Language, notation and formulas
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# 4.1.1 ‘Write down’ question

## Example 13

Suppose you plan to redecorate your bathroom. The end wall has the following shape, with dimensions as shown on the diagram. The quality of the plasterwork is not good and you are considering tiling the wall.

Write down the area of this wall. [4]

The number [4] at the right-hand side means there are four marks awarded for a correct solution. The marks give an indication of the length of answer expected. For example, if a question is in two parts, the first of which is allocated two marks and the second eight marks, then you would expect the first part to have a shorter and more straightforward solution than the second. Here, four marks would be awarded for stating the answer correctly, as in the solution below, because all you were asked to do was to ‘write down’ the area.

## Solution A to Example 13

#### Comment

This solution does get full marks, but if 14 had been the wrong value the mark would have been zero. It is therefore a good idea to show working even when it is not required; some marks can be awarded for a wrong answer if there is an indication of a correct method being used.

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