Student Guide
How to Do a Photo Answer Challenge
Some challenges ask you to write your working on paper and upload a photo. Here is exactly how to do it — and how to take a photo that gets you every mark you earned.
You’ll spot these in the Challenges panel of your Student Portal: they carry a “📷 Photo answer” tag instead of multiple-choice options. Follow the seven steps below.
Step by step
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Open the challenge
Log in to the Student Portal, scroll to the Challenges panel, and tap the challenge marked
📷 Photo answer. -
Read the question carefully
Read every word. Some questions include a picture (like a past-paper scan) — look at it closely. Note how many marks the question is worth so you know how much working is expected.
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Write your full working on paper
Answer it neatly on paper. Show every step, not just the final answer — you earn method marks for your working, and units matter.
✎ Dark pen · clear handwriting · show all steps -
Take the photo
Tap
📷 Take or upload a photo of your working. On a phone this opens the camera; you can also choose a photo you already took. Snap your page — see the photo tips below for a clear shot. -
Check the preview, then submit
You’ll see “✓ Photo ready” with a preview. Make sure the whole answer is sharp and readable. Not happy? Tap the button again to retake. When it looks good, tap Submit answers.
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Wait for your teacher
Straight after submitting you’ll see “📷 Awaiting your teacher”. This is normal — your teacher checks the mark before releasing it, so it’s always fair.
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See your mark and feedback
Come back to the same challenge a little later. Once your teacher has marked it, you’ll see your score out of the marks plus a short Teacher note telling you what went well and what to fix.
Take a photo that gets every mark
The marker can only credit what it can read. A clear photo protects the marks you earned.
👍 Do this
- Use good, even light — near a window or a bright lamp.
- Hold the phone straight above the page, not at an angle.
- Fill the frame with your working — get close, but keep it all in.
- Hold steady until the picture is sharp and in focus.
- Write in dark blue or black pen on white paper.
- Show all steps, symbols and units clearly.
☝ Avoid this
- Shadows across the page — don’t let your hand or head block the light.
- Blurry, dark or tilted photos.
- Faint pencil or heavy scribbles and crossing-out.
- Cutting off the top, bottom or edge of your answer.
- Cramming several questions into one photo unless asked.
- A messy background that hides your working.
How marking works — and why it’s fair
A smart helper reads your working and suggests a mark, but your teacher always reviews it and can change it before you ever see a score. That’s why the result says “Awaiting your teacher” at first. The clearer your steps, the more marks you’re sure to get.
Common questions
Can I retake the photo before submitting?
Yes. Before you tap Submit answers, just tap the photo button again to take a fresh one. Always check the preview first — you get one submission per challenge, so make sure it’s clear before you send it.
Why does my result say “Awaiting your teacher”?
That’s completely normal. Photo answers are checked by your teacher before the mark is released. Your score and feedback appear as soon as it’s been reviewed — just re-open the challenge later.
The camera didn’t open — only my files did. Why?
On a laptop or desktop the button opens your saved files instead of a camera. Easiest fix: take the photo on your phone first, then upload it — or just do the whole challenge on your phone.
Do I need to type anything?
No. For a photo question, your uploaded photo is your answer. Just make sure all your working is written on the page in the photo.
What if my photo won’t upload?
Check your internet connection and try again — you’ll see an “Uploading your photo” message while it sends. If it still fails, message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help.
Ready to try one?
Open your Student Portal, find a photo challenge, and put these steps into practice.