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

1.2/3 of an amount of money is £30. Work out the amount.
(a)£15
(b)£45
(c)£20
(d)£90
2.The curve y = −x² + 6x − 5 has a maximum point. Use completing the square to find its coordinates.
y = −x² + 6x − 5
(a)x = 3, y = −4
(b)x = 3, y = 4
(c)x = 6, y = 31
(d)x = −3, y = 4
3.A recipe for 8 people needs 320 g of rice. Sanjay scales the recipe down to serve 5 people, then wants to scale his new amount back up to serve 8 people again. Work out the multiplier he should use to scale his amount for 5 people back up to the amount for 8 people.
(a)8/5
(b)3/5
(c)25/64
(d)5/8
4.A, B, C and D are points on a circle with centre O, placed in that order around the circle so that ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral. B lies on the major arc AC and D lies on the minor arc AC. Angle AOC = 104°. Work out the size of angle ADC.
(a)52°
(b)128°
(c)76°
(d)104°
5.In a class of 32 pupils, 19 study geography and 15 study history. 8 study both subjects. Work out n(G ∪ H), the number of pupils who study geography or history or both.
(a)18
(b)26
(c)11
(d)34
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.In a box of chocolates 5/8 are milk chocolates and the rest are dark chocolates. Work out the number of dark chocolates as a fraction of the number of milk chocolates.
(a)8/5
(b)5/3
(c)3/8
(d)3/5
8.The formula y = x² + 1 gives y in terms of x. Work out the value of y when x = −2.
y = x² + 1
(a)−3
(b)1
(c)5
(d)4
9.It takes 2 identical pumps 10 hours to empty a flooded basement. Working at the same rate, work out how many hours 5 of these pumps would take to empty the same basement.
(a)4 hours
(b)7 hours
(c)20 hours
(d)25 hours
10.A rhombus has all four sides equal in length. Which statement about a rhombus is correct?
(a)Its rotational symmetry order is always 4
(b)Its diagonals cross at right angles
(c)Its diagonals are always equal in length
(d)It always has four right angles
11.Two fair four-sided dice, numbered 1 to 4, are rolled and the two scores are added together. Work out the probability that the total is 5.
(a)1/16
(b)1/4
(c)1/8
(d)3/16
12.A number, n, is a multiple of both 6 and 9. Work out the smallest possible value of n that is greater than 20.
(a)36
(b)18
(c)54
(d)27
13.A quadratic graph y = ax² + bx + c has its turning point on the y-axis. Which statement about its roots must be true?
(a)The two roots must both be positive.
(b)The graph has no roots at all.
(c)The graph must touch the x-axis at exactly one point.
(d)If the graph has two real roots, they are equal and opposite in value, so they sum to zero.
14.Two mathematically similar cubes have edge lengths 2 cm and 6 cm. Write the ratio of the volume of the smaller cube to the volume of the larger cube in its simplest form.
(a)27 : 1
(b)1 : 9
(c)1 : 27
(d)1 : 3
15.A path goes from A(1, 1) to B(1, 5), then from B to C(6, 5). Work out the total length of the path from A to C.
(a)9
(b)5
(c)20
(d)4
16.A sequence begins at 60, and each term after that is found by subtracting 7 from the term before it. Work out the 5th term of the sequence.
(a)88
(b)39
(c)32
(d)25
17.Two mathematically similar logos are printed on a poster. They have areas 20 cm² and 45 cm². Nadia says that the length scale factor from the smaller logo to the larger logo is 45 ÷ 20 = 2.25. Give a reason why Nadia is incorrect, and work out the correct length scale factor.
(a)2.25
(b)0.67
(c)4.5
(d)1.5
18.Two similar triangular tiles have lengths in the ratio 3 : 5. The longest side of the smaller tile is 9 cm. Work out the length of the longest side of the larger tile.
(a)27 cm
(b)45 cm
(c)15 cm
(d)11 cm
19.One solution of the equation x² − (k + 1)x + k = 0 is x = 3. Work out the value of k.
(a)k = 3
(b)k = −3
(c)k = 4
(d)k = 1.5
20.A rectangular garden has length (x + 7) m and width (x − 7) m. Work out an expression for the area of the garden, giving your answer in its simplest form.
(a)2x
(b)x² + 49
(c)x² − 14x − 49
(d)x² − 49

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.