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.Write down the symbol that makes this statement true: −2/3 ___ −5/6
- 2.The nth term of a sequence is n² + 3. Work out the first term of the sequence that is greater than 50.
- 3.A water tank has a capacity of 500 litres. It currently holds 350 litres of water. Write the amount of empty space in the tank as a fraction of the tank's capacity. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 4.In triangle ABC, angle ABC = 90° and angle BAC = 30°. The hypotenuse AC = 12 cm. Work out the exact length of AB.
- 5.A basketball player takes two free throws, and the throws are independent. The probability of scoring on each throw is 0.6, and the probability of missing is 0.4. Work out the probability that she scores exactly one of the two throws.
- 6.In a histogram of the distances, d metres, thrown by some athletes, the bar covering 20 ≤ d < 60 has a constant frequency density of 1.8 per metre. Estimate the number of throws of at least 20 metres but less than 35 metres.
- 7.A tank contains 120 litres of water. Water is drained out at a rate of 8 litres per minute for 6 minutes, and then a hose adds 15 litres. Work out how much water is left in the tank.
- 8.A point has coordinates (x, y), where x + y = 0 and x is not 0. In which two quadrants could this point lie?
- 9.Write 250 g : 2 kg as a ratio in its simplest form.
- 10.m is the column vector with top number 3 and bottom number −4. Which of these column vectors is a scalar multiple of m?
- 11.A market stall sells umbrellas. Over the last 250 days, it rained on 70 of them. Using this as an estimate of the probability of rain, work out how many rainy days would be expected in the next 365 days.
- 12.Write 0.875 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 13.Expand and simplify (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3).
- 14.Two quantities x and y are in the ratio x : y = 2 : 5, and y = kx for a constant k. Work out the value of k.
- 15.Two similar ponds have perimeters in the ratio 4 : 11. The perimeter of the larger pond is 88 m. Work out the perimeter of the smaller pond.
- 16.The equation x² − 6x + k = 0 has exactly one solution. Work out the value of k.
- 17.A cordial drink is made by mixing cordial concentrate and water in the ratio 1 : 6. Freya says that a 700 ml jug of this drink contains 100 ml of concentrate. Is she correct? Give a reason for your answer.
- 18.Triangle ABC is extended so that side BC is extended beyond C to a point D, forming exterior angle ACD. Angle BAC = 48° and angle ABC = 67°. Which single angle fact gives angle ACD = 115° in one step, without first working out the interior angle at C?
- 19.Two expressions are 4(x + 3) and 4x + 3. A student checks whether they are equivalent by substituting x = 2. Which statement correctly interprets the result?
- 20.Which expression means 'add 3 to n, then multiply the result by 4'?
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.