How IGCSE Marks Are Awarded
Most marks in IGCSE calculations are method marks, awarded for the approach rather than the answer. A correct answer with no working can score less than a wrong answer with clear working.
Understanding how a mark scheme is applied changes how you write answers. This sheet explains the categories examiners use, what error carried forward means in practice, and why the habit of showing every line is worth more than any single topic.
Types of mark
| Type | Awarded for | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Method mark | Using a correct approach, even if the arithmetic fails | Write the formula and the substitution as separate lines |
| Accuracy mark | The correct final value, correctly rounded | Usually depends on the method mark being earned first |
| Independent mark | A correct step that stands alone | Available even if earlier parts went wrong |
| Error carried forward | Using your own earlier wrong answer correctly in a later part | One mistake costs one mark, not the whole question |
| Unit mark | Giving the correct unit with the answer | A separate mark in many science questions |
| Reasoning mark | Stating the reason or theorem behind an answer | Common in circle theorems and explanation questions |
What loses marks that knowledge would have earned
| Behaviour | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Answer only, no working | No method marks available if the answer is wrong | Write the formula and substitution every time |
| Crossing out working without replacing it | Crossed out work is not marked | Only cross out once you have written the replacement |
| Rounding partway through | The final value falls outside the accepted range | Keep full accuracy, round at the end |
| Answering the wrong command word | The response does not address what was asked | Underline the command word first |
| Fewer points than marks | Unreachable marks | Match points to the mark allocation |
| No unit | Loses the unit mark | Write the unit next to every numerical answer |
How to read the mark allocation
| Allocation | What it usually signals | How to respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mark | A single fact or a one step calculation | One line, no elaboration |
| 2 marks | Either two facts, or a method and an answer | Two distinct points |
| 3 to 4 marks | A chain of reasoning or a multi step calculation | One linked point per mark, in order |
| 5 to 6 marks | An extended explanation or full derivation | Plan the sequence before writing |
| Show that | All marks in the working, since the answer is given | Every step, ending at the printed value |
How to use this sheet
- Write the formula, the substitution, then the answer with a unit. Three lines, up to three marks.
- Never cross out working until you have replacement working on the page.
- If you cannot finish a question, write down every step you can. Method marks do not require a final answer.
- If a later part uses an earlier answer you are unsure about, use it anyway. Error carried forward protects you.
- Count your scoring points against the mark allocation before moving on.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a method mark?
A mark awarded for using a correct approach, independently of whether the arithmetic is right. Writing the correct formula and substituting correctly usually earns method marks even when the final value is wrong, which is why working should always be shown.
What does error carried forward mean?
If you make a mistake in one part and then use your own incorrect answer correctly in a later part, the later marks are still available. It means a single error costs one mark rather than the whole question, provided your subsequent working is sound.
Can a correct answer with no working lose marks?
Yes. In multi mark calculation questions much of the credit is allocated to the method, so an unsupported answer may score only the accuracy mark. If that answer is also wrong, no marks are available at all, whereas clear working would have earned most of them.
Why does crossed out work not count?
Examiners mark only what is presented as your answer, and crossing something out signals that you have withdrawn it. If you cross out working and do not replace it, any marks it contained are lost, so write the replacement first.
Practise the topics this sheet supports
Other reference sheets
Written to the published Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses. Always check the formula list and data sheet issued with your own paper, since the material provided differs between subjects and syllabus versions. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.