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

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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.Grace works out 7 × 99 by writing 99 as 100 − 1. Use her method to work out 7 × 99.
(a)707
(b)700
(c)693
(d)699
2.The curve y = x² − 1 and the line y = 3x − 3 meet at two points. Work out the x-coordinates of those two points.
y = 3x − 3y = x² − 1
(a)x = −1 and x = −2
(b)x = −1 and x = 4
(c)x = 1 and x = −1
(d)x = 1 and x = 2
3.The ratio of cats to dogs in a shelter is 3:4. There are 18 cats. Work out the total number of animals in the shelter.
(a)42
(b)126
(c)25
(d)24
4.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?
(a)angles in a triangle add up to 180°
(b)angles on a straight line add up to 180°
(c)exterior angle = sum of the two interior opposite angles
(d)exterior angle is always double the smallest angle
5.A group of 80 pupils was asked whether they walk to school. 45 of the pupils are girls and 35 are boys. 30 of the girls walk to school and 14 of the boys walk to school. One of the girls is picked at random. Work out the probability that she walks to school. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(a)3/8
(b)11/20
(c)1/3
(d)2/3
6.A two-way table records whether each of the 30 pupils in a class passed maths and whether they passed science. 18 pupils passed maths, 12 pupils passed science and 8 pupils passed both. Work out how many pupils passed at least one of the two subjects.
(a)22
(b)14
(c)18
(d)30
7.A van has a mass of 2,000 kg, correct to 1 significant figure. Using m for the mass of the van in kilograms, write down the error interval for m.
(a)1,500 ≤ m < 2,500
(b)1,000 ≤ m < 3,000
(c)1,950 ≤ m < 2,050
(d)1,500 < m ≤ 2,500
8.Which of these statements is an identity?
(a)x + 4 = 2x
(b)2(x + 4) = 20
(c)2(x + 4) ≡ 2x + 8
(d)2(x + 4) = 2x + 4
9.An oven is preheating. Its temperature, T °C, is plotted against time, t minutes, on a straight-line graph. The line passes through the points (2, 60) and (6, 140). Work out the gradient of the line.
(a)−20
(b)30
(c)40
(d)20
10.A shape is reflected in the line y = x, and the image is then reflected in the line y = 0. These two lines meet at the origin. Work out the single rotation, centre and angle, that is equivalent to this combination of two reflections, for every point.
y = x
(a)90° clockwise about (0, 0)
(b)45° clockwise about (0, 0)
(c)90° anticlockwise about (0, 0)
(d)180° about (0, 0)
11.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
12.Estimate the value of √45, giving your answer to the nearest whole number.
(a)2,025
(b)7
(c)6
(d)22.5
13.A student is asked whether the lines y = (2/5)x − 1 and 5y = −2x + 15 are perpendicular. The student answers: "Yes, because when I rearrange the second equation I get y = −(2/5)x + 3, and 2/5 times −2/5 is negative." Which of these is a correct comment on the student's reasoning?
y = -2x + 15
(a)Wrong — the rearrangement is incorrect.
(b)Right — 2/5 and −2/5 are negatives of each other.
(c)Wrong — the product is −4/25, not −1.
(d)Right — a negative product always means perpendicular.
14.Leah puts £4000 into a savings account paying 3% compound interest each year. At the end of 2 years she takes out all of the money and spends £1500 of it on a laptop. Work out how much of the money she has left.
(a)£2620.00
(b)£2740.00
(c)£2743.60
(d)£4243.60
15.Two triangles are similar. The sides of the first triangle are 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm. The shortest side of the second triangle is 9 cm. Work out the scale factor from the first triangle to the second.
(a)1/3
(b)3
(c)6
(d)1.8
16.The graph of y = f(x) has a minimum turning point at (3, 2). Write down the coordinates of the minimum turning point of the graph of y = f(x) + 5.
(a)(3, 7)
(b)(−2, 2)
(c)(8, 2)
(d)(3, −3)
17.A shop's daily profit, in pounds, is plotted against the price charged for an item, in pounds. A tangent to the profit graph at a price of £15 passes through the points (12, 540) and (18, 480). Work out the instantaneous rate of change of profit with respect to price at £15, and state whether profit is increasing or decreasing there.
(a)Profit is increasing by £6 per £1 rise in price.
(b)Profit is increasing by £10 per £1 rise in price.
(c)Profit is decreasing by £60 per £1 rise in price.
(d)Profit is decreasing by £10 per £1 rise in price.
18.Work out the exact value of tan 30° + tan 30°.
(a)2√3/3
(b)√3/3
(c)√3
(d)2√3
19.The diagram shows two curves drawn on the same grid. Curve A is the graph of $y = x^{2}$ . Which equation could represent curve B?
(a) $y = (x - 3)^{2}$
(b) $y = x^{2} - 3$
(c) $y = x^{2} + 3 x$
(d) $y = x^{2} + 3$
20.A photo printing service has two adverts for its price. Advert A: cost in pounds = 3(2n + 4) for n photos. Advert B: cost in pounds = 6n + 12. A customer says the two adverts always charge the same amount. Is the customer correct?
(a)They always charge the same, since 3(2n + 4) = 6n + 12.
(b)It depends on the value of n, so it cannot be decided.
(c)Advert A is cheaper, since 3(2n + 4) = 6n + 4.
(d)Advert A is cheaper, since 3(2n + 4) = 2n + 7.

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.