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.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
(a)100
(b)28
(c)−28
(d)0
2.Solve the simultaneous equations y = 2x − 1 and y = x² − x − 1, giving both pairs of solutions.
y = 2x − 1y = x²
(a)x = 0, y = −1 and x = −3, y = −7
(b)x = 0, y = −1
(c)x = −2, y = −5 and x = 1, y = 1
(d)x = 0, y = −1 and x = 3, y = 5
3.y is directly proportional to x². When x = 3, y = 45. Construct the equation connecting x and y, then work out the value of y when x = 5.
(a)50
(b)25
(c)75
(d)125
4.m is the column vector with top number 4 and bottom number 6. n is the column vector with top number −6 and bottom number −9. Given that n = k × m for some number k, work out the value of k.
(a)1.5
(b)−10
(c)−1.5
(d)−24
5.A drawer contains 4 red socks and 2 blue socks. Two socks are taken out at random, one after the other, without the first being put back. Work out the probability that both socks are the same colour.
(a)7/18
(b)2/5
(c)5/9
(d)7/15
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.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.A water tank empties according to y = −5x + 200, where y is the number of litres left after x minutes. Work out the coordinates of the point where this graph crosses the x-axis.
y = -5x + 200
(a)(40, 0)
(b)(0, 40)
(c)(0, 200)
(d)(200, 0)
9.A straight-line graph shows the number of pages printed, p, plotted against the time in minutes, t, since a printer started a print job. The line passes through the points (2, 30) and (5, 90). Work out the gradient of the line.
(a)18
(b)20
(c)0.05
(d)−20
10.Point A has coordinates (2, 5). Point A is translated to point B using the column vector with top number 6 and bottom number −3. Write down the coordinates of point B.
(a)(8, 2)
(b)(−1, 11)
(c)(−4, 8)
(d)(8, 8)
11.Bag A contains 3 red balls and 2 blue balls. Bag B contains 1 red ball and 3 blue balls. One ball is taken at random from each bag. Work out the probability that both balls are red.
(a)4/9
(b)3/25
(c)17/20
(d)3/20
12.Work out (−2/5) × (−10/3). Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)−56/15
(b)3/25
(c)−4/3
(d)4/3
13.A curve has equation y = x³ − 4x. Work out the coordinates of the point where the curve crosses the y-axis.
y = x
(a)(0, 4)
(b)(4, 0)
(c)(0, 0)
(d)(0, −4)
14.A necklace is made using gold beads and silver beads in the ratio 7:3. There are 40 more gold beads than silver beads. Work out the total number of beads in the necklace.
(a)100
(b)40
(c)70
(d)30
15.A right-angled triangle has its two shorter sides equal to 8 cm and 15 cm. Work out the value of cos θ, where θ is the angle opposite the 8 cm side. Give your answer as a fraction.
(a)17/15
(b)8/17
(c)15/17
(d)8/15
16.Make x the subject of the formula y = 4(x − 6).
(a)x = 4y + 96
(b)x = (y + 6)/4
(c)x = (y + 24)/4
(d)x = y/4 − 6
17.A cyclist's speed, in metres per second, is plotted against time, in seconds, since she sets off. Which statement correctly pairs the gradient of a tangent to this graph, and the area between the graph and the time-axis, with what each one represents?
(a)Gradient = distance travelled; area = acceleration.
(b)Gradient = speed itself; area = distance travelled.
(c)Gradient = acceleration; area = acceleration too.
(d)Gradient = acceleration; area = distance travelled.
18.A rhombus has all four sides equal in length, but it is not a square — its angles are not all 90°. How many lines of symmetry does this rhombus have?
(a)2
(b)1
(c)4
(d)0
19.Point P has coordinates (5, 2). Point P is rotated 180° about the origin to point Q. Write down the coordinates of Q.
(a)(2, 5)
(b)(−5, −2)
(c)(−5, 2)
(d)(5, −2)
20.A line segment has one endpoint at (−6, 2) and its midpoint at (−1, 5). Work out the coordinates of the other endpoint.
(a)(−3.5, 3.5)
(b)(5, 3)
(c)(4, 5)
(d)(4, 8)

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.