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Original poster

Is it normal to lose marks in a maths exam if you got a question right bu didn't show workings?

61 replies

GreenGinger2 · 07/02/2017 19:53

Dd got 3 questions right(fractions) but only half the marks in each because she didn't show her workings. Written on paper that this was the case.

Seems harsh.Confused

Dd has forbidden me from querying it with teacher (fierce) so won't be but would just like to know out of interest if this is the norm and the reason.

She did well but those 3 marks would have raised her percentage.

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 07/02/2017 20:04

I've been drumming this into my yr9 ds for at least 6 years. It isn't enough to just show the answer, and your working need to be legible.
Maths isn't just about numbers and the answers, and becomes less and less so as you progress.

I've told my kids that at many levels in life, getting good marks or getting on at work etc is more about knowing what you need to do in order to fulfill the required criteria. While trying to ensure that they still develop their own thinking which will be needed more in later life than in secondary level exams.

Gardencentregroupie · 07/02/2017 20:03

Not harsh really. For things like simple fractions questions a correct answer could just be a lucky guess without the working being shown. At year 7 chalk this up to a learning experience.

SellFridges · 07/02/2017 20:03

Yes. I could get a decent amount of method marks but rarely got the answer right!

OdinsLoveChild · 07/02/2017 20:02

Yes, I never could get the workings out to show the correct answer but I just knew what the answer was. I lost a significant number of points which drastically reduced my grade at gcse. She really does need to work on it to get those grades. once she leaves school no one will care about the workings out as long as the answer is correct

Original poster
GreenGinger2 · 07/02/2017 20:00

Year 7. I can understand getting a mark for good workings if you got the answer wrong. But losing a mark because you have done it in your head in a hurry and got it right seems harsh.

OP posts:
NoraDora · 07/02/2017 19:58

Yes. Especially with the new gcse.

MrsJayy · 07/02/2017 19:57

Yes dd was always doing it they need to show the workings

tribpot · 07/02/2017 19:56

Yes - this is true in primary school as well (certainly in the top end of KS2).

Gardencentregroupie · 07/02/2017 19:55

Yes and it's the same the whole way up at least to degree level. It does end up benefitting you when things get more complicated, if you mess up halfway through something you still get the marks for the parts you did right.

Heirhelp · 07/02/2017 19:54

How old is she? I would expect this to have been drummed into her.

Heirhelp · 07/02/2017 19:53

Yes.