Is working out marked from the mark scheme?

Hi,

I was doing some past papers the other day. I was wondering whether I would I be given marks for working out if I hadn't done it the way it shows in the mark scheme.

I used herons formula rather than the traditional way of working out the area of a triangle when all sides are given. I got the correct answer and all but would I be given the 3 marks for working out?

Reply 1

TeeEm

Original post by rubarbman12

If you were asking the same question 20 or 30 years ago I would have told you it doeas not matter since papers were marked by "mathematicians" and hence if you look at marking schemes of yesterdays they are very bare.

I know personally 2 people which mark A Level papers and I can assure you one of them is no better than a good A* exam standard student. This is why marking schemes are nowdays so comprehensive . I suspect most markers do not know or they "are not allowed to", so I would not use obscure methods, show off methods or cultural methods for solutions.

Say Heron's formula.
A marker, particularly if your answer is wrong, might give no credit if (s)he is not aware of the method. (I doubt if the method would be in the marking scheme)