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 + (−3)³
(a)−108
(b)54
(c)−54
(d)108
2.The graph of y = f(x) has a minimum point at (4, −1). Write down the coordinates of the corresponding turning point on the graph of y = −f(x).
(a)(4, 1)
(b)(4, −1)
(c)(−4, 1)
(d)(−4, −1)
3.A charity receives £360 in donations in January and £480 in donations in February. Write the amount received in January as a fraction of the amount received in February, giving your answer in its simplest form.
(a)3/4
(b)1/4
(c)4/3
(d)3/7
4.Triangle PQR and triangle XYZ have angle P = angle X, angle Q = angle Y and angle R = angle Z, with no side lengths given for either triangle. Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between the two triangles?
(a)Similar, but AAA alone does not prove congruence
(b)Congruent, because AAA proves congruence
(c)No relationship can be determined at all
(d)Congruent, because equal angles force equal sides
5.An ordinary pack of 52 playing cards contains 13 hearts. One card is taken at random from the pack. Work out the probability that the card is not a heart. Give your answer as a percentage.
(a)39%
(b)50%
(c)25%
(d)75%
6.A frequency polygon for the mass, in kg, of 40 parcels at a delivery depot is drawn by plotting one point at the midpoint of each class, joined by straight lines: (5, 6), (15, 10), (25, 16), (35, 6), (45, 2). Every class has a width of 10 kg. Write down the modal class.
(a)10 kg ≤ mass < 20 kg
(b)25 kg
(c)20 kg ≤ mass < 30 kg
(d)30 kg ≤ mass < 40 kg
7.2/3 of an amount of money is £30. Work out the amount.
(a)£15
(b)£45
(c)£20
(d)£90
8.The diagram shows the graph of the cost, in pounds, of a taxi journey plotted against the distance travelled, in miles, for journeys of up to 4 miles. The same fixed charge and the same cost per mile apply to longer journeys. Work out the cost of a 6-mile journey.
(a)£24
(b)£14
(c)£12
(d)£8
9.A shop's profit, P pounds, is in direct proportion to the number of items sold, n. When 15 items are sold, the profit is £45. Write down the ratio n : P in its simplest form for this shop.
(a)1 : 45
(b)3 : 1
(c)1 : 3
(d)15 : 3
10.Triangles LMN and XYZ have LM = XY, MN = YZ and LN = XZ. Give a reason why triangle LMN is congruent to triangle XYZ.
(a)SSS – all three corresponding sides are equal
(b)RHS – a right angle, hypotenuse and one other side are equal
(c)SAS – two sides and the included angle are equal
(d)ASA – two angles and the included side are equal
11.The probability that a component is faulty is 1/10. Two components are tested independently. Work out the probability that at least one of the two components is faulty.
(a)1/5
(b)1/10
(c)1/100
(d)19/100
12.Work out 4368 ÷ 12.
(a)346
(b)364
(c)304
(d)36.4
13.Which of these rules generates the sequence 6, 11, 16, 21, …?
(a)6n
(b)5n − 1
(c)5n + 1
(d)n + 5
14.A charity fun run raises money through entry fees and donations. Entry fees raise £1,260, which is 60% of the total amount raised. Work out how much money was raised through donations.
(a)£504
(b)£1,890
(c)£840
(d)£2,100
15.In triangle ABC, AB = 12 cm, AC = 7 cm and the area of the triangle is 33 cm². Given that angle BAC is obtuse, work out the size of angle BAC. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
(a)156.9°
(b)128.2°
(c)51.8°
(d)38.2°
16.A tap fills a tank at a varying rate. A graph shows the rate of flow, in litres per minute, against time, in minutes. What does the area under this graph represent?
(a)The rate at which the flow rate changes, in litres/min².
(b)The total volume of water, in litres, that has flowed in.
(c)The average rate of flow, in litres per minute.
(d)The total time taken to fill the tank, in minutes.
17.Two numbers A and B are in the ratio 3:5. When 6 is added to B, the ratio of A to the new value of B is 1:2. Work out the value of A.
(a)18
(b)30
(c)9
(d)6
18.A line passes through the points (1, 2) and (3, 6). The line is reflected in the x-axis, and the image is then translated by the vector (2, 0). Work out the gradient of the image line after both transformations.
(a)1/2
(b)−2
(c)2
(d)−1/2
19.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = 2x² − 8x + 3.
y = 2x² − 8x + 3
(a)x = 4, y = −29
(b)x = 2, y = −5
(c)x = −2, y = −5
(d)x = 2, y = 5
20.A phone company works out a monthly bill, £B, using the formula B = 18 + 0.05t, where £18 is the fixed monthly charge and t is the number of extra text messages sent beyond the free allowance, each charged at 5p. Farida's bill for one month is £24.50. Work out the number of extra text messages, t, she sent.
(a)130
(b)13
(c)65
(d)490

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.