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

VersionsA only A + B A + B + Csame questions, different order

AnswersQuestions only With answer key Key only

New sheet

GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

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

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Work out (−3) × 4 + 2 × (−5)
(a)−22
(b)50
(c)−2
(d)22
2.Describe the single transformation that maps the graph of y = x² onto the graph of y = x² + 3.
y = x²y = x² + 3
(a)A translation by vector (0, 3)
(b)A translation by vector (0, −3)
(c)A translation by vector (3, 0)
(d)A stretch parallel to the y-axis, scale factor 3
3.A taxi journey of m miles costs C pounds, where C = 2.5m + 3. A driver says the ratio C : m is the same for every journey. Is the driver correct? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)The driver is correct — the ratio C : m is the same for every journey.
(b)The ratio C : m is not constant because the formula includes a fixed charge of £3 as well as the charge per mile.
(c)The ratio C : m is not constant because the charge per mile, £2.50, is not a whole number.
(d)The ratio C : m is not constant because C increases as m increases.
4.A kite string makes an angle of 30° with the ground. The kite is flying at a height of 6 m directly above a point on the ground. Using the exact value of sin 30°, work out the exact length of the kite string.
(a)4√3 m
(b)12 m
(c)6√3 m
(d)3 m
5.For two events A and B, P(A) = 0.6 and P(A and B) = 0.15. Work out P(B | A).
(a)0.15
(b)0.09
(c)0.25
(d)0.45
6.The mean of the four numbers 10, 15, 20 and x is 18. Work out the value of x.
(a)27
(b)72
(c)45
(d)18
7.Work out (−2/5) × (−10/3). Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)−56/15
(b)3/25
(c)−4/3
(d)4/3
8.A number machine multiplies its input by 3 and then adds 7. The output is 1. Work out the input.
(a)2
(b)−18
(c)−6
(d)−2
9.A recipe needs 1.2 kg of flour. Dan has 750 g of flour in his cupboard. Write the mass of flour the recipe needs as a fraction of the mass of flour Dan has. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(a)4/25
(b)8/13
(c)5/8
(d)8/5
10.OABC is a parallelogram, with OA = a and OC = c. M is the midpoint of AB. Express the vector OM in terms of a and c.
(a)a − (1/2)c
(b)a + c
(c)a + (1/2)c
(d)(1/2)a + (1/2)c
11.At a summer fair, the probability of winning at the hoopla stall is 6/10 and the probability of winning at the coconut shy is 2/10. Work out how many times as likely a player is to win at the hoopla stall as at the coconut shy.
(a)4 times as likely
(b)3 times as likely
(c)12 times as likely
(d)6 times as likely
12.A car travels 180 km using 6 litres of fuel. Work out the car's fuel consumption in kilometres per litre, then work out how many kilometres it can travel on a full tank of 12 litres at this rate.
(a)2160 km
(b)30 km
(c)90 km
(d)360 km
13.Work out the value of 2x² when x = −3
(a)18
(b)36
(c)−18
(d)−12
14.Two mathematically similar polygons have perimeters in the ratio 2 : 5. Write the ratio of their areas in its simplest form.
(a)8 : 125
(b)4 : 25
(c)4 : 5
(d)2 : 5
15.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 14 cm. One of the other angles is 30°. Work out the exact length of the side opposite the 30° angle.
(a)28 cm
(b)7 cm
(c)7√3 cm
(d)14/√3 cm
16.A taxi charges a £3 fixed fee plus £2 for each mile travelled. Write an expression, in pounds, for the total cost of a journey of n miles.
(a)3n + 2
(b)2n + 3
(c)2n − 3
(d)5n
17.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
18.A rectangle has vertices A(1, 1), B(4, 1), C(4, 5) and D(1, 5). Work out the perimeter of the rectangle.
(a)18 units
(b)7 units
(c)14 units
(d)12 units
19.Solve x² − 5x + 6 = 0 by factorising.
(a)x = −2 or x = −3
(b)x = 1 or x = 6
(c)x = 2 or x = 3
(d)x = 5 or x = 6
20.A student is proving that (n + 1)² − n² is always an odd number. Which of these correctly completes the first line of algebra?
(a)(n + 1)² − n² = 1
(b)(n + 1)² − n² = 2n + 1
(c)(n + 1)² − n² = 2n
(d)(n + 1)² − n² = n² + 2n + 1

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.