The IGCSE mark scheme explainer
Cambridge writes mark schemes for examiners, not students — M1 B1dep oe nfww. Steven reads the real scheme for that exact question and shows where every mark is earned — and what loses it.
Every mark scheme abbreviation explained, by subject →
- Every mark broken down step by step, with the working typeset properly.
- The common mistakes and examiner tips for that question type.
- It explains the official scheme — it never invents an answer of its own.
- One click from any past-paper question that has a marking scheme.
Steven’s Explanation
Maths 0580 · ON25_13 Q8 · 7 marks
What the mark scheme says
M1 for 180 − 108 oe
A1 nfww
B1dep for correct method seen
What Steven says
This is a method mark. You get it for subtracting the interior angle from 180°, even if you slip up in the arithmetic afterwards.
nfww means “not from wrong working” — this mark only comes if the working above it is right.
What Steven is not
Steven is a study aid that explains an official marking scheme. It is not an examiner, not a teacher, and not official Cambridge software. It does not mark your work or guarantee a grade, and it is not a substitute for checking your own answers against the paper.
Common questions
- What does the mark scheme explainer do?
- Steven reads the official Cambridge marking scheme for a specific past-paper question and rewrites it in plain English — showing which step earns each mark and what would lose it.
- Does it decode examiner shorthand like M1, B1dep, oe and nfww?
- Yes. It translates the codes examiners use — M1 (method), B1dep (dependent mark), oe (or equivalent), nfww (not from wrong working) — into what they mean for your answer.
- Does Steven invent answers?
- No. Steven only explains the official marking scheme for that question. It does not make up its own answer, and it is not a substitute for checking your working.
- Which subjects does it cover?
- Any Cambridge IGCSE past-paper question in the topical bank that has a published marking scheme, across every subject in the bank.