Not sure what you mean by "bookwork". Is that what memorizing proofs is called in the UK? Most of the exams and homework were more typical math exercises, e.g.

Not sure what you mean by "bookwork". Is that what memorizing proofs is called in the UK? Most of the exams and homework were more typical math exercises, e.g. little proofs and calculations within the context of special cases. I mean, I remember getting tested on parts of the "epsilon delta" definition of a limit in analysis, for example, but I don't recall ever being asked to regurgitate the entire thing correctly. It's funny but I don't even associate important tools like Taylor series with "proofs", only applications. The lecturer would sometimes prove things, but we were never tested on the proof, only the ability to apply the result. Mind you, I was physics not math so perhaps that's the difference. In fairness there is a LOT of math tools to learn, and I'm not sure there's really time to get into proving everything as an undergrad, but perhaps that's a mistake.