GCSE (9-1) Mathematics

Command words
Here are the most commonly used command words that you
might see in different questions throughout your exam.

Explain Show Expand Describe Justify

Write a sentence or a mathematical All working needed to get to Remove brackets. Write a sentence that gives the Show all working and/or give a
statement to show how you got a given answer or complete a features of the situation. written explanation.
to your answer or reached your diagram to show given information.
conclusion.

Expand and
Draw Find simplify Complete Solve
Remove brackets and then
Produce an accurate drawing Some working will be needed to Fill in missing values. Find the solution of an equation or
collect like terms.
(unless a sketch is being drawn). get to the final answer. inequality.

x y
-3
-1
0 1
3
2 5

Draw a sketch of... Solve

Sketch algebraically
Produce a drawing that does
Factorise Work out Write down
Find the solution of an equation or
not have to be drawn to scale Insert brackets by taking out Some working will be needed in No working is needed. inequality; algebraic manipulation
or a graph that is drawn without common factors. order to get the answer. must be shown.
working out each coordinate.

y 2 x

y
x 2

y x

Factorise Write
Simplify fully Change No working needed for 1 mark
Prove
questions.
Insert brackets by taking out all
Simplify the given expression. the common factors. Usually convert from one unit to Working may be needed for More formal than ‘show’, all steps
another; either using known metric questions with more than 1 mark. must be present. In the case of a
unit conversions or the use of a geometrical proof, reasons must
conversion graph. be given.

Simplify fully
Simplify the given expression. Express Give a Calculate Prove
x
algebraically
y

Answer must be given in its

simplest form. Re-write in another form, some
y
working mayxbe needed.
reason A calculator and some working
Photography: Shutterstock/ Willyam Bradberry, Original origami artwork: Mark Bolitho

will be needed.
Use algebra in the proof.
Must be clear and accurate reasons.
If the reasons are geometrical then
make sure you:
 provide a reason for each stage
x
Origami photography: Pearson Education Ltd / Naki Kouyioumtzis

of working (if required)

 use correct geometric y z
terminology.
PEUK A0419b