When a question tells you the result, it is not testing whether you can get there. It is testing whether you can produce the argument. The marks live entirely in the lines between the start and the printed answer.
What each command word demands
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Show that | Every intermediate line, ending exactly at the printed result |
| Prove | A general argument valid for all cases, not one example |
| Verify | Substituting a given value and confirming both sides agree |
| Hence | You must use the previous part; a fresh method may score nothing |
| Hence or otherwise | The previous part is intended, but another valid route is allowed |
How to set out the working
- Write the starting point explicitly, including any definition or identity you are using.
- Change one thing per line, so each step is visibly justified.
- State the reason for any non-obvious step in words.
- Finish with the printed result and a brief closing statement where a proof requires one.
If you cannot complete the argument, still write the first two lines. Method marks are awarded independently, and a blank space guarantees none.