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.Write these decimals in order, starting with the smallest: 0.6, 0.55, 0.601, 0.5, 0.56
(a)0.5, 0.55, 0.56, 0.6, 0.601
(b)0.5, 0.56, 0.55, 0.6, 0.601
(c)0.5, 0.6, 0.55, 0.56, 0.601
(d)0.601, 0.6, 0.56, 0.55, 0.5
2.The diagram shows part of the graph of a reciprocal function of the form $y = \frac{k}{x}$ , passing through the labelled point. Work out the value of k.
(a)5
(b)6
(c)9
(d)1.5
3.A curve has equation y = 2x² + 5. Work out an estimate for the gradient of the curve at x = 3, using a chord between the points where x = 2 and x = 4.
y = 2x² + 5
(a)25
(b)24
(c)0.08
(d)12
4.u is the column vector with top number 5 and bottom number 1. v is the column vector with top number 2 and bottom number 4. Work out u − v, giving your answer as a column vector in the form (top, bottom).
(a)(−3, 3)
(b)(3, −3)
(c)(3, 3)
(d)(7, 5)
5.Each turn of a game ends in a win, a draw or a loss, and no turn can end in more than one of these. The probability of a win is 1/4 and the probability of a draw is 1/3. Work out the probability of a loss.
(a)5/12
(b)5/7
(c)1/12
(d)7/12
6.In a spelling test the 20 pupils in Group A had a mean mark of 80, and the 30 pupils in Group B had a mean mark of 70. Work out the mean mark of all 50 pupils.
(a)75 marks
(b)74 marks
(c)76 marks
(d)150 marks
7.A cinema has 250 seats. 12% of the seats are reserved. Work out how many of the seats are reserved.
(a)3
(b)30
(c)25
(d)24
8.The graph of y = f(x) passes through the point (2, 5). Write down the coordinates of the corresponding point on the graph of y = f(x − 4) + 1.
(a)(−2, 6)
(b)(−2, 4)
(c)(2, 6)
(d)(6, 6)
9.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
10.The diagram shows a solid made from two cuboids joined together. Which shape is the front elevation of this solid?
(a)A parallelogram
(b)A rectangle
(c)An L-shape
(d)A T-shape
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 the value of $1 0^{- 3}$ .
(a)1000
(b)−1000
(c)0.001
(d)−0.001
13.A geometric sequence has first term 4 and common ratio √2. Work out the sum of the first three terms of the sequence, giving your answer in the form a + b√2.
(a)12 + 4√2
(b)36 + 4√2
(c)4 + 12√2
(d)8 + 4√2
14.40% of a number is 12 more than 25% of the same number. Work out the number.
(a)48
(b)80
(c)15
(d)30
15.Triangle E has vertices (1, 2), (4, 2) and (1, 5). It is rotated 90° anticlockwise about the origin, and the image is then reflected in the line y = x. Work out the coordinates of the image of (4, 2).
y = x
(a)(−2, 4)
(b)(4, 2)
(c)(−4, 2)
(d)(4, −2)
16.A ball is dropped and bounces. The height of each bounce after the first is 8 cm less than the bounce before it. The first bounce reaches 60 cm. Work out the height of the 5th bounce.
(a)40
(b)92
(c)20
(d)28
17.The height of a candle, in cm, is measured as it burns: t = 0 min, height = 20.0; t = 3 min, height = 18.7; t = 5 min, height = 17.5; t = 6 min, height = 16.6; t = 7 min, height = 15.4; t = 9 min, height = 13.4. Which pair of readings gives the best estimate of the instantaneous rate of change of the height at t = 6 minutes, and why?
(a)t = 0 and t = 6 (average from the start)
(b)t = 5 and t = 7 (closest, evenly spaced)
(c)t = 3 and t = 9 (wider interval, more data)
(d)t = 6 and t = 7 (next reading after 6)
18.A circle has two straight radii drawn from the centre to the edge, together with the arc between them. Write down the name of the region enclosed by these two radii and the arc.
(a)chord
(b)segment
(c)semicircle
(d)sector
19.Make x the subject of the formula y = 3(x + 2).
(a)x = (y − 2)/3
(b)x = y/3 − 2
(c)x = 3y − 2
(d)x = y/3 + 2
20.Make x the subject of the formula y = 5x + 3.
y = 5x + 3
(a)x = (y + 3)/5
(b)x = (y − 3)/5
(c)x = y/5 − 3
(d)x = 5(y − 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.