Comprehension is the ability to understand the meaning of material, but not necessarily to solve problems or relate it to other material. An individual who comprehends something can paraphrase in his or her own words. Information and experimental data can be interpreted, trends and tendencies can be extended or extrapolated. While comprehension is a higher order skill than knowledge, it appears that knowledge is required for comprehension. Testing for comprehension includes essay questions and the interpretation of paragraphs or data.
Application is the use of abstract ideas in particular concrete situations.
Many straightforward engineering homework problems with a single solution and a single part fit into this level. Application in engineering usually requires remembering and applying technical ideas, principles and theories. Analysis in the context of engineering usually consists of breaking down a complex problem into parts. Each part can then be further broken down or be solved by application of engineering principles. In addition, the connections and interactions between the different parts can be determined.