Benjamin Bloom created this taxonomy for categorizing level of abstraction of questions that commonly occur in educational settings. The taxonomy provides a useful structure in which to categorize test questions, since professors will characteristically ask questions within particular levels, and if you can determine the levels of questions that will appear on your exams, you will be able to study using appropriate strategies. 

Competence	Skills Demonstrated
Knowledge	observation and recall of information  knowledge of dates, events, places  knowledge of major ideas  mastery of subject matter  Question Cues: list, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote, name, who, when, where, etc.
Comprehension	understanding information  grasp meaning  translate knowledge into new context  interpret facts, compare, contrast  order, group, infer causes  predict consequences  Question Cues:  summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish, estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend
Application	use information  use methods, concepts, theories in new situations  solve problems using required skills or knowledge  Questions Cues:  apply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, solve, examine, modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discover
Analysis	seeing patterns  organization of parts  recognition of hidden meanings  identification of components  Question Cues: analyze, separate, order, explain, connect, classify, arrange, divide, compare, select, explain, infer
Synthesis	use old ideas to create new ones  generalize from given facts  relate knowledge from several areas  predict, draw conclusions  Question Cues: combine, integrate, modify, rearrange, substitute, plan, create, design, invent, what it?, compose, formulate, prepare, generalize, rewrite
Evaluation	compare and discriminate between ideas  assess value of theories, presentations  make choices based on reasoned argument  verify value of evidence  recognize subjectivity  Question Cues assess, decide, rank, grade, test, measure, recommend, convince, select, judge, explain, discriminate, support, conclude, compare, summarize

* Adapted from: Bloom, B.S. (Ed.) (1956) Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals: Handbook I, cognitive domain. New York ; Toronto: Longmans, Green.