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.Meera says that 0.7 ÷ 0.1 = 0.07. Work out the correct value of 0.7 ÷ 0.1.
(a)7
(b)0.07
(c)70
(d)0.7
2.The graph of y = f(x) passes through the point (2, 7). The graph of y = f(x) + a passes through the point (2, 3). Work out the value of a.
(a)4
(b)10
(c)−4
(d)3
3.5 decorators paint 3 rooms in 6 hours. All the decorators work at the same rate. Work out how long it takes 10 decorators to paint 5 rooms.
(a)3 hours
(b)10 hours
(c)5 hours
(d)6 hours
4.A solid has 6 faces and 8 vertices. Using the formula F + V − E = 2, work out how many edges it has.
(a)14
(b)10
(c)16
(d)12
5.A bag contains 5 red counters and 3 blue counters. A counter is taken at random, its colour is noted, and it is put back in the bag before a second counter is taken at random. Work out the probability that both counters are the same colour.
(a)17/32
(b)13/28
(c)15/64
(d)25/64
6.The mean of five test scores is 68. Four of the scores are 55, 62, 74 and 80. Work out the fifth score.
(a)1
(b)−69
(c)69
(d)68
7.Work out 5⁰ + 5¹ + 5²
(a)125
(b)30
(c)31
(d)35
8.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
9.A tangent to a curve at the point where x = 3 passes through the points (1, 2) and (5, 14). A candidate says: "The gradient of the tangent at x = 3 is 3, because 14 − 2 = 12 and 12 ÷ 4 = 3." Which statement is correct?
(a)The gradient is 3; the candidate's method is right.
(b)The gradient is −3; the subtraction was done the wrong way round.
(c)The gradient is 16; the two changes were added instead of divided.
(d)The gradient is 1/3; the division was done the wrong way round.
10.A warehouse stores identical cube-shaped crates. Its plan view is a 2 by 4 rectangle of crate positions, and every position is filled to a height of 3 crates, except one corner position, which has only 2 crates stacked on it because a delivery was incomplete. How many crates are there in total?
(a)22
(b)23
(c)21
(d)24
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.A pizza is cut into 12 equal slices. Ben eats 5 slices and Mia eats 3 slices. What fraction of the pizza is left, giving your answer in its simplest form?
(a)1/3
(b)2/3
(c)1/2
(d)7/12
13.A student solves the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 11 and x − y = 1 by elimination, adding the two equations together. Which of these is the correct result of that step?
(a)3x = 12
(b)3x = 10
(c)3x + 2y = 12
(d)x = 12
14.Write 75p : £1.50 as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
(a)2:1
(b)3:4
(c)1:2
(d)50:1
15.Triangle DEF is isosceles, with DE = DF. Angle E = 58°. Give a reason why angle F = 58°.
(a)Angles in a triangle sum to 180°
(b)Angles on a straight line sum to 180°
(c)Vertically opposite angles are equal
(d)Base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal
16.Tom buys 2 notebooks and 6 pencils on Monday, priced at p pence each for a notebook and q pence each for a pencil. On Tuesday he buys 3 more notebooks and 1 more pencil. Write a simplified expression, in pence, for the total amount Tom has spent on notebooks and pencils.
(a)5p + 7q
(b)5p + 6q
(c)2p + 7q
(d)12pq
17.Two cars travel at constant speeds. Car A travels 150 km in 3 hours. Car B travels 180 km in 4 hours. Which car is faster, and what is its speed?
(a)Car A, 45 km/h
(b)Car A, 50 km/h
(c)Car B, 45 km/h
(d)Car B, 50 km/h
18.Two straight roads cross at a junction. The angle between them, measured with a protractor, is 118°. What is the size of the angle vertically opposite to it?
(a)118°
(b)180°
(c)62°
(d)236°
19.A car's journey is represented by a velocity-time graph. The total distance travelled, found from the area under the graph, is 350 metres, and the total time for the journey is 25 seconds. Work out the car's average speed for the whole journey, in m/s.
(a)375 m/s
(b)14 m/s
(c)8750 m/s
(d)0.07 m/s
20.The graph of y = f(x) passes through the point (0, 4). Work out the y-coordinate of the point where the graph of y = f(x) − 6 crosses the y-axis.
(a)10
(b)−6
(c)4
(d)−2

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.