GCSE Higher · grades 4–9 · 30% of marks
GCSE Higher — Algebra
This is the algebra practice for GCSE Higher, the content area that carries 30% of the paper. Coverage is complete: all 25 algebra statements, each with practice that matches how the topic is actually examined. Among them: algebraic notation, substitution into formulae, expressions, equations, formulae, identities and inequalities, simplifying, expanding and factorising, rearranging formulae and identities, equivalence and algebraic proof. Higher only: translations and reflections of graphs, gradients and areas under graphs, equation of a circle and its tangent and iteration. A Foundation entry is never asked for these. 40% of the marks are AO1, for applying a standard technique correctly, and the remaining 60% are for reasoning and for solving problems — so an answer with no working rarely scores everything that was available. The bulk of it sits comfortably on the non-calculator paper; a calculator quietly hides the gap until the exam.
- A1 — Algebraic notation
- A2 — Substitution into formulae
- A3 — Expressions, equations, formulae, identities and inequalities
- A4 — Simplifying, expanding and factorising (part Higher)
- A5 — Rearranging formulae
- A6 — Identities, equivalence and algebraic proof (part Higher)
- A7 — Functions, inverse and composite functions (part Higher)
- A8 — Coordinates in all four quadrants
- A9 — Straight-line graphs and y = mx + c (part Higher)
- A10 — Gradients and intercepts of linear functions
- …and 15 more algebra statements at this tier
Practise
The 25 DfE statements in algebra at Higher
Related
Questions people ask
How much of the GCSE Higher paper is algebra?
30% of the total marks, and the three papers each carry an equal share of the qualification, so it is spread across all of them rather than concentrated in one.
How many topics are there in algebra at GCSE Higher?
25 DfE content statements, coded A1 to A25 within this area. Every question in the bank is tagged to one of them.
Which algebra topics are Higher only?
Translations and reflections of graphs (A13), Gradients and areas under graphs (A15), Equation of a circle and its tangent (A16) and Iteration (A20). A further 12 statements have a Higher-only part inside otherwise shared content.
Can I use a calculator for algebra questions?
Paper 1 is non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 allow one. Of the 25 statements in this area, 20 are naturally non-calculator and 1 naturally calculator, with the rest workable either way — so practise both.
What kind of marks does algebra carry?
The GCSE Higher split is 40% AO1 (use and apply standard techniques), 30% AO2 (reason, interpret and communicate) and 30% AO3 (solve problems in and out of context). Questions in this area are set across all three.
Are these past paper questions?
No. Every question at /gcse-higher is original, written to the DfE content statements and checked before it is published. We do not host past papers or mark schemes.