Verbs and learning outcomes
Each paper has a list of learning outcomes. They should be read with the syllabus content.
A learning outcome has two purposes:
- to define the skill or ability that you should be able to show in the exam
- to demonstrate how the examiner is likely to approach the exam question.
The verbs we use at the beginning of each learning outcome relate to a specific learning objective. The verb used in the learning outcome tells you what you need to be able to do in the exam.
For example, in the sentence: 'Evaluate costing systems for decision-making', the verb 'evaluate' is listed within a high level learning objective.
Learning objectives are hierarchical. The verbs used in the learning outcomes may be replaced in exam questions by lower level verbs but not higher level verbs. Because 'evaluate' is within learning objective 5 (evaluation), you will also be expected to be able to demonstrate all the learning objectives lower than it in the exam.
Read this article (PDF 56KB) by David Harris for a full explanation of the importance of verbs in learning outcomes and exam questions, and to see the verb hierarchy.