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

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Work out (−3) × 4 + 2 × (−5)
(a)−22
(b)50
(c)−2
(d)22
2.A parcel delivery company's cost graph shows the following: the cost is a flat £5 for parcels weighing up to 2 kg, and then rises by £2 for each additional kg above 2 kg. Use the graph to work out the weight of a parcel that costs £17.
(a)8.5 kg
(b)8 kg
(c)6 kg
(d)7.5 kg
3.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
4.Point P has coordinates (6, 4). P is rotated 90° clockwise about the point (1, 2), and the image is then translated by the vector (−3, 5). Work out the coordinates of the final image of P.
(a)(8, 0)
(b)(0, 2)
(c)(3, −3)
(d)(−4, 12)
5.At a fair, a game costs £2 to play. The probability of winning the game is 0.15, and each win pays out £10. Amir plays the game 200 times. Work out how much money Amir should expect to lose in total.
(a)£300
(b)£100
(c)£700
(d)£400
6.The heights, h cm, of 80 plants are grouped like this: 0 ≤ h < 20, 14 plants; 20 ≤ h < 40, 22 plants; 40 ≤ h < 50, 16 plants; 50 ≤ h < 80, 28 plants. Write down the class interval that contains the lower quartile.
(a)40 ≤ h < 50
(b)50 ≤ h < 80
(c)20 ≤ h < 40
(d)0 ≤ h < 20
7.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
8.The first five terms of a quadratic sequence are 5, 8, 13, 20, 29. Work out the next term in the sequence.
(a)38
(b)40
(c)32
(d)39
9.Two cars leave the same point at the same time and travel in opposite directions. One travels at 80 km/h and the other at 60 km/h. Work out how long it takes until the cars are 350 km apart.
(a)5 hours
(b)2.5 hours
(c)17.5 hours
(d)4.375 hours
10.Two points on a circle divide its circumference into two arcs of different lengths. Write down the name given to the shorter of the two arcs.
(a)Major arc
(b)Minor segment
(c)Chord
(d)Minor arc
11.A factory finds that the probability a randomly chosen light bulb is defective is 0.035. In a batch of 4,000 bulbs, work out how many bulbs you would expect to work correctly.
(a)3,860
(b)4,000
(c)386
(d)140
12.Work out the exact value of √(2² + 3²)
(a)13
(b)√5
(c)5
(d)√13
13.A plumber charges a call-out fee plus an hourly rate. The total cost, y in pounds, of a job lasting x hours is given by y = 45x + 60. Work out the total cost of a job that lasts 3 hours.
y = 45x + 60
(a)£315
(b)£108
(c)£135
(d)£195
14.A metal alloy is made from copper and tin in the ratio 7:3. Work out the mass of tin in 250 g of the alloy.
(a)125 g
(b)75 g
(c)25 g
(d)175 g
15.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 10 cm. One of its other angles is 45°. Work out the exact length of one of the two shorter sides.
(a)5√2 cm
(b)5√3 cm
(c)10√2 cm
(d)5 cm
16.The formula for converting a temperature from degrees Celsius, C, to degrees Fahrenheit, F, is F = 1.8C + 32. Work out F when C = 20, and identify what kind of mathematical statement F = 1.8C + 32 is.
(a)68, and it is an equation
(b)36, and it is a formula
(c)52, and it is a formula
(d)68, and it is a formula
17.Two quantities x and y are in direct proportion. When x = 8, the value of y is 20. Work out the value of y when x = 14.
(a)26
(b)5.6
(c)28
(d)35
18.Shape S is enlarged by scale factor −1, centre (0, 0). Which single transformation has the same overall effect as this enlargement, for every point?
(a)A reflection in the y-axis
(b)A reflection in the x-axis
(c)A rotation of 180° about the origin
(d)No transformation — the shape is unchanged
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 candidate solves the inequality x² > 9 and writes: "x² > 9, so x > 3." Which of these is a correct comment on the candidate's work?
(a)Wrong — the correct solution is −3 < x < 3.
(b)Right, but x = −3 and x = 3 should also work.
(c)Right — square rooting both sides gives x > 3.
(d)Wrong — the correct solution is x < −3 or x > 3.

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.