Command Words in GCSE maths exams

If a question says 'measure' how do we answer the question?

• Use your calculator to answer

• Solve using algebra

• Using a ruler or protractor

• Ask for some tracing paper before you begin.

If a maths exam question says 'evaluate' what do you need to do?

• Look through someone's method and suggest improvements

• Work out the value of a calculation.

• Find the error in some given working out.

• Select the right method from a list of options.

If a question says 'write down' what clue about the method does this give you?

• The answer requires a written down sentence solution.

• The calculation you do will be really quick and worth 1 mark.

• You need to recall and write down a fact, there are no calculations involved.

• You must show all of your working out clearly.

In a question where they tell you the answer at the start and want you to demonstrate all the steps taken to get to that answer what key words do they use?

• 'Show that'

• 'Demonstrate the full method required'

• 'Give a full account of the steps required to...'

• 'How u doin'

How do you do the rounding in a question that says "Give your answer to a suitable degree of accuracy'

• Write your full calculator display.

• Always round off to the nearest whole number.

• Always round to 1 decimal place.

• Look at the rounding used for the numbers in the question and use the same rounding for your answer.

If a question says 'estimate' or 'approximate' you need to do some rounding. What rounding must you do?

• Round to the nearest whole number before working the answer out.

• Work the answer out and then round your final answer off to the nearest whole number.

• Round all numbers to one significant figure before answering.

• Round to whatever seems appropriate and can be worked out without a calculator.

Which of these could be an answer to a question which states 'Give your answer as a power of 2'

• $x^2$

• $2^5$

• $\sqrt{5}$

• $\frac{2}{7}$

What are the key words in questions where we apply the mantra 'no arcs, no marks'

• Using a ruler and compasses only

• Any drawing question

• A question which starts with the word 'measure'

• Any question about circles

If a question says Write down all the factors of... and is worth 2 marks then how many answers will there be?

• Only one, it says 'write down'

• Two, the question is worth 2 marks.

• It could be any amount, it says 'all the factors'.

• At least two, it says 'factors', but we don't know the maximum.

Which of these could be an answer to a question that says 'Simplify fully'

• $\frac{13}{39}$

• $\frac{13}{24}$

• $\frac{7}{21}$

• $\frac{2}{4}$