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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: amar on January 05, 2010, 12:13:57 pm

Title: working out
Post by: amar on January 05, 2010, 12:13:57 pm
1) Is it true that if you do not identify what you are doing in your working out you will not get marks for the question unless its really obvious (so how far will examiners look for partial marks in your working)?

2) Do you sometimes 'flagpost' your different steps and what you are doing in questions?

3) Is it true that if you do include units in your working out, you will lose marks. if this is true, is it only for when you have not got the end answer correct?
Title: Re: working out
Post by: superflya on January 05, 2010, 12:50:24 pm
examiners won't go to great lengths to give u consequential unless everything is right infront of them in clearly legible writing. be sure to have ur units written where necessary because if u happen to be scoring very heavily on the exam, it is these lil errors that the examiners will get u with.
Title: Re: working out
Post by: NE2000 on January 05, 2010, 02:37:23 pm
It is god practice to give full working out that is easy to understand. At times you do need to flagpost, but often that is not necessary. It all depends on how complicated the working out is. You should always give units. It's all about giving yourself the best chance to succeed.
Title: Re: working out
Post by: kyzoo on January 06, 2010, 01:54:11 am
Just use horizontal lines to indicate different sections of your working out.
Title: Re: working out
Post by: superflya on January 06, 2010, 11:50:45 pm
Just use horizontal lines to indicate different sections of your working out.

yea wood have to be the most obvious way to show wat ur doing.
Title: Re: working out
Post by: jayfan on January 07, 2010, 12:26:22 pm
1) Is it true that if you do not identify what you are doing in your working out you will not get marks for the question unless its really obvious (so how far will examiners look for partial marks in your working)?

2) Do you sometimes 'flagpost' your different steps and what you are doing in questions?

3) Is it true that if you do include units in your working out, you will lose marks. if this is true, is it only for when you have not got the end answer correct?


1) the exam paper explicitly says "show working", so its better to set your working out to get the full mark. if your final answer is wrong but working order is correct, partial marks are given. the examiners have a marking scheme which states certain steps/calculations must be shown - these are where marks are given [check past examiners reports!]

2) by "flagposting", you can first write the formula (e.g. n = cV) and then put in the relevant numbers in the next line. examiners will then know what you are doing

3) i don't see any reason why you would include units in your working (??) - you only need to include units for your final answer in EACH calculation. but im sure they wouldnt take marks off for including them (?)

P.S. Remember to give your final answers in the correct number of significant figures - examiners care about this more than the above points.

hope this helps =]