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%.
Non-calculatorGCSE Higher
GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)
MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk
- 1.Work out an estimate for 2.9² + 3.1², by rounding each number to the nearest whole number.
- 2.The graph of y = x² − 5x + 6 crosses the x-axis at two points. By factorising, work out the x-coordinates of these two points.y = x² − 5x + 6
- 3.The rent on a flat increases by 10% one year and by a further 10% the following year. Work out the overall percentage increase over the two years.
- 4.A ferris wheel's circular frame has centre O. A support strut runs from O to a point A on the rim, and a second strut runs from O to point B on the rim, with angle AOB = 76°. A cabin is mounted at point C on the major arc AB, and D is a separate point on the minor arc AB. Work out the difference between angle ACB and angle ADB.
- 5.A fair spinner has 8 equal sections: 5 are red and 3 are blue. Freya spins it twice, and each spin is independent of the other. Work out the probability that she gets one red and one blue in the two spins, in either order.
- 6.Work out the median of these six numbers: 13, 21, 22, 36, 37, 47
- 7.Find the missing number: 17 × ▢ = 391
- 8.For the equation 2x + 3 = 11, and the inequality 2x + 3 > 11, which statement correctly compares their solutions?
- 9.A recipe for pastry uses flour and butter in the ratio 3:2. A baker has 180 g of butter and wants to make pastry using all of it. Work out the total mass of pastry the baker can make.
- 10.A circle has circumference 31.4 cm. Using π = 3.14, work out the radius of the circle.
- 11.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled. Work out the probability that the difference between the two scores is 1.
- 12.A charity raises money from a raffle and a cake sale in the ratio 5 : 3. Altogether the charity raises £320. Work out how much money the cake sale raised.
- 13.The nth term of a sequence is n² + 3. Work out the first term of the sequence that is greater than 50.
- 14.A jumper costs £45 at Shop A, where it is reduced by 20%. The same jumper costs £34 at Shop B, where a further 10% reduction is then applied. Work out the difference between the two reduced prices.
- 15.A sector of a circle has an angle of 90° at the centre. Write down what fraction of the whole circle this sector represents.
- 16.A rule turns each input x into an output y. An input of 1 gives an output of 1, an input of 2 gives an output of 4 and an input of 3 gives an output of 9. Work out the rule.
- 17.A stall sells bottles of juice. Two bottles cost £3.00, five bottles cost £7.50 and eight bottles cost £12.00. The cost, C pounds, is in a fixed ratio to the number of bottles, n. Write down a formula for C in terms of n.
- 18.A drone starts at the point (2, −3) on a coordinate grid. It flies by the vector and then by the vector . Write down the column vector that would take the drone straight back to its starting point.
- 19.A number, w, satisfies the statement "three times w, minus 5, is at least 16". Which of these is the correct inequality for w?
- 20.On a map, where each grid unit represents 1 km, Ravi's house is at (−3, 4) and the library is at (6, 4). Work out the distance between Ravi's house and the library.
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.