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.Work out (−3) × 4 + 2 × (−5)
(a)−22
(b)50
(c)−2
(d)22
2.Which expression is equivalent to 0.5(4x + 6) − x?
(a)3x + 3
(b)2x + 3
(c)x + 3
(d)x + 6
3.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)
4.A support strut for a shed roof is in the shape of a right-angled triangle. The two shorter sides of the strut are 5 m and 9 m. Work out the length of the sloping strut (the hypotenuse). Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
(a)106 m
(b)10.2 m
(c)14 m
(d)10.3 m
5.Two pupils each flip the same coin to estimate the probability of heads. Leah flips it 40 times and gets 24 heads. Ben flips it 60 times and gets 33 heads. By combining both pupils' results, work out the relative frequency of heads, giving your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/5
(b)57/100
(c)11/20
(d)23/40
6.The mean mass of four parcels is 17 kg. Three of the parcels have masses 12 kg, 16 kg and 18 kg. Work out the mass of the fourth parcel.
(a)17 kg
(b)68 kg
(c)22 kg
(d)5 kg
7.A restaurant adds a service charge of 15% to a bill of £120. Work out the service charge.
(a)£18
(b)£8
(c)£138
(d)£12
8.The point (4, 2) lies on the circle x² + y² = 20. Work out the equation of the tangent to the circle at (4, 2).
(a)y = −0.5x + 4
(b)y = −2x − 10
(c)y = 2x − 6
(d)y = −2x + 10
9.In a bag, the ratio of green counters to yellow counters is 3 : 8. There are 24 yellow counters. A student says, 'There must be 9 green counters.' Is the student correct? Choose the correct verdict and reason.
(a)No, incorrect, because 24 + 3 = 27 green counters.
(b)No, incorrect, because 24 ÷ 3 × 8 = 64.
(c)Yes, correct, because 24 ÷ 8 × 3 = 9.
(d)No, incorrect, because 24 ÷ 8 = 3 green counters.
10.A cheese counter sells cheddar at £8.40 per kilogram. Work out the cost of a 350 g piece of cheddar.
(a)£24.00
(b)£2.94
(c)£29.40
(d)£2940.00
11.A pack contains 6 cards, numbered 1 to 6. A card is drawn at random from the pack, and a fair coin is flipped. Work out the probability of drawing an even-numbered card and the coin landing on tails.
(a)1/8
(b)1/4
(c)1/12
(d)1/2
12.Work out (8 × 10⁻⁵) × (5 × 10³). Give your answer in standard form.
(a)4 × 10⁻⁸
(b)4 × 10⁻¹⁵
(c)4 × 10⁻¹
(d)40 × 10⁻²
13.Which of these values of x is a solution of x² + 2x − 15 = 0?
(a)x = 3
(b)x = 5
(c)x = 15
(d)x = −3
14.A mortar mix is made from sand and cement in the ratio 5 : 3. Write the ratio of sand to the total mix in its simplest form.
(a)8:5
(b)5:8
(c)3:8
(d)5:3
15.A hexagonal prism lies on a table. A flat cut is made straight across it, at right angles to its length (so the cut is parallel to the two identical end faces). What shape is the cross-section?
(a)Pentagon
(b)Hexagon
(c)Rectangle
(d)Triangle
16.Two numbers have a sum of 45. The larger number is 9 more than the smaller number. Form an equation using n for the smaller number, and solve it to find the larger number.
(a)27
(b)22.5
(c)18
(d)36
17.A shop sells identical pens. The total cost, C pence, of n pens is given by C = 12n. Write the ratio n : C in its simplest form.
(a)1:13
(b)1:12
(c)12:144
(d)12:1
18.In triangle ABC, AB = 13 cm, AC = 9 cm and angle ABC = 35°. Given that angle ACB is obtuse, work out its size. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
(a)23.4°
(b)124.1°
(c)89.1°
(d)55.9°
19.On a distance-time graph, a horizontal line segment shows a period when the graph's gradient is 0. What does this tell you about the journey during that time?
(a)The object was decelerating
(b)The object was travelling at a constant, non-zero speed
(c)The object was stationary (not moving)
(d)The object was travelling at its maximum speed
20.Solve the simultaneous equations y = x + 1 and x² + y² = 25, giving both pairs of solutions.
y = x + 1
(a)x = 4, y = 5 and x = −3, y = −2
(b)x = −4, y = −3 and x = 3, y = 4
(c)x = 12, y = 13
(d)x = −4, 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.