Command Words

Hence

Use the previous part of the question to answer this part. You must connect to what you have already found.

Definition

"Hence" is a load-bearing word. The mark scheme expects you to reuse a result from earlier in the same question. Solving the new part from scratch with a different method usually scores zero, even if the final answer is correct.

Example

After Part (a) you have factorised x² − 5x + 6 = (x−2)(x−3). Part (b) says "Hence solve x² − 5x + 6 = 0." Use your factors: x = 2 or x = 3.

Common confusion

Students often ignore "hence" and start fresh with the quadratic formula. That can lose all the marks.

Related terms

Hence or otherwise

"Hence" gives the easy path. "Otherwise" lets you use any valid method. You earn the same marks either way — but easier with hence.

Show that

You must demonstrate the result starting from given values — the answer is provided, your job is the working.

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