Bloom's Classification of Cognitive Skills

Category

Definition

Related Behaviors

Knowledge

recalling or remembering something without necessarily understanding, using, or changing it

define, describe, identify, label, list, match, memorize, point to, recall, select, state

Comprehension

understanding something that has been communicated without necessarily relating it to anything else

alter, account for, annotate, calculate, change, convert, group, explain, generalize, give examples, infer, interpret, paraphrase, predict, review, summarize, translate

Application

using a general concept to solve problems in a particular situation; using learned material in new and concrete situations

apply, adopt, collect, construct, demonstrate, discover, illustrate, interview, make use of, manipulate, relate, show, solve, use

Analysis

breaking something down into its parts; may focus on identification of parts or analysis of relationships between parts, or recognition of organizational principles

analyze, compare, contrast, diagram, differentiate, dissect, distinguish, identify, illustrate, infer, outline, point out, select, separate, sort, subdivide

Synthesis

creating something new by putting parts of different ideas together to make a whole.

blend, build, change, combine, compile, compose, conceive, create, design, formulate, generate, hypothesize, plan, predict, produce, reorder, revise, tell, write

Evaluation

judging the value of material or methods as they might be applied in a particular situation; judging with the use of definite criteria

accept, appraise, assess, arbitrate, award, choose, conclude, criticize, defend, evaluate, grade, judge, prioritize, recommend, referee, reject, select, support