How to answer "Show that" questions
Show that means: Work through the steps to arrive at a given answer, showing all your working.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
AO2. · Also phrased as: prove that, demonstrate that
What the examiner is looking for
- Show every step — the final value is given, so the marks are for the method.
- Carry more significant figures than the given answer to prove you did the maths.
How to structure your answer
- Set out the equation, substitute, and work through to the stated value.
Worked example
Q: Show that the resistance is about 6 Ω. (2 marks)
Model answer: R = V ÷ I = 12 ÷ 2.0 [1] = 6.0 Ω, which is about 6 Ω [1].
Common mistakes
- Just writing the given answer with no working — you get no marks even though the answer is "right".
Practise it
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