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Benjamin Bloom's classification of levels of thinking was developed in 1956 and remains an influential system. Bloom classified learning into 6 categories. Here they are, from the simplest to the most complex.

1. Knowledge

A student at this basic level will be able to recall facts, perhaps with little or no understanding of what they mean.

2. Comprehension

At this level, a student will demonstrate comprehension by interpreting data, and by making elementary predictions, both of which show a deeper than simply factual understanding.

3. Application

Here a student will apply both their knowledge and understanding (from the first two levels).

4. Analysis

A student at this level will be able to differentiate components of a problem or circumstance, and focus on the relationships between the components and of the components to the whole.

5. Synthesis

At this level, a student has the ability to put together various components, often in new ways.

6. Evaluation

A student exhibits this level of thinking by making judgements about the issue — appraising against suitable criteria and standards.

To help make sense of the above, it can be useful to see a list of verbs that go with each level, and also a list of typical questions and possible activities and outcomes.

Here's one such list. Although it is compiled for primary school teachers, it gives a good sense of what is expected of students at each level.

Reference: Benjamin Bloom, Taxonomy of educational objectives, 1984, Allyn & Bacon, Boston.