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.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
(a)0.02 cm
(b)0.023 cm
(c)0.0238 cm
(d)0.024 cm
2.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?
y = -2x² + 5
(a)It is U-shaped, since x² is always positive.
(b)It is a straight line, because of the constant term +5.
(c)It repeatedly rises and falls, like a wave shape.
(d)It is n-shaped, since the x² coefficient is negative.
3.In a box of pens, 3/7 of the pens are blue and the rest are black. Write down the ratio of the number of blue pens to the number of black pens, in its simplest form.
(a)4 : 3
(b)4 : 7
(c)3 : 4
(d)3 : 7
4.A cuboid has a length, width and height that are all different from each other. How many planes of symmetry does it have?
(a)9
(b)3
(c)1
(d)6
5.In a trial, a drawing pin was dropped 80 times and landed point-up 52 times. Assuming this relative frequency continues, work out how many times you would expect it to land point-up in 300 drops.
(a)195
(b)105
(c)156
(d)52
6.A bus company runs two routes into the centre of Exeter. On ten weekdays the journey time on Route 1 was, in minutes: 22, 23, 24, 24, 25, 25, 26, 26, 27 and 28. On Route 2 it was: 18, 19, 20, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 36 and 38. A commuter must reach the centre on time every day. Work out the mean and the range for each route, and write down which route she should take.
(a)Route 2, as its mean time is lower than Route 1's mean
(b)Route 2, as its fastest journey took only 18 minutes
(c)Either route, as both have a mean time of 25 minutes
(d)Route 1, as its times vary by 6 minutes rather than 20
7.A semicircle has a diameter of 8 cm. Work out the exact area of the semicircle, in terms of π.
(a)4π cm²
(b)8π cm²
(c)16π cm²
(d)32π cm²
8.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 9, 14, 19. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
(a)n + 5
(b)5n + 4
(c)5n
(d)5n − 1
9.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
10.In triangle ABC and triangle DEF, the angle at A and the angle at D are both 40°, and the angle at B and the angle at E are both 70°. No side lengths are given. Write down whether the two triangles must be similar, with the reason.
(a)No, because the triangles may be different sizes
(b)Yes, by the SSS condition
(c)No, because no side lengths are given
(d)Yes, by the AA condition
11.A bag contains 4 red sweets and 6 yellow sweets. Two sweets are taken at random, one after the other, and are not put back. The first sweet taken is red. Work out the probability that the second sweet taken is also red.
(a)4/9
(b)1/3
(c)3/10
(d)2/5
12.Work out 1 − 1/2 − 1/4 − 1/8 − 1/16. Give your answer as a fraction.
(a)1/16
(b)1/8
(c)15/16
(d)3/16
13.Solve 5x² − 15x = 0.
(a)x = 0 or x = 15
(b)x = 3
(c)x = 0 or x = 3
(d)x = 5 or x = 3
14.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
15.A triangular flag has a base of 40 cm and a perpendicular height of 25 cm. Work out its area.
(a)65 cm²
(b)1,000 cm²
(c)500 cm²
(d)2,000 cm²
16.Work out the equation of the straight line through the points (−3, 4) and (1, −8).
(a)y = −3x − 5
(b)y = 3x − 11
(c)y = −3x + 5
(d)y = −3x + 11
17.A water tank is a cuboid measuring 30 cm × 20 cm × 10 cm. The tank is full of water. Work out how many litres of water it holds.
(a)600 litres
(b)6 litres
(c)0.6 litres
(d)60 litres
18.AB is a diameter of a circle with centre O, and C is a point on the circle. A student writes four statements to prove that angle ACB = 90°. Statement 1: OA = OC, since both are radii, so triangle OAC is isosceles with angle OAC = angle OCA. Statement 2: OB = OC, since both are radii, so triangle OBC is isosceles with angle OBC = angle OCB. Statement 3: in triangle ABC, the three angles sum to 360°, so angle OAC + angle OBC + angle ACB = 360°, meaning 2 × angle ACB = 360° and angle ACB = 180°. Statement 4: A, O and B lie on a straight line, since AB is a diameter through the centre O. Which one of these four statements is mathematically incorrect?
(a)Statement 4 — A, O and B lie on a straight line
(b)Statement 3 — a triangle's angles are said to sum to 360°
(c)Statement 1 — OA = OC because both are radii
(d)Statement 2 — OB = OC because both are radii
19.Solve the inequality 3x − 1 ≤ 11.
(a)x ≥ 4
(b)x ≤ 4
(c)x ≤ 12
(d)x ≤ 10/3
20.An exponential model has equation y = A × bˣ, where b > 1. Its graph passes through the points (1, 135) and (2, 405). Work out the value of A.
(a)45
(b)1
(c)135
(d)3

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.