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%.
CalculatorGCSE Higher
GCSE Higher sample Paper 2 (calculator)
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- 1.The population of a planet is 8 × 10⁹. Write this population as an ordinary number.
- 2.A cup of tea cools after being made. Its temperature-time graph is a curve. Three tangents are drawn on the graph: at t = 2 minutes the tangent has gradient −8; at t = 10 minutes the tangent has gradient −3; at t = 20 minutes the tangent has gradient −0.5. Which of these statements about the tea's cooling is correct?
- 3.In a fruit drink, cranberry juice and apple juice are mixed in the ratio 3:7. Write the amount of apple juice as a fraction of the amount of cranberry juice, in its simplest form.
- 4.A shape is reflected in the line y = x, and the image is then reflected in the line y = 0. These two lines meet at the origin. Work out the single rotation, centre and angle, that is equivalent to this combination of two reflections, for every point.y = x
- 5.A factory tests components from a large batch in which 6% are defective. Two components are selected at random, and the batch is large enough that the selections can be treated as independent. Given that at least one of the two components is defective, work out the probability that both are defective.
- 6.In a histogram of the distances, d metres, thrown by some athletes, the bar covering 20 ≤ d < 60 has a constant frequency density of 1.8 per metre. Estimate the number of throws of at least 20 metres but less than 35 metres.
- 7.4ˣ = 64. Work out the value of x.
- 8.How many turning points does the graph of y = x² − 7x + 10 have?y = x² − 7x + 10
- 9.The amount of fuel left in a car's tank, F litres, is plotted against the distance travelled, d miles, and the points lie on a straight line. The line passes through (0, 45) and (150, 15). Work out the gradient of the line and say what it tells you.
- 10.To prove that the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference, a student draws radii OA and OC, where A and C are points on the circle and O is the centre. The student's first step is: 'Since OA = OC, both being radii of the circle, triangle OAC is isosceles, so angle OAC = angle OCA.' Is this first step correct?
- 11.A survey found that, of 250 shoppers questioned, 68% said they had used a self-checkout in the past month. A different store expects 1400 shoppers this week. Using this relative frequency, work out how many of the 1400 shoppers would be expected to have used a self-checkout in the past month.
- 12.£60 is shared between Amir, Bo and Chen in the ratio 1:2:3. Work out the fraction of the £60 that Amir and Bo receive together.
- 13.Work out the value of 4p² − 3 when p = 2.5
- 14.A recipe for 6 muffins needs 150 g of flour. Aisha wants to make 15 muffins using the same recipe. Work out how much flour she needs.
- 15.Two similar triangles have lengths in the ratio 2 : 5. The sides of the smaller triangle are 4 cm, 6 cm and 8 cm. Work out the length of the longest side of the larger triangle.
- 16.A water tank empties according to y = −5x + 200, where y is the number of litres left after x minutes. Work out the coordinates of the point where this graph crosses the x-axis.y = -5x + 200
- 17.A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours. A lorry travels 160 miles in 4 hours. Write the car's average speed as a fraction of the lorry's average speed, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 18.In triangle ABC, angle BAC = 42°, angle ABC = 63° and BC = 8.4 cm. Work out the length of AC. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
- 19.The tangent to a curve at the point (5, 2) is the line y = mx + c. This tangent crosses the y-axis at (0, −8). Work out the gradient, m, of the tangent.
- 20.The curve y = 2x² − 12x + 7 has a minimum point. By completing the square, find the value of x at which the minimum occurs.y = 2x² − 12x + 7
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.