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

VersionsA only A + B A + B + Csame questions, different order

AnswersQuestions only With answer key Key only

New sheet

GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Higher · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.By listing systematically, work out how many two-digit multiples of 5 can be made using the digits 0, 3 and 5, if each digit can be used at most once and the number cannot start with 0.
(a)2
(b)3
(c)4
(d)6
2.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)
3.A furniture designer makes a scale model of a wardrobe using a scale of 1 : 8. The real wardrobe is 2.4 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Work out the perimeter of the front face of the model wardrobe, in centimetres.
(a)510 cm
(b)720 cm
(c)11.25 cm
(d)90 cm
4.A trapezium has vertices (0, 2), (4, 2), (3, 5) and (1, 5). It is rotated 180° about the point (2, 2), and the image is then translated by the vector (1, −5). Work out the coordinates of the image of (0, 2).
(a)(1, −7)
(b)(5, −3)
(c)(3, 7)
(d)(4, 2)
5.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
6.Two classes at a school in Coventry sit the same maths test, out of 20 marks. Class A has a mean mark of 14 and a range of 6. Class B has a mean mark of 14 and a range of 14. Write a sentence comparing the two classes, using the mean and the range.
(a)Equal means; Class A is more consistent, smaller range.
(b)Class B did better on average — its range is bigger.
(c)Class A did better on average — its range is smaller.
(d)The classes can't be compared, since the means are equal.
7.Which of these decimals lies between 1/4 and 2/5?
(a)0.45
(b)0.2
(c)0.5
(d)0.3
8.The graph of y = x² − 7x + 2 crosses the x-axis at two points. One root, read from the graph, is approximately x = 0.30. Using the fact that the sum of the two roots of x² − 7x + 2 = 0 is 7, estimate the other root, correct to 2 decimal places.
y = x² − 7x + 2
(a)x ≈ 6.70
(b)x ≈ 6.30
(c)x ≈ 7.30
(d)x ≈ 0.70
9.A worker is paid £13.20 per hour. Work out this rate of pay in pence per minute.
(a)22p
(b)79200p
(c)2.2p
(d)1320p
10.A treasure map has a scale of 1 cm to 4 m. A path from the start to a rock is drawn as two straight sections, measuring 3 cm and 2.5 cm. Work out the total real distance from the start to the rock, in metres.
(a)44
(b)22
(c)10
(d)5.5
11.A fair spinner is divided into 5 equal sections, 2 labelled win and 3 labelled lose. Zara spins it twice, and the two spins are independent. Work out the probability that she wins on the first spin and loses on the second spin.
(a)9/25
(b)6/25
(c)4/25
(d)3/10
12.Sam compares 0.6 and 5/8 by comparing the digit 6 with the digit 5, and says that 0.6 is the larger number. Convert 5/8 to a decimal to find the correct larger value.
(a)0.625
(b)0.58
(c)0.85
(d)0.6
13.The area under a speed-time graph between t = 0 and t = 6 seconds is estimated using three strips of equal width, using the speeds, in m/s, at t = 0, 2, 4 and 6: 0, 5, 9 and 12. Using the trapezium rule with these three trapezia, estimate the distance travelled.
(a)28 m
(b)80 m
(c)52 m
(d)40 m
14.A cartographer is choosing a scale for a map to show a small park in as much detail as possible. Which of these scales would show the MOST detail — 1 : 500, 1 : 5000, or 1 : 50 000? Give the correct scale and reason.
(a)1 : 50 000 — covers the largest real area, most detail
(b)1 : 500 — smallest real distance per cm (5 m), most detail
(c)1 : 5000 — the middle value, most balanced
(d)1 : 500 — smallest ratio, covers largest real distance
15.A solid has 6 faces and 8 vertices. Using the formula F + V − E = 2, work out how many edges it has.
(a)14
(b)10
(c)16
(d)12
16.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.
17.A room is drawn on a plan with a scale of 1 : 200. On the plan the room has an area of 12 cm². Work out the real area of the room, in square metres.
(a)4800 m²
(b)48 m²
(c)24 m²
(d)2400 m²
18.Line 1 passes through (0, 1) and (2, 5). Line 2 passes through (3, 2) and (5, 6). Work out the gradient of each line. Then write down whether the two lines are parallel.
(a)Parallel, since both gradients are 2
(b)Not parallel, since the gradients are 2 and 4
(c)Parallel, since both lines pass through positive coordinates
(d)Not parallel, since the two lines cross the y-axis at different points
19.A candle is 30 cm tall when lit and burns at a constant rate. After burning for 5 minutes, its height is 20 cm. The height h cm after t minutes is given by h = 30 − mt. Work out the value of m.
(a)2
(b)4
(c)10
(d)0.5
20.A circle has centre (0, 0) and passes through the point (5, 12). Work out the equation of the circle.
(a)x² + y² = 119
(b)x² + y² = 169
(c)x² + y² = 17
(d)x² + y² = 13

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.