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.Priya has 24 red beads and 36 blue beads. She makes identical bracelets, using every bead and with none left over. Work out the greatest number of bracelets she can make.
(a)6
(b)72
(c)60
(d)12
2.A model rocket's height is given by h = −5t² + 20t, where h is in metres and t is in seconds. A student says the graph of h against t is n-shaped. Which statement gives the correct verdict on the SHAPE and the reason that settles it from the equation?
(a)Yes — the t² coefficient is negative, giving an n-shape.
(b)No — it is U-shaped, since height starts by increasing.
(c)No — the shape comes from the story, not the coefficient.
(d)Yes, but only because the rocket eventually lands.
3.The ratio of the number of pages Mia has read to the number of pages Leo has read is 7 : 4. Mia has read 84 pages. Work out how many pages they have read altogether.
(a)147
(b)231
(c)48
(d)132
4.Point P has coordinates (4, 2). P is rotated 90° clockwise about the point (1, 1), and the image is then reflected in the line x = 1. Work out the coordinates of the final image of P.
(a)(−2, 2)
(b)(2, −2)
(c)(2, 4)
(d)(0, −2)
5.The probability that Priya scores with a netball shot is 3/4. She takes two shots, and the shots are independent. Work out the probability that she scores with her first shot but misses her second shot.
(a)3/4
(b)9/16
(c)3/16
(d)1/2
6.A vet records the masses, m kg, of the dogs seen in one week as a histogram. The bar for 0 ≤ m < 5 has a frequency density of 4 per kg, the bar for 5 ≤ m < 15 has a frequency density of 2.6 per kg, and the bar for 15 ≤ m < 40 has a frequency density of 1.2 per kg. Work out the total number of dogs seen that week.
(a)7.8
(b)39
(c)76
(d)107
7.A café offers sandwiches with one filling from 5 choices and one type of bread from 4 choices. Cheese and mustard, which is one of the 5 fillings, is not available on gluten-free bread, which is one of the 4 breads. Work out how many different sandwiches are possible.
(a)16
(b)15
(c)19
(d)20
8.The point (4, 2) lies on the circle x² + y² = 20. Work out the equation of the tangent to the circle at (4, 2).
(a)y = −0.5x + 4
(b)y = −2x − 10
(c)y = 2x − 6
(d)y = −2x + 10
9.Write 2 m : 150 cm : 50 cm as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
(a)4:3:1
(b)4:3:2
(c)2:150:50
(d)3:4:1
10.A circle has centre O. PQ, RS and TU are three chords of the circle, and only one of them passes through O. Write down what this tells you about that chord.
(a)It is the same length as the other two chords
(b)It is the longest of the three chords
(c)It is the shortest of the three chords
(d)It is half the length of each of the other two chords
11.A two-way table records how 130 pupils travel to school. 70 of the pupils are girls and the rest are boys. 42 of the girls walk to school and the rest of the girls cycle. 33 of the boys walk to school. Work out what fraction of the girls walk to school.
(a)2/5
(b)3/5
(c)33/70
(d)21/65
12.The decimal 0.272727... repeats the block 27 for ever. Write 0.27 recurring as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/10
(b)27/100
(c)3/11
(d)2/9
13.Simplify (2x² + 7x + 3) ÷ (x² − 9), giving your answer as a single fraction.
(a)(2x + 1)/(x + 3)
(b)(2x + 1)/(x − 3)
(c)2x + 1
(d)(2x + 3)/(x − 3)
14.A shop's number of online orders is proportional to its number of in-store orders. Last month there were 45 in-store orders and 180 online orders. Write the ratio of online orders to in-store orders, in its simplest form.
(a)3:1
(b)1:4
(c)4:5
(d)4:1
15.Point P is translated by the vector (5, −2), and the image is then rotated 90° clockwise about the origin to give the point (3, 9). Work out the coordinates of P.
(a)(−11, −2)
(b)(4, −1)
(c)(−4, 1)
(d)(−14, 5)
16.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = x² − 4x + 9.
y = x² − 4x + 9
(a)x = 4, y = −7
(b)x = 2, y = −5
(c)x = 2, y = 5
(d)x = −2, y = 5
17.Amelia uses 2 kg of flour to bake 5 cakes. Using the same recipe, work out how many cakes she can bake with 6 kg of flour.
(a)10
(b)12
(c)15
(d)20
18.Points A, B, C and D lie on a circle with centre O, in that order around the circle, and AC is a diameter. Which of the following circle facts does NOT apply to this diagram?
(a)Angle at the centre = twice angle at circumference.
(b)Opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180°.
(c)Tangent-chord angle = angle in the alternate segment.
(d)Angle in a semicircle = 90°.
19.The first four terms of a sequence are 11, 18, 25, 32. Ravi thinks the nth term is 7n. Work out the correct expression for the nth term.
(a)7n + 4
(b)7n
(c)7n + 11
(d)11n + 7
20.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = 3x² + 12x + 7.
y = 3x² + 12x + 7
(a)x = −2, y = 5
(b)x = −4, y = −41
(c)x = 2, y = −5
(d)x = −2, y = −5

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.