Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / ib / Paper 2 / 11E / iii / Solution

Relabel the two primes so that $p<q$. By the Sylow theorems, the number $n_q$ of Sylow $q$-subgroups divides $p$, so it is either $1$ or $p$. But $n_q\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}q)$ and $1<p<q$, ruling out $n_q=p$. Thus there is a unique Sylow subgroup of order $q$, which is a normal subgroup. It is nontrivial and proper because $1<q<pq$. Consequently no group of order $pq$ is simple. No additional assumption on divisibility of $q-1$ by $p$ is required.