English questions often become easier once the student identifies the job hidden in the command word. “Identify”, “explain”, “infer”, “compare” and “support with evidence” do not ask for the same response.
This legacy Waterwoods Punggol English page now owns one job: command word → answer job → answer boundary. It does not imply a separate eduKate branch at Waterwoods; families should confirm current teaching location, timing and availability directly.
Identify
Locate and state the required information. Do not over-explain unless the question asks for it.
Explain
Show the relationship: cause, reason, effect or significance. A copied phrase without the connection may remain incomplete.
Infer
Use clues to reach a conclusion that is not directly stated. The conclusion must remain bounded by evidence.
Compare
Use a common dimension. “A is different from B” is weaker than stating how they differ in attitude, action, language, purpose or effect.
Support With Evidence
State the claim, identify the relevant textual clue and explain how the clue supports the claim.
| Command | Typical answer depth |
|---|---|
| Identify | Direct relevant information |
| Explain | Relationship/reason |
| Infer | Evidence-constrained conclusion |
| Compare | Similarity/difference on same dimension |
| Support | Claim + evidence + link |
Three students can answer the same passage questions while taking turns identifying the command job, checking evidence and verifying the response boundary. A fresh passage then tests whether the process has become independent.
For Waterwoods Families
Verify current eduKate class logistics directly. A useful English programme should help the learner recognise the task before producing more language than the question needs.
