Sample paper · GCSE Higher · grades 4–9

GCSE Higher sample Paper 2 (calculator)

The real Paper 2 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, 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 a calculator allowed. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 40% / 30% / 30%.

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GCSE Higher sample Paper 2 (calculator)

Maths · GCSE Higher · Paper 2 · Calculator · 20 questions

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1.Robert is converting 0.999... (with the 9s recurring forever) into a fraction. He lets x = 0.999... . Multiplying by 10 gives 10x = 9.999... . Subtracting x from 10x gives 9x = 9, so x = 1. Which statement correctly explains this result?
(a)Only approximately 1, since it never truly reaches 1.
(b)Only works because the recurring digit is 9.
(c)Exactly 1: the subtraction has no rounding at any step.
(d)Wrong: 10x minus x gives 9x = 8.999..., not 9.
2.A circle has centre (0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 36. Work out the coordinates of the two points where the circle crosses the y-axis.
(a)(0, 36) and (0, −36)
(b)(0, 6) and (0, −6)
(c)(0, 18) and (0, −18)
(d)(6, 0) and (−6, 0)
3.A greenhouse's temperature, in °C, is recorded every hour during the day: 09:00, 15.0; 10:00, 18.4; 11:00, 20.1; 12:00, 19.8; 13:00, 17.2. Work out between which two consecutive readings the instantaneous rate of change of the temperature is most likely to have been zero.
(a)11:00 to 12:00
(b)10:00 to 11:00
(c)09:00 to 10:00
(d)12:00 to 13:00
4.The area of triangle ABC is 42 cm². AB = 9.5 cm and angle BAC = 61°. Work out the length of AC. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
(a)10.1 cm
(b)7.7 cm
(c)18.2 cm
(d)5.1 cm
5.At a quiz night, each team's result is a win, a draw or a loss, and no team can have more than one of these results. The probability that a team wins is 42% and the probability that a team draws is 18.5%. Work out the probability, as a percentage, that a team does not win and does not draw.
(a)58.0%
(b)60.5%
(c)39.5%
(d)81.5%
6.In a histogram of the heights, h cm, of 90 seedlings, the class 12 ≤ h < 18 contains 36 seedlings. Work out the frequency density for this class.
(a)216
(b)6
(c)15
(d)3
7.A minibus can carry 16 passengers. A school is taking 179 pupils on a trip. By rounding 179 to the nearest 10, work out an estimate for the number of minibuses needed, given that the school cannot hire part of a minibus.
(a)180
(b)12
(c)10
(d)11
8.The simultaneous equations kx + 2y = 4 and 3x + y = 5 have no solution. Work out the value of k.
(a)k = −6
(b)k = 6
(c)k = 2/3
(d)k = 3
9.A company's turnover was £128 000 in 2023 and £176 000 in 2024. Work out the multiplier that changes the 2023 turnover into the 2024 turnover.
(a)1.375
(b)0.375
(c)0.727
(d)137.5
10.A cuboid has a length, width and height that are all different from each other. How many planes of symmetry does it have?
(a)9
(b)3
(c)1
(d)6
11.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled and the two scores are added together. Work out the probability that the total is a prime number.
(a)13/36
(b)19/36
(c)7/18
(d)5/12
12.Tickets for a fairground ride are sold in packs of 6. Tokens for the dodgems are sold in packs of 10. Yusuf wants to buy the smallest number of packs of each so that he ends up with the same number of ride tickets as dodgem tokens. Work out how many ride tickets that is.
(a)16
(b)30
(c)60
(d)2
13.The first four terms of a sequence are 2, 2√3, 6, 6√3, ... Work out the next term.
(a)18
(b)12
(c)18√3
(d)12√3
14.y is directly proportional to x², and x is positive. When x = 4, y = 32. Construct the equation connecting x and y, then work out the value of x when y = 200.
(a)10
(b)25
(c)100
(d)20
15.Sam says: '3.2 litres is the same as 320 ml, because you multiply by 100.' Which statement about Sam's claim is correct?
(a)Wrong: 1 litre = 100 ml, so his number is off.
(b)Wrong: 1 litre = 1000 ml, so 3.2 l = 3200 ml.
(c)Wrong, but only because 3.2 should round to 3.
(d)Correct: ×100 converts litres to millilitres.
16.Solve 7x − 5 = 3x + 11
(a)−4
(b)1.5
(c)0.6
(d)4
17.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
18.In triangle ABC, BC = 8 cm, AC = 10 cm and angle BAC = 40°. Given that angle ABC is acute, work out its size. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
(a)53.5°
(b)126.5°
(c)73.2°
(d)30.9°
19.Work out the value of the discriminant b² − 4ac for the equation 2x² + 3x − 2 = 0.
(a)13
(b)−7
(c)25
(d)22
20.A proof that (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² is always a multiple of a certain number begins: Line 1: (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² = (n² + 6n + 9) − (n² − 6n + 9). Which expression correctly completes Line 2?
(a)18
(b)12n
(c)6n
(d)2n² + 18

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.