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 3/7 × 14/9. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)17/16
(b)2/21
(c)2/3
(d)27/98
2.A straight line has gradient −2 and passes through the point (3, 1). Work out the equation of the line.
(a)y = −2x + 7
(b)y = −2x − 5
(c)y = 2x + 7
(d)y = −2x + 1
3.Write the ratio 5 : 8 in the form 1 : n.
(a)1:0.6
(b)1:1.6
(c)1:1.5
(d)0.6:1
4.A roof truss is shaped like an isosceles triangle resting on a horizontal ceiling joist. The truss's sloping edges are equal in length, and the angle at its apex is 40°. The ceiling joist continues in a straight line beyond the foot of the truss. Work out the angle between the truss's sloping edge and the extended joist, on the outside of the truss.
(a)110°
(b)70°
(c)140°
(d)20°
5.150 pupils are asked about swimming and cycling, and the results are recorded on a frequency tree. The first pair of branches splits the 150 pupils into 90 who swim and 60 who do not swim. Of the 90 who swim, 54 also cycle. Of the 60 who do not swim, 18 cycle. Work out P(S ∩ C), the probability that a pupil, chosen at random, swims and cycles. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/5
(b)3/25
(c)9/25
(d)12/25
6.A school has 1,000 pupils. A student wants to estimate how many of them walk to school, so she asks 8 pupils in her own class. She says her sample is large enough to give a reliable estimate for the whole school. Is she right? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)Yes — any sample size is equally reliable.
(b)No — because the sample was not taken online.
(c)No — 8 from one class is too small to represent the school.
(d)Yes — because 8 is more than half of her class.
7.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
(a)0.02 cm
(b)0.023 cm
(c)0.0238 cm
(d)0.024 cm
8.A quadratic graph has roots at x = −3 and x = 5, and it crosses the y-axis at (0, −15). Work out the equation of the curve in the form y = (x − a)(x − b).
(a)y = (x − 3)(x − 5)
(b)y = (x − 3)(x + 5)
(c)y = (x + 3)(x + 5)
(d)y = (x + 3)(x − 5)
9.A straight line passes through the points (1, 20) and (5, 8). Work out the gradient of the line.
(a)−1/3
(b)−3
(c)−12
(d)3
10.A parallelogram-shaped tile has two sides of 6 cm and 9 cm, with an angle of 60° between them. Work out the area of the tile. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
(a)27.0 cm²
(b)46.8 cm²
(c)13.0 cm²
(d)23.4 cm²
11.Priya spins a fair spinner with P(red) = 0.3, and separately flips a fair coin with P(heads) = 0.5. Using a tree diagram, work out the probability that she gets red AND heads.
(a)0.5
(b)0.8
(c)0.15
(d)0.65
12.After a price increase of 10%, a laptop costs £330. Work out the original price.
(a)£3,300
(b)£300
(c)£363
(d)£297
13.The expression 6n + 15 is written as 3(2n + 5). Which statement is correct?
(a)3 and 2n + 5 are the two terms of 6n + 15
(b)6n and 15 are the factors of 6n + 15
(c)3 and 2n + 5 are both factors of 6n + 15
(d)3 is the only factor of 6n + 15
14.A toy manufacturer makes a model aircraft that is mathematically similar to the real aircraft, at a scale of 1 : 48. The wingspan of the model is 15 cm. Work out the wingspan of the real aircraft, giving your answer in metres.
(a)72 m
(b)7.2 m
(c)0.72 m
(d)0.31 m
15.A water tank holds 2.5 m³. Work out this volume in cm³.
(a)2500 cm³
(b)2 500 000 cm³
(c)25 000 cm³
(d)250 cm³
16.A line has equation y = −4x + 1. Work out the equation of the line perpendicular to it that passes through the point (0, 3).
y = -4x + 1
(a)y = −4x + 3
(b)y = (−1/4)x + 3
(c)y = 4x + 3
(d)y = (1/4)x + 3
17.1 metre = 100 cm. Work out how many square centimetres there are in 1 square metre.
(a)100 cm²
(b)10000 cm²
(c)1000000 cm²
(d)200 cm²
18.The bearing of a campsite B from a walker's position A is 070°. What is the bearing of A from B?
(a)250°
(b)160°
(c)180°
(d)110°
19.A school trip costs a £15 deposit plus £9 per student for the coach. The total cost for a class is £186. Work out how many students went on the trip.
(a)22.33
(b)20.67
(c)19
(d)11.8
20.A taxi firm charges a fixed fee of £3.50 plus £2.20 per mile. Work out the total cost of a journey of 6 miles.
(a)£13.20
(b)£15.50
(c)£34.20
(d)£16.70

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.