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.Work out 3.7 × 24.
- 2.The nth term of a sequence is 3n² + 2n − 1. Work out the 10th term.
- 3.Work out the value of x when 4/x = 2/5.
- 4.A regular hexagon has sides of length 8 cm. By splitting the hexagon into 6 identical triangles that meet at its centre, work out the area of the hexagon. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
- 5.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.
- 6.A frequency polygon for the mass, in kg, of 40 parcels at a delivery depot is drawn by plotting one point at the midpoint of each class, joined by straight lines: (5, 6), (15, 10), (25, 16), (35, 6), (45, 2). Every class has a width of 10 kg. Write down the modal class.
- 7.A necklace is made from red beads and gold beads in the ratio 7 : 3. What fraction of the beads are gold?
- 8.Solve 6x − 5 = 3x + 13.
- 9.A gardener mixes 300 ml of plant feed concentrate with 1.2 litres of water to make a spray. Write the ratio of concentrate to water in its simplest form.
- 10.A rotation of 200° clockwise about the origin is applied, and the image is then rotated 250° anticlockwise about the origin. Work out the single angle of rotation, measured clockwise and between 0° and 360°, that has the same overall effect as the two rotations combined.
- 11.A spinner can land on red, blue, green or yellow, and it cannot land on more than one colour. The probability that it lands on red is 0.05 and the probability that it lands on yellow is 0.35. The probability that it lands on blue is twice the probability that it lands on green. Work out the probability that it lands on green.
- 12.Write these three numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 7/20, 0.3, 32%
- 13.Solve 2x² − 32 = 0.
- 14.A straight line passes through the points (1, 20) and (5, 8). Work out the gradient of the line.
- 15.In triangle ABC and triangle DEF, the angle at A equals the angle at D, and AB ÷ DE = AC ÷ DF. Write down what this proves about the two triangles.
- 16.A number, n, is doubled and then 7 is subtracted. The result is 15. Form an equation and solve it to find n.
- 17.y is directly proportional to x. When x = 4, y = 10. Work out the value of y when x = 6.
- 18.A tent's sloping side makes an angle of 45° with the ground. The sloping side is 3√2 m long. Using the exact value of sin 45°, work out the exact height of the tent.
- 19.Which expression is equivalent to 3(2x − 5) + 4x?
- 20.A geometric sequence has first term 3 and common ratio √3. Work out the position of the first term of the sequence that exceeds 30.
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.