With contributions from: Hollie Leach

The basics of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Ever feel like your student understands something one minute, only to forget it the next? Or they can solve problems in class but get stuck applying those skills in real life? That’s where Bloom’s Taxonomy can make a difference.

Coined by educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom, this handy framework breaks learning into six levels, from basic recall to complex creation. Think of it as a ladder, where each rung builds on the last. Understanding these levels helps you tailor your tutoring sessions to where your student is right now - and where you want them to go.

Let’s explore each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, how it works in practice, and how you can apply it in your tutoring sessions to help your students climb the ladder of learning success.

The six levels of Bloom’s

Let’s go through the six levels in a bit more detail, so you know exactly what each one looks like in action.

1. Remember

This is the foundation - students simply need to recall or recognise facts and basic information.

In practice: Your student might memorise times tables, list the planets in order, or identify the main characters in a novel.
Tutoring tip: Use flashcards, quizzes, or memory games to help students reinforce key facts. For instance, try a rapid-fire Q&A session where they name as many algebraic rules as they can in 60 seconds.

2. Understand

Now, students begin to grasp the meaning of the information by explaining it in their own words.

In practice: Your student might summarise a chapter of a book, rephrase a science definition, or explain why a historical event happened.
Tutoring tip: After introducing a concept, ask your student to teach it back to you. For example, after learning about Pythagoras’ theorem, they could explain how to use it to find the hypotenuse of a triangle.

3. Apply

At this stage, students use their knowledge in real-world or new situations.

In practice: Solving a geometry problem using learned formulas or writing an essay using persuasive techniques discussed in class.
Tutoring tip: Give real-world examples to help bridge theory and practice. For example, when teaching percentages, have your student calculate a shop’s discount during a mock sale.

4. Analyse

Here, students break information into parts, identify patterns, and see relationships between ideas.

In practice: Comparing two different texts to spot thematic similarities or analysing data to find trends.
Tutoring tip: Use comparison exercises. For example, ask your student to analyse two methods for solving a problem, like elimination versus substitution in simultaneous equations, and explain which they prefer and why.

5. Evaluate

Students now judge the value of ideas or work, critiquing strengths and weaknesses.

In practice: They might assess the effectiveness of a persuasive argument in an essay or decide if a scientific experiment is valid based on its methodology.
Tutoring tip: After completing a task, ask your student reflective questions like: “What worked well? What would you change next time?” For maths, they could evaluate which approach to solving a problem was most efficient.

6. Create

The highest level - students combine their knowledge to create something entirely new.

In practice: Designing a project, writing a story, or inventing a solution to a real-world problem.
Tutoring tip: Encourage creativity. For example, if you’re working on essay writing, challenge your student to create their own question and write an essay answering it. Or ask them to design their dream science experiment.

Bloom’s in the classroom

So, how do you make Bloom’s Taxonomy work for you and your students? Here are some practical tips:

1. Start at the right level

Identify where your student is on the ladder. If they struggle to recall facts, focus on building that foundation. If they’ve mastered the basics, challenge them with higher-level thinking.

Example: If a student knows their history dates but struggles with essay writing, spend time on analysing source material and forming balanced arguments (Analyse and Evaluate).

2. Ask the right questions

Tailor your questions to the level your student is working at:

Remember: “What year did World War II start?”
Understand: “Why did the war start?”
Apply: “How might similar alliances work in today’s world?”
Analyse: “What were the similarities and differences between World Wars I and II?”
Evaluate: “Which alliance do you think was most effective, and why?”
Create: “Design a peace treaty that could have ended the war earlier.”

3. Chunk your lessons

Divide your session into smaller tasks that tackle different levels of the taxonomy.

Example: In a maths session, you could start with a recall activity (Remember), then explain how to use a formula (Understand), before solving problems (Apply), and finally comparing two solutions (Analyse).

4. Set challenge levels

Mix tasks across the levels to keep your student engaged and progressing.

Example: Start with simple recall questions about key vocabulary in a science topic, then ask them to design an experiment (Create) using those concepts.

5. Give feedback that builds confidence

Highlight where your student is excelling and show them the next step on the ladder.

Example: “You did a great job explaining that physics concept. Now let’s see if you can apply it to this problem.”

The benefits of Bloom’s

Ready to put Bloom’s Taxonomy into action? Start by identifying where your student is on the ladder and tailor your tasks and questions to their level. With practice, you’ll see them climb from basic recall to confident creation - and the best part is, they’ll start recognising their own progress too.

Whether it’s helping them nail the basics or encouraging them to think outside the box, Bloom’s Taxonomy is your secret weapon for unlocking their potential. Step by step, rung by rung, you’ve got this!

Bloom's Taxonomy