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.An allotment plot is divided into vegetables and flowers in the ratio 9 : 4. A third of the vegetable section is used for potatoes. What fraction of the whole plot is potatoes?
(a)3/13
(b)4/39
(c)1/3
(d)9/13
2.A garden path runs along the line 4x + y = 12. A drainage pipe must be laid perpendicular to the path, passing through the point (3, 1) where a sprinkler sits. Work out the equation of the pipe's line, giving your answer in the form y = mx + c.
(a)y = (1/4)x + 1/4
(b)y = −(1/4)x + 1/4
(c)y = (1/4)x − 1/4
(d)y = −4x + 13
3.A hiker's distance from the start of the trail, in kilometres, is plotted against time, in minutes, since she set off. At t = 45 minutes she stops to rest, so her distance from the start is neither increasing nor decreasing at that instant. Which statement about the tangent to the distance–time graph at t = 45 minutes is correct?
(a)The gradient equals 45, the time in minutes she stops.
(b)The tangent is vertical, so its gradient is undefined.
(c)The tangent is horizontal, so its gradient is 0.
(d)The gradient can't be found without her distance too.
4.A quadrilateral has vertices A(1, 1), B(5, 1), C(6, 4) and D(2, 4). By comparing the y-coordinates of A, B and of D, C, write down whether the sides AB and DC are parallel, and give a reason for your answer.
(a)Parallel, since A and D have the same x-coordinate
(b)Parallel, since AB and DC are both horizontal lines
(c)Not parallel, since AB is horizontal and DC is vertical
(d)Not parallel, since AB and DC have different lengths
5.An ordinary fair dice is rolled once. Set A is the set of even scores and set B is the set of scores greater than 4. Work out the probability that the score rolled is in set A or in set B or in both.
(a)2/3
(b)1/2
(c)1/6
(d)5/6
6.A box plot for the ages of 40 members of a gym is drawn from this five-number summary: minimum 15, lower quartile 22, median 29, upper quartile 38, maximum 61. Work out the interquartile range shown by this box plot.
(a)7
(b)9
(c)46
(d)16
7.The decimal 0.272727... repeats the block 27 for ever. Write 0.27 recurring as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/10
(b)27/100
(c)3/11
(d)2/9
8.Solve 2(x + 3) = 10
(a)x = 3.5
(b)x = 8
(c)x = 5
(d)x = 2
9.Two straight-line graphs represent y = 2x and y = 5x. For the same value of x, where x ≠ 0, write down the ratio of the y-value on the first graph to the y-value on the second graph, in its simplest form.
y = 2xy = 5x
(a)2x:5x
(b)5:2
(c)3:5
(d)2:5
10.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
11.A fair coin is flipped three times. Work out the probability of getting at least one head.
(a)1/2
(b)1/8
(c)7/8
(d)3/8
12.Ten players enter a chess tournament. Every player plays every other player exactly once. Work out how many games are played in the tournament.
(a)90
(b)20
(c)45
(d)55
13.Work out the value of 3x² − 4x when x = −2.
(a)−4
(b)20
(c)4
(d)44
14.5 decorators paint 3 rooms in 6 hours. All the decorators work at the same rate. Work out how long it takes 10 decorators to paint 5 rooms.
(a)3 hours
(b)10 hours
(c)5 hours
(d)6 hours
15.Quadrilateral WXYZ has WX parallel to ZY, and WZ = XY (the two non-parallel sides are equal in length). Give a reason why angle W = angle X.
(a)Isosceles trapezium: base angles are equal
(b)Rhombus: all four angles are equal
(c)Kite: one pair of opposite angles equal
(d)Parallelogram: opposite angles are equal
16.A circle has centre (0, 0) and passes through the point (7, 24). Work out the equation of the circle.
(a)x² + y² = 49
(b)x² + y² = 625
(c)x² + y² = 31
(d)x² + y² = 576
17.A candidate wants to estimate the instantaneous rate of change of a reservoir's water level, in metres, at t = 5 days after heavy rain began. The reservoir's water level is plotted against time, in days, since the rain began. The candidate uses the chord joining the points at t = 0 days and t = 20 days to estimate the rate of change at t = 5 days. Give a reason why this is likely to be a poor estimate.
(a)It's an average over 20 days, which may miss the day-5 rate.
(b)The chord's units differ from the instantaneous rate's.
(c)It needs the water level on every day in between.
(d)A chord only estimates the rate at its own endpoints.
18.A rectangular notice board measures 150 cm by 80 cm. Work out its area in m².
(a)120 m²
(b)12 m²
(c)4.6 m²
(d)1.2 m²
19.Write down the expression that means the same as 'subtract 5 from n, then divide the result by 2'.
(a)(n − 5)/2
(b)n/2 − 5
(c)2(n − 5)
(d)(5 − n)/2
20.A rule turns each input x into an output y. An input of 1 gives an output of 1, an input of 2 gives an output of 4 and an input of 3 gives an output of 9. Work out the rule.
(a)y = 2x
(b)y = 3x
(c)y = x²
(d)y = 3x − 2

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.