Bloom’s taxonomy question stems, level by level
By Votense · Published 2026-10-11 · Updated 2026-10-11
Bloom’s taxonomy sorts questions by the kind of thinking they require, from recalling a fact to judging an argument or designing something new. A question stem is the opening words of a question, such as “Compare…” or “Explain why…”. Choosing the stem chooses the level, so a set of stems is a quick way to make sure a quiz or a discussion covers more than recall.
The 2001 revision by Anderson and Krathwohl describes six levels in order: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and create. Iowa State University’s teaching centre summarises the revision and notes that lower levels suit introductory courses, while higher levels suit more advanced work. Use the table as a starting point, not a rulebook.
Stems for each level
| Level | Typical verbs | Example stem |
|---|---|---|
| Remember | define, list, identify, name | List the three branches of government. |
| Understand | summarise, explain, classify, compare | Summarise the main idea of the passage in one sentence. |
| Apply | use, solve, demonstrate, calculate | Use the formula to calculate the area of a circle with radius 4. |
| Analyse | compare, contrast, examine, differentiate | Compare the two methods and explain which one fits this problem better. |
| Evaluate | justify, judge, critique, recommend | Which option would you recommend, and what evidence supports it? |
| Create | design, plan, compose, propose | Design a short experiment to test whether plants grow faster in shade. |
Using the stems in a quiz
Start with one stem per level for a unit, so the assessment covers the full range. A remember stem is usually a choice question with clear options. An apply stem works well as a short calculation with a typed answer. Analyse and evaluate stems often need a written answer, which you can mark yourself in exam mode, where you can hold scores back until you release them.
For a faster check during a lesson, use a stem for an exit ticket. A “which of these is the best reason…” stem gives you an analyse or evaluate question in a single minute, and the answers show whether students are reasoning or only recalling.
Writing a stem that works
A good stem names the thinking it wants, in the first word, and it names the content. “Explain why the Roman Republic lasted a long time” is better than “Tell me about the Roman Republic”, because the second could be answered at any level. Avoid stems that ask for an opinion with no criteria; students cannot be marked fairly against a question that does not say what counts as a good answer.
Check each stem against the level it claims. If a student can answer it by quoting the textbook, it is a remember question, even if it says “evaluate”. Rewrite it so the answer needs a judgement the student has to make.
Connecting levels to assessment
Use the levels to plan the mix of a test, not to rank students. A test that is all remember questions shows what students can recall, and a test that is all create questions shows what they can design, but neither shows the whole picture. For a broader view of when each kind of check is used, read formative vs summative assessment, and for how to write the choice questions at the lower levels, see the multiple choice guide.
Sources
- Iowa State University, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching: Bloom’s Taxonomy
- UBC, Blooms verbs and question stems (CWSEI materials)
Frequently asked questions
What are the six levels of Bloom’s taxonomy?
The 2001 revision, edited by Anderson and Krathwohl, names six levels: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and create. The original 1956 version used nouns such as knowledge and synthesis, so older sources may use those names.
Does a higher level mean a harder question?
Not always. Bloom’s levels describe the kind of thinking a question asks for. UBC’s teaching materials note that the levels measure cognitive demand rather than difficulty, so a hard recall question can still sit at the remember level.
Can I use these stems in a Votense quiz?
Yes. Write the stem as the question, then add the answer or a model answer. For a choice question, the quiz maker needs the correct option; for an essay, the question can be open and marked by you in exam mode.