How to answer "Calculate" questions
Calculate means: Work out a numerical value, showing your working.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
AO2. · Also phrased as: work out, determine (numerically)
What the examiner is looking for
- Show every step of the working — method marks are available even if the final answer is wrong.
- Give the correct unit and the right number of significant figures.
How to structure your answer
- Write the equation, substitute the values, then evaluate.
- Carry units through; check the answer is sensible.
Worked example
Q: A 2.0 kg object gains 40 J of kinetic energy. Calculate its speed. (3 marks)
Model answer: KE = ½mv² → 40 = ½ × 2.0 × v² [1]; v² = 40 [1]; v = √40 = 6.3 m/s (2 s.f.) [1].
Common mistakes
- Writing only the final answer — no working means no method marks if it is wrong.
- Forgetting the unit or misconverting (e.g. cm↔m, minutes↔seconds).
Practise it
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