Exam Papers
Showing Your Working
In Paper 2, how you set out a solution matters as much as the answer. Clear, ordered working is where the method marks live.
A layout that scores
State the formula or rule first. Substitute the numbers on the next line.
Simplify step by step, one idea per line. Keep units attached.
End with a clear final answer, underlined. A marker who can follow you awards every mark you earned.
Frequently asked questions
If my final answer is wrong but my method is correct, do I still get marks in Paper 2?
Yes, Paper 2 uses analytic scoring, which awards marks step by step for a correct method even if a small slip (like an arithmetic error) leads to the wrong final number. That is why writing out each step clearly matters more than rushing straight to an answer, since method marks are earned along the way, not only at the end.
How much working should I show for a calculation that seems simple?
Even for a step that feels obvious, write down the formula or substitution you used before the result, a bare final number with nothing leading to it can only be marked right or wrong, with no method marks to fall back on if it happens to be incorrect. One clear line of working is usually enough; you do not need to over-explain.
What happens if my working is messy or I cross something out?
A clear cross-out is fine, the examiner marks what you intend as your final working, so neatly striking through a wrong attempt and continuing beside or below it is far better than leaving two conflicting answers with no indication which one counts. What costs marks is working so disorganised the examiner cannot follow which steps belong to which part of the question.