Sample paper · GCSE Higher · grades 4–9

GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

The real Paper 1 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, non-calculator, and all three papers carry equal weight. This sample is 20 original questions in the same content proportions as the Higher qualification — number 15%, algebra 30%, ratio, proportion and rates of change 20%, geometry and measures 20%, probability 7.5%, statistics 7.5% — with no calculator-only items. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 40% / 30% / 30%.

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GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Higher · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Round 0.006482 to 2 significant figures.
(a)0.01
(b)0.00648
(c)0.0065
(d)0.006
2.Solve 4(x − 3) = 2x + 6.
(a)4.5
(b)−3
(c)3
(d)9
3.A map has a scale of 1 : 50 000. Two villages are 4 cm apart on the map. Work out the real distance between the villages, in kilometres.
(a)2 km
(b)20 km
(c)200 km
(d)0.2 km
4.A drone starts at the point (3.5, −2) on a grid measured in metres. It flies by the vector $(4.5 - 6.2)$ to check a first sensor. The drone then needs to fly in a straight line to reach the point (−1.7, 9) to check a second sensor. Work out the column vector of this second flight.
(a) $(6.5 1)$
(b) $(- 6.5 - 1)$
(c) $(6.5 - 4.4)$
(d) $(11 - 5.2)$
5.At a sports club, the numbers of members who play tennis and badminton are: 50 members play tennis, 40 members play badminton, and 18 members play both tennis and badminton. A member who plays tennis is chosen at random. Work out the probability that this member also plays badminton.
(a)9/25
(b)9/20
(c)1/4
(d)1/5
6.Amelia's mean mark over four tests is 29. Her first three marks are 31, 26 and 26. Work out her fourth mark.
(a)116
(b)4
(c)33
(d)29
7.In a science experiment, the temperature of a liquid is recorded as 18.6 °C, correct to the nearest 0.2 °C. Write down the error interval for the actual temperature, T °C.
(a)18.5 ≤ T ≤ 18.7
(b)18.5 ≤ T < 18.7
(c)18.4 ≤ T < 18.8
(d)18.6 ≤ T < 18.8
8.Write down the coordinates of the point where the line y = 2x + 4 crosses the y-axis.
y = 2x + 4
(a)(4, 0)
(b)(−2, 0)
(c)(0, 2)
(d)(0, 4)
9.A laptop bag has a mass of 2.4 kg. A school bag has a mass of 3.6 kg. Write the mass of the laptop bag as a fraction of the mass of the school bag, giving your answer in its simplest form.
(a)2/3
(b)2/5
(c)1/3
(d)3/2
10.A rotation of 200° clockwise about the origin is applied, and the image is then rotated 250° anticlockwise about the origin. Work out the single angle of rotation, measured clockwise and between 0° and 360°, that has the same overall effect as the two rotations combined.
(a)310°
(b)130°
(c)50°
(d)90°
11.In a board game Mia moves forward by the total of two ordinary fair dice. Work out the probability that her total is 7. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)1/6
(b)6/11
(c)1/7
(d)7/36
12.Write these three numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 3/5, 0.55, 58%
(a)0.55, 58%, 3/5
(b)58%, 0.55, 3/5
(c)3/5, 0.55, 58%
(d)3/5, 58%, 0.55
13.f(x) = x³ − 3x − 5. Given that f(2.2) = −0.952 and f(2.3) = 0.267, work out what this shows about the equation x³ − 3x − 5 = 0.
y = x
(a)It has a solution between x = −2.2 and x = −2.3
(b)It has exactly two solutions in this interval
(c)It has no solution between x = 2.2 and x = 2.3
(d)It has a solution between x = 2.2 and x = 2.3
14.A metal alloy is made from copper and tin in the ratio 7:3. Work out the mass of tin in 250 g of the alloy.
(a)125 g
(b)75 g
(c)25 g
(d)175 g
15.A parallelogram has an area of 84 cm² and a base of 12 cm. Work out the perpendicular height of the parallelogram.
(a)0.14 cm
(b)1008 cm
(c)3.5 cm
(d)7 cm
16.A cyclist's speed-time graph is described as follows: speed increases steadily from 0 m/s to 8 m/s over the first 4 seconds, stays constant at 8 m/s for the next 6 seconds, then decreases steadily to 0 m/s over the final 2 seconds. Work out the total distance travelled.
(a)64 m
(b)96 m
(c)72 m
(d)24 m
17.A furniture designer makes a scale model of a wardrobe using a scale of 1 : 8. The real wardrobe is 2.4 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Work out the perimeter of the front face of the model wardrobe, in centimetres.
(a)510 cm
(b)720 cm
(c)11.25 cm
(d)90 cm
18.Point A(1, 2) is enlarged to give image point A′(7, −4). The centre of enlargement lies on the x-axis. Work out the scale factor of the enlargement.
(a)−2
(b)3
(c)2
(d)−1/2
19.Write y = x² + 12x + 40 in the form (x + a)² + b, and hence write down the minimum value of y.
y = x² + 12x + 40
(a)−6
(b)36
(c)4
(d)40
20.A ball's height, h metres, t seconds after being thrown follows h = (t − 1)(9 − t). Given that the ball is at ground level at t = 1 and t = 9, work out at what time t the ball reaches its maximum height, using symmetry.
(a)t = 4
(b)t = 8
(c)t = 10
(d)t = 5

How the 20 questions are shared out

Number — 3 questions (15% of the qualification)
Algebra — 6 questions (30% of the qualification)
Ratio, proportion and rates of change — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
Geometry and measures — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
Probability — 2 questions (7.5% of the qualification)
Statistics — 1 question (7.5% of the qualification)

Where an area has fewer printable questions than its share, the shortfall is filled from the other areas. These are original questions, not past papers.