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

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1.£60 is shared between Amir, Bo and Chen in the ratio 1:2:3. Work out the fraction of the £60 that Amir and Bo receive together.
(a)1/2
(b)1/6
(c)5/6
(d)1
2.A company's weekly profit, P thousand pounds, when it makes x thousand items is modelled by P = x² − 8x + 12, for x ≥ 0. Work out the values of x for which the company makes a loss.
(a)x < 2 or x > 6
(b)2 < x < 6
(c)−6 < x < −2
(d)2 ≤ x ≤ 6
3.The length of ribbon A is 5/12 of the length of ribbon B. Write the length of ribbon B as a fraction of the length of ribbon A.
(a)12/5
(b)5/12
(c)12/7
(d)7/12
4.Shape S is enlarged by a scale factor of 3, centre the origin. A vertex of S is at (2, 1). Work out the coordinates of the image of this vertex.
(a)(6, 1)
(b)(6, 3)
(c)(2, 3)
(d)(5, 4)
5.A fair spinner has 8 equal sections: 5 are red and 3 are blue. Freya spins it twice, and each spin is independent of the other. Work out the probability that she gets one red and one blue in the two spins, in either order.
(a)39/64
(b)15/32
(c)15/28
(d)15/64
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.Work out an estimate for 588 ÷ 31, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
(a)20
(b)19
(c)17
(d)200
8.Look at the statement 2x + 5 = 17. Considering whether it is an expression, an equation, a formula, or an identity, which classification is correct?
(a)A formula, relating two quantities
(b)An identity, true for all values of x
(c)An expression, with x terms and numbers
(d)An equation, true for one value of x
9.Two mathematically similar water bottles have a volume scale factor of 8 from the smaller bottle to the larger bottle. Work out the surface area scale factor from the smaller bottle to the larger bottle.
(a)8
(b)4
(c)2
(d)64
10.A shop stacks tins in a display block. The front elevation of the block is 4 tins wide and 3 tins high. The side elevation shows the block is 2 tins deep. Every position in the block is filled. How many tins are used in total?
(a)24
(b)6
(c)12
(d)9
11.An ordinary fair dice is rolled twice. Work out the probability of getting at least one 5.
(a)30/36
(b)11/36
(c)25/36
(d)12/36
12.A number, n, is a multiple of both 6 and 9. Work out the smallest possible value of n that is greater than 20.
(a)36
(b)18
(c)54
(d)27
13.The graph of y = f(x) has x-intercepts at x = −1 and x = 4. Which statement correctly describes the x-intercepts of y = f(2 − x)?
(a)Translate +2 in x only (no reflection); roots 1, 6
(b)Solved 2 − x = k as x = k − 2; roots −3, 2
(c)No overall change; roots −1, 4
(d)Reflect in the y-axis, +2 in x; roots 3, −2
14.The amount of fuel left in a car's tank, F litres, is plotted against the distance travelled, d miles, and the points lie on a straight line. The line passes through (0, 45) and (150, 15). Work out the gradient of the line and say what it tells you.
(a)−5, the car uses 5 litres of fuel for each mile
(b)−30, the car uses 30 litres of fuel for each mile
(c)−0.2, the car uses 0.2 litres of fuel for each mile
(d)0.2, the car gains 0.2 litres of fuel for each mile
15.A vertical flagpole casts a shadow 6 m long at the same time as a 1.2 m vertical post casts a shadow 1.8 m long. The flagpole and the post are both vertical, and the triangles formed by each object, its shadow, and the sun's ray are similar. Work out the height of the flagpole.
(a)5.4 m
(b)4 m
(c)9 m
(d)7.2 m
16.The graph of y = x² − 5x + 6 crosses the x-axis at two points. By factorising, work out the x-coordinates of these two points.
y = x² − 5x + 6
(a)x = −1 and x = −6
(b)x = 2 and x = −3
(c)x = 2 and x = 3
(d)x = −2 and x = −3
17.A cyclist rides 30 km in 1 hour 30 minutes. Work out the average speed of the cyclist in km/h.
(a)15 km/h
(b)30 km/h
(c)45 km/h
(d)20 km/h
18.Triangle ABC has AB = 5 cm and BC = 7 cm. Triangle DEF has DE = 5 cm and EF = 7 cm. Which extra fact would prove the triangles are congruent by SAS?
(a)angle C = angle F
(b)angle B = angle E
(c)AC = DF
(d)angle A = angle D
19.Isla says that the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = −2x + 3 are parallel. Write down the statement that gives the correct answer for the correct reason.
y = 2x + 1y = -2x + 3
(a)Yes, because the gradients 2 and −2 add to 0
(b)No, because their gradients are 2 and −2
(c)Yes, because both gradients have size 2
(d)No, because their y-intercepts are 1 and 3
20.The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 5, and each term after that increases by 6. Work out the 8th term of the sequence.
(a)53
(b)41
(c)48
(d)47

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.