Help and answer formats

How the site fits together, and exactly how to type each kind of answer so the marker reads it.

Where to start

Not sure where you stand? Take the short check on Where do I start? and it will point you at the right unit.
Learning a topic for the first time? Read its lesson, then do the practice questions at the end of it.
Revising for a test? Open Adaptive revision and choose the unit. It keeps giving you the skills you are weakest at, and teaches you when you get one wrong.
Close to the exam? Sit a practice exam under real conditions, then work through your mistakes.

Typing answers

Answers are marked by their value, not their wording: any equivalent form earns the mark. You can type plainly, as below, or in LaTeX if you know it (\frac{3}{4}, \sqrt{2}). If the marker cannot read an answer it says so and does not mark it wrong.

On a question that asks for an exact answer, a rounded decimal such as 1.414 is not accepted in place of $\sqrt{2}$ . The marker will tell you to leave the surd, fraction or π in.

Answer formats the marker accepts
Answer	Looks like	Type any of
Fractions	$\frac{3}{4}$	`3/46/80.75` Any equivalent fraction earns the mark.
Surds	$2\sqrt{2}$	`2sqrt(2)sqrt(8)2√2` Unsimplified surds are accepted unless the question asks you to simplify.
Powers	$x^{3} + 2x$	`x^3 + 2xx(x^2 + 2)` Multiplication can be implied: 2x means 2 × x.
π	$\frac{\pi}{3}$	`pi/3π/3`
e and logarithms	$e^{2x}, \ \ln 5, \ \log_{2} 8$	`e^(2x)ln(5)log_2(8)` log with no base means base 10.
Trigonometry	$\sin^{2}(x), \ \sin^{-1}\left(\tfrac{1}{2}\right)$	`sin^2(x)sin^-1(1/2)arcsin(1/2)` Angles are in radians unless the question says degrees.
Indefinite integrals	$\frac{x^{3}}{3} + c$	`x^3/3 + c` Include the constant; any letter will do.
Several solutions	$x = 2, \ x = -3$	`2, -3x = 2 or x = -3{-3, 2}` Order does not matter. Leave none out.
Intervals	$[2, \infty)$	`[2, inf)(-1, 4]` Square bracket: endpoint included. Round bracket: not included.
Vectors	$\mathbf{i} - 2\mathbf{j} + 3\mathbf{k}$	`(1, -2, 3)i - 2j + 3k<1, -2, 3>`
Matrices	$\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix}$	`[[1, 2], [3, 4]][1, 2; 3, 4]` Row by row; a semicolon starts a new row.
Complex numbers	$3 - 4i$	`3 - 4i-4i + 3`

Multiple-choice and true/false questions are answered by clicking or tapping, or with the keyboard: Tab to the options and use the arrow keys or Space.

Practice exams

Each paper begins with reading time, when you can read but not answer, just like the real exam.
Your answers are saved as you type. If you close the tab, the paper resumes where you left it.
Flag a question to come back to it; the question map shows which are answered and flagged.
The paper submits itself when time runs out. Extended responses are marked by you, against the marking guide.

Your progress

Progress is saved to your account as you go, so it is there on any device you sign in on. You can also keep your own copy as a file on the progress page. See Privacy for what is stored.