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 café is planning its lunch menu. It will offer one soup from 3 choices and one sandwich from 4 choices, but the mushroom soup, one of the 3 soups, will only be served with the cheese sandwich, one of the 4 sandwiches, on a normal day. Work out how many different soup-and-sandwich combinations are available on a normal day.
(a)11
(b)8
(c)12
(d)9
2.The graph of y = f(x) passes through the point (2, 5). Write down the coordinates of the corresponding point on the graph of y = f(x − 4) + 1.
(a)(−2, 6)
(b)(−2, 4)
(c)(2, 6)
(d)(6, 6)
3.A shop's takings were £4500 in May. In June the takings fell by £900. Write the June takings as a fraction of the May takings, in its simplest form.
(a)4/5
(b)1/5
(c)5/4
(d)4/9
4.A ramp rises at 30° to the horizontal. Its sloping surface is 4.8 m long. Safety rules say the vertical rise of a ramp must be no more than 2.5 m. Work out how far below that limit the rise of this ramp is.
(a)0.1 m
(b)2.4 m
(c)7.1 m
(d)0.9 m
5.A school surveys 60 pupils. 32 say they walk to school, 24 say they cycle to school, and 12 say they do both, on different days. The rest travel only by car. One of the 60 pupils is chosen at random. Work out the probability that this pupil travels only by car.
(a)4/15
(b)4/5
(c)1/5
(d)7/15
6.In a histogram of the lengths, x cm, of some rods, the bar for 10 ≤ x < 30 has a frequency density of 3 per cm. The bar for 30 ≤ x < 45 is twice as tall as the bar for 10 ≤ x < 30. Work out the number of rods with a length in the class 30 ≤ x < 45.
(a)6
(b)45
(c)90
(d)120
7.Given that 2⁵ = 32, work out 2⁶.
(a)34
(b)37
(c)192
(d)64
8.A geometric sequence begins 162, 54, 18, 6, ... Work out the next term in the sequence.
(a)2
(b)3
(c)−6
(d)18
9.Two mathematically similar rectangles have widths 5 cm and 10 cm. The perimeter of the smaller rectangle is 18 cm. Work out the perimeter of the larger rectangle.
(a)72 cm
(b)9 cm
(c)36 cm
(d)23 cm
10.A builder props a straight plank against a vertical wall to reach a window ledge. The foot of the plank is 2.1 m from the base of the wall, and the plank is 3.5 m long. Work out how high up the wall the plank reaches.
(a)4.2 m
(b)2.8 m
(c)1.4 m
(d)7.84 m
11.In a class of 32 pupils, 19 study geography and 15 study history. 8 study both subjects. Work out n(G ∪ H), the number of pupils who study geography or history or both.
(a)18
(b)26
(c)11
(d)34
12.The density of a type of plastic is 0.9 g/cm³. Work out this density in kg/m³.
(a)900 kg/m³
(b)0.0009 kg/m³
(c)0.09 kg/m³
(d)900 000 kg/m³
13.Solve 7x − 5 = 3x + 11
(a)−4
(b)1.5
(c)0.6
(d)4
14.A tangent to a curve at the point where x = 3 passes through the points (1, 2) and (5, 14). A candidate says: "The gradient of the tangent at x = 3 is 3, because 14 − 2 = 12 and 12 ÷ 4 = 3." Which statement is correct?
(a)The gradient is 3; the candidate's method is right.
(b)The gradient is −3; the subtraction was done the wrong way round.
(c)The gradient is 16; the two changes were added instead of divided.
(d)The gradient is 1/3; the division was done the wrong way round.
15.Point P has coordinates (4, 2). P is rotated 90° clockwise about the point (1, 1), and the image is then reflected in the line x = 1. Work out the coordinates of the final image of P.
(a)(−2, 2)
(b)(2, −2)
(c)(2, 4)
(d)(0, −2)
16.The graph of y = f(x) has a minimum point at (4, −1). Write down the coordinates of the corresponding turning point on the graph of y = −f(x).
(a)(4, 1)
(b)(4, −1)
(c)(−4, 1)
(d)(−4, −1)
17.Two mathematically similar jugs have heights 8 cm and 12 cm. The smaller jug holds 200 ml when it is full. Work out how much the larger jug holds when it is full.
(a)675 ml
(b)300 ml
(c)450 ml
(d)900 ml
18.A scale drawing of a park uses a scale of 1 : 2000. A path is drawn 8.5 cm long on the drawing. A cyclist rides the length of the path and then rides straight back again along the same path. How far does the cyclist travel in total, in metres?
(a)85
(b)340
(c)170
(d)680
19.Two students each use the trapezium rule to estimate the area under the same curve between x = 0 and x = 8. Student A uses 4 strips of width 2. Student B uses 8 strips of width 1. Which estimate is more likely to be closer to the true area, and why?
(a)Student A's — fewer strips means fewer rounding errors.
(b)Student B's — narrower strips fit the curve more closely.
(c)They are always the same; the trapezium rule is exact.
(d)Student A's — wider strips give a better average height.
20.Ben writes n + 4 ≤ 9. Which statement describes what Ben has written? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)An equation, because solving it gives the value of n
(b)An identity, because it is true for many values of n
(c)A formula, because it works out n from 9
(d)An inequality, because ≤ compares the two sides

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.