The key word account is used in HSC PDHPE exams and asks you to “state reasons for, report on.”[1] This links very closely with the key word explain, which asks you to
Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how.[1]
When you account for something, you need to provide reasons why and/or how what has happened happens. For example, if the question is “Account for the rise in the use of complementary and alternative health products and services.” then you need to provide reasons why more people are using this type of health product or service. In order to provide the why you will also talk about how the rise occurred. Thus, you are providing reasons for the rise.
When answering a question with the key word account you need to use causal connective and/or conjunctions. These include words such as: so, consequently, in that case, because, therefore, so as, as a result of, as a consequence of, an effect of, etc. Using these terms make it easy to identify that you have actually accounted with relation to the topic that follows.
Other terms you may choose to use in answering an account question are: creates, produces, causes, initiates, shapes, is influenced by, leads to, springs from, results in, etc.
A great way to plan an extended response which uses account is to use arrows, where one thing results to another or is the reason for the another as you follow the arrows. This helps you to ensure your answer is showing reasons for, and not just describing the events.
The key word account does not appear in the Stage 6 syllabus for PDHPE, but could be used for various topics where you are required to be able to provide reasons for how or why something happens or happened.
[1] http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html
