotourism to protect rainforests and wildlife.
- Local communities benefit through eco-lodges, guided tours and conservation employment.
Use this when asked to "Give an example of ecotourism" or "State a country that practises sustainable tourism."
📄 Putting It All Together Mixed Practice
Here are four exam-style questions one for each command word. Try answering them yourself before reading the model answers.
✍️ Try These Yourself
📝 Question 1 Define [2 marks]
Define the term 'carrying capacity' in the context of tourism.
Model Answer: "Carrying capacity is the maximum number of visitors a destination can accommodate at one time without causing damage to the environment, local culture or visitor experience."
🔍 Question 2 Identify [2 marks]
Study the bar chart showing tourist arrivals. Identify the continent with the highest number of arrivals in 2019.
Model Answer: "Europe had the highest number of international tourist arrivals in 2019."
📋 Question 3 State [2 marks]
State two negative environmental impacts of tourism.
Model Answer:
- "Tourism can cause pollution of beaches and oceans through litter and sewage."
- "Large numbers of visitors can damage fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs."
🌎 Question 4 Give [2 marks]
Give two examples of organisations that support sustainable tourism.
Model Answer:
- "The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)."
- "The Travel Foundation."
🚀 Quick Revision Summary
- 📝 Define = Write the precise meaning of a term. Use correct Travel & Tourism language.
- 🔍 Identify = Point something out from a source. Short, direct, no explanation needed.
- 📋 State = Give a clear fact or point from your knowledge. One sentence per mark.
- 🌎 Give = Provide a specific example, reason or piece of information. Always be specific.
- ⏳ These command words = short answers. Don't write essays for 1–2 mark questions.
- 🏆 Learn real examples: Costa Rica (ecotourism), UNWTO (organisation), Butler's TALC (model).