18 demanding questions: algebraic proof, functions, vectors, histograms, conditional probability and iteration.

🔺 Higher stretch — grade 8 and 9 topics

Maths · GCSE Higher · 18 questions · ~50 min

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

The top of a Higher paper is not the same content done faster — it is the statements that only appear at the top, and questions that hide two steps inside one instruction. This sheet gathers eighteen of them: algebraic proof and showing two expressions are equivalent, inverse and composite functions, transformations of graphs, the equation of a circle and its tangent, iteration, vectors used to construct a geometric argument, histograms with unequal class intervals, and conditional probability from a tree or a Venn diagram. It is deliberately hard and deliberately short. If you get half of it out, you are working where grades 8 and 9 are decided — and the worked answers are written to show the step that was actually being tested, not just the arithmetic around it.

1.A rule turns each input x into an output y. The inputs are x = 1, 2, 3, 4 and the matching outputs are y = −5, −3, −1 and one missing value. Work out the missing value of y.
(a)0
(b)8
(c)3
(d)1
2.The point (6, 8) lies on the circle x² + y² = 100. Work out the gradient of the tangent to the circle at (6, 8).
(a)−3/4
(b)−4/3
(c)3/4
(d)4/3
3.The equation x³ − 2x − 7 = 0 has exactly one solution. It can be found using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = ∛(2xₙ + 7), with starting value x₀ = 2, so that x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out the solution correct to 2 decimal places, iterating until two consecutive values round to the same 2 decimal places.
(a)2.25
(b)1.91
(c)2.26
(d)2.22
4.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) + 5 crosses the y-axis.
(a)−4
(b)−9
(c)1
(d)9
5.The graph of y = sin x is transformed onto the graph of y = sin x + 1. Which statement correctly describes the transformation and the new range of the graph?
y = sin(x)
(a)Reflect in the x-axis; range unchanged, −1 ≤ y ≤ 1
(b)Translate +1 in x; range unchanged, −1 ≤ y ≤ 1
(c)Translate +1 in y; new range 0 ≤ y ≤ 2
(d)Translate +1 in y; new range −2 ≤ y ≤ 0
6.A circular running track is modelled on a grid whose centre is the origin, where each unit represents 1 metre. A floodlight at the point (30, 40) stands on the edge of the track. A second floodlight stands on the edge of the track at the point (0, k), where k is positive. Work out the value of k.
(a)40
(b)70
(c)50
(d)2500
7.p is the column vector with top number 2 and bottom number 3. q is the column vector with top number −1 and bottom number 4. Work out 2p + q, giving your answer as a column vector in the form (top, bottom).
(a)(5, 2)
(b)(3, 10)
(c)(0, 11)
(d)(1, 7)
8.The graph of y = x³ − 5x is reflected in the y-axis. Work out the equation of the image.
y = x
(a)y = −x³ + 5x
(b)y = x³ − 5x
(c)y = x³ + 5x
(d)y = −x³ − 5x
9.The graph of y = f(x) has roots at x = −1 and x = 4, and crosses the y-axis at (0, −8). Which statement about the graph of y = f(x − 3) is correct?
(a)x = 2, x = 7; y-intercept cannot be found here
(b)x = 2, x = 7; y-intercept stays at (0, −8)
(c)x = −4, x = 1; y-intercept stays at (0, −8)
(d)x = −4, x = 1; y-intercept cannot be found here
10.A box contains 9 red balls and 11 green balls. Two balls are taken out at random, one after the other, without being replaced. Given that both balls taken out are the same colour, work out the probability that both balls are red.
(a)55/91
(b)18/95
(c)9/20
(d)36/91
11.A circle has centre (0, 0) and passes through the point (7, 24). Work out the equation of the circle.
(a)x² + y² = 49
(b)x² + y² = 625
(c)x² + y² = 31
(d)x² + y² = 576
12.A proof that (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² is always a multiple of a certain number begins: Line 1: (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² = (n² + 6n + 9) − (n² − 6n + 9). Which expression correctly completes Line 2?
(a)18
(b)12n
(c)6n
(d)2n² + 18
13.The graph of y = 2x² + 6x − 1 is translated by the vector (−2, 0). Work out the equation of the image, giving your answer in the form y = 2x² + bx + c.
y = 2x² + 6x − 1y = 2x²
(a)y = 2x² + 10x + 15
(b)y = 2x² + 14x + 19
(c)y = 2x² − 2x − 5
(d)y = 2x² + 14x + 20
14.A student says that (x + 4)² is equivalent to x² + 16. For which value of x do the two expressions give the SAME result, making it look (misleadingly) like the student could be right?
(a)x = 4
(b)x = −4
(c)x = 0
(d)x = 8
15.The graph of y = f(x) has a maximum turning point at (5, 8). Which of these correctly gives the corresponding turning point on the graph of y = −f(x + 1), and its type?
(a)(4, −8), a minimum point
(b)(4, 8), a minimum point
(c)(6, −8), a minimum point
(d)(4, −8), a maximum point
16.OABC is a parallelogram, with OA = a and OC = c. X is the point on AC such that AX is a third of XC. Express the vector OX in terms of a and c.
(a)(1/2)a + (1/2)c
(b)(1/4)a + (3/4)c
(c)a + (1/4)c
(d)(3/4)a + (1/4)c
17.The point (9, 12) lies on the circle x² + y² = 225, which has centre (0, 0). The tangent to the circle at (9, 12) crosses the x-axis at the point P. Work out the x-coordinate of P.
(a)9
(b)25
(c)18.75
(d)15
18.An equation has exactly one value of x that makes it true, but an identity is true for every value of x. Which of these best explains why 3x + 5 = 20 is an equation rather than an identity?
(a)It has an = sign, and equations always use =.
(b)3x + 5 cannot be simplified, so it must be an equation.
(c)Only x = 5 satisfies 3x + 5 = 20, not every value of x.
(d)A number on the right-hand side makes it an equation.

What is on this worksheet?

The sheet holds 18 questions drawn from the MathsUK bank — the content areas covered: Algebra, Geometry and measures, Probability, Statistics (statements A6, A7, A13, A16, A20, G25, S3, P9). It is pitched at GCSE Higher and takes about 50 minutes to work through in full. It is built for independent practice, with full answers at the end for self-marking.

How to use the sheet well

Print it or open it on screen — both work. Printing is A4; the screen view fits phones and tablets.
Do all 18 questions before checking — about 50 minutes is the guide, but there is no time pressure.
Check the answers — press “Show answers” or print the answer page separately.
Redo the questions you got wrong — twice as effective as doing 18 fresh ones.
“New questions” — builds a fresh sheet on the same statements, so you can practise again without repeats.

Why this sheet helps

MathsUK worksheets use questions graded by difficulty and a fair spread of correct-answer positions (the answer is not always (a)) — so the student really has to think about each question rather than guess a pattern. Every question is tagged to a DfE content statement and checked before it enters the bank. The answers come with a step-by-step explanation, not just a value — so a wrong answer becomes a lesson.

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