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.A charity bake sale sells 187 cakes at £2.95 each. By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, work out an estimate for the total amount raised.
(a)£600
(b)£400
(c)£561
(d)£570
2.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = x² + 6x + 2.
y = x² + 6x + 2
(a)x = 3, y = −7
(b)x = −3, y = −7
(c)x = −3, y = 7
(d)x = −6, y = −34
3.y is directly proportional to x. When x = 7, the value of y is 21. Work out the value of x when y = 12.
(a)4
(b)36
(c)84
(d)9
4.A crane's hook starts at the point (3.4, 9.5) on a construction site plan measured in metres. It moves along the vector $(- 4.5 - 1.2)$ to pick up a beam, then along the vector $(- 2.5 0.8)$ to place it. Work out the single column vector that describes the hook's overall movement from its start position to where it places the beam.
(a) $(- 2 - 2)$
(b) $(- 7 - 0.4)$
(c) $(7 - 0.4)$
(d) $(- 7 2)$
5.A bag contains 3 red beads and 7 blue beads. A bead is taken out at random and not put back. A second bead is then taken out at random. Work out the probability that the first bead is red and the second bead is also red.
(a)3/50
(b)5/19
(c)9/100
(d)1/15
6.The masses, m kg, of 60 parcels are grouped like this: 0 ≤ m < 5, 22 parcels; 5 ≤ m < 10, 20 parcels; 10 ≤ m < 20, 9 parcels; 20 ≤ m < 30, 5 parcels; 30 ≤ m < 50, 4 parcels. Write down the class interval that contains the median mass.
(a)0 ≤ m < 5
(b)5 ≤ m < 10
(c)10 ≤ m < 20
(d)20 ≤ m < 30
7.Given that 2⁵ = 32, work out 2⁶.
(a)34
(b)37
(c)192
(d)64
8.Solve the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 7 and x + 2y = 8.
(a)x = 2, y = 5
(b)x = 3, y = 2
(c)x = 2, y = 3
(d)x = −2, y = 11
9.In a fruit drink, cranberry juice and apple juice are mixed in the ratio 3:7. Write the amount of apple juice as a fraction of the amount of cranberry juice, in its simplest form.
(a)3/10
(b)3/7
(c)7/10
(d)7/3
10.In quadrilateral WXYZ, which of the following correctly names the angle at vertex Y using standard notation?
(a)∠YZW
(b)∠WXY
(c)∠XYZ
(d)∠ZWX
11.In a survey of 200 households, 120 have a garden and 80 own a dog. 54 of the households have a garden and own a dog. Work out the probability that a household owns a dog given that it has a garden, and compare it with the probability that a household picked from the whole survey owns a dog.
(a)0.45, different from 0.4 for all the households
(b)0.27, different from 0.4 for all the households
(c)0.675, different from 0.4 for all the households
(d)0.4, the same as 0.4 for all the households
12.Work out √25 + 4² − 12 ÷ 3
(a)9
(b)17
(c)3
(d)37
13.To rearrange the formula y = 3x − 8 to make x the subject, Priya writes: 'Add 8 to both sides to get y + 8 = 3x, then divide both sides by 3 to get x = y + 8 ÷ 3.' Work out the correct expression for x.
y = 3x − 8
(a)x = 3(y + 8)
(b)x = (y − 8) / 3
(c)x = y + 8 / 3
(d)x = (y + 8) / 3
14.The value of a delivery van, in £, is plotted against its age, in years, since it was bought. At age 2 years, the gradient of the tangent to the graph is −950. What does this tell you about the van at age 2 years?
(a)Falling at 950% per year
(b)Rising at £950 per year
(c)Falling at £950 per year
(d)Falls by £950 over the next year
15.A sector of a circle has radius 8 cm and takes up three-quarters of the full circle. Work out the perimeter of the sector, in terms of π.
(a)12π + 16 cm
(b)12π cm
(c)12π + 8 cm
(d)4π + 16 cm
16.Which of these equations gives a graph with two separate curved branches — one where x and y are both positive, and one where x and y are both negative?
(a)y = 2x + 1
(b)y = 1/x
(c)y = x²
(d)y = x³
17.Two hikers' journeys are shown on separate distance-time graphs. Hiker A's graph has gradient 4.5 km/h. Hiker B's graph has gradient 3.2 km/h. Work out how much faster Hiker A walks than Hiker B, in km/h.
(a)1.3
(b)−1.3
(c)7.7
(d)14.4
18.ABCD is an isosceles trapezium. The sides AB and DC are parallel, and the two sloping sides AD and BC are equal in length. Angle D is 112°. Work out the size of angle B.
(a)112°
(b)68°
(c)248°
(d)90°
19.A square patio of side length n slabs is surrounded by a single border of square paving slabs of the same size. For a patio with side length n, the total number of slabs used for the patio and its border together is 9 when n = 1, 16 when n = 2, 25 when n = 3, and 36 when n = 4. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total number of slabs.
(a)n² + 4n + 4
(b)n² + 4n
(c)2n² + 4n + 4
(d)n² + 4
20.Write down the coefficient of xy in the expression 4x²y − 7xy + 2.
(a)−7
(b)4
(c)−5
(d)7

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.