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.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
2.A rectangular sheet of metal measures 20 cm by 12 cm. A square of side x cm is cut from each corner and the sides are folded up to make an open box of volume 200 cm³. This gives x³ − 16x² + 60x − 50 = 0, which can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = (16xₙ² − xₙ³ + 50)/60. The starting value is x₀ = 1, so x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out x₃, and use it to find the longer side of the base of the box correct to 1 decimal place.
(a)1.1 cm
(b)9.7 cm
(c)17.7 cm
(d)18.9 cm
3.The distances, d km, cycled by 180 riders in a charity sportive are summarised by these cumulative frequencies: d < 30, 20 riders; d < 60, 60 riders; d < 80, 120 riders; d < 100, 160 riders; d < 130, 180 riders. Use interpolation to estimate the median distance cycled.
(a)130
(b)90
(c)70
(d)60
4.Two fair six-sided dice are rolled and the two scores are added together. Given that at least one of the dice shows a 5, work out the probability that the total is 8.
(a)5/36
(b)2/11
(c)1/11
(d)1/6
5.A student says 4(2x − 3) is equivalent to 8x − 3. Which statement gives the correct verdict and reason?
(a)False — 4(2x − 3) = 8x − 12, not 8x − 3.
(b)True — 4(2x − 3) = 8x − 3 when the bracket is expanded.
(c)False — 4(2x − 3) = 2x − 12, only the −3 is multiplied.
(d)True — 4(2x − 3) = 8x − 3, since both are linear.
6.Describe a sequence of two transformations that maps the graph of y = x² onto the graph of y = −(x − 5)².
y = x²
(a)Reflect in the y-axis, then translate +5 in x.
(b)Translate +5 in x, then reflect in the x-axis.
(c)Translate −5 in x, then reflect in the x-axis.
(d)Translate +5 in y, then reflect in the x-axis.
7.A student is proving that (n + 1)² − n² is always an odd number. Which of these correctly completes the first line of algebra?
(a)(n + 1)² − n² = 1
(b)(n + 1)² − n² = 2n + 1
(c)(n + 1)² − n² = 2n
(d)(n + 1)² − n² = n² + 2n + 1
8.OAB is a triangle, with OA = a and OB = b. E lies on OA produced beyond A, such that A is the midpoint of OE. F lies on AB such that FB is twice AF. G is the midpoint of OB. By finding the vectors EF and EG, show that E, F and G are collinear, and give the scalar k such that EF = k × EG.
(a)1/3
(b)4/3
(c)3/2
(d)2/3
9.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
10.A designer enlarges a drawing of a model car for a poster. She first enlarges the drawing by a scale factor of 1.5, and then enlarges that result by a further scale factor of 2. On the original drawing, the position of a wheel relative to the front bumper is given by the column vector with top number 4 and bottom number −3, in centimetres. What is the corresponding column vector on the poster, in centimetres?
(a)(7, 0)
(b)(12, −9)
(c)(12, −3)
(d)(4, −9)
11.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
12.250 people took a theory test at one test centre. 150 of them had taken a preparation course and the rest had not. 120 of those who had taken the course passed and 50 of those who had not taken the course passed. One of the people who passed is picked at random. Work out the probability that this person had taken the preparation course.
(a)17/25
(b)12/25
(c)4/5
(d)12/17
13.A water tank is a cuboid with a square base of side x metres and height (x + 1) metres. Its volume is 10 m³. This gives x³ + x² − 10 = 0, which can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = ∛(10 − xₙ²). Taking x₀ = 2, so that x₁ is the value found after the formula has been used once, work out x₃ correct to 3 decimal places.
(a)1.861
(b)1.885
(c)2.535
(d)1.817
14.The graph of y = f(x) has x-intercepts at x = −1 and x = 4. Which statement correctly describes the x-intercepts of y = f(2 − x)?
(a)Translate +2 in x only (no reflection); roots 1, 6
(b)Solved 2 − x = k as x = k − 2; roots −3, 2
(c)No overall change; roots −1, 4
(d)Reflect in the y-axis, +2 in x; roots 3, −2
15.In a year group of 60 pupils, 25 play football, 18 play tennis and 8 play both football and tennis. A pupil who plays football or tennis or both is picked at random. Work out the probability that this pupil plays both sports.
(a)8/43
(b)8/35
(c)8/25
(d)2/15
16.f(x) = x + 3 and g(x) = 2x. Work out fg(x).
y = x + 3
(a)2x² + 6x
(b)2x + 3
(c)3x + 3
(d)2x + 6
17.In a survey of 200 households, 120 have a garden and 80 own a dog. 54 of the households have a garden and own a dog. Work out the probability that a household owns a dog given that it has a garden, and compare it with the probability that a household picked from the whole survey owns a dog.
(a)0.45, different from 0.4 for all the households
(b)0.27, different from 0.4 for all the households
(c)0.675, different from 0.4 for all the households
(d)0.4, the same as 0.4 for all the households
18.A student attempts to prove that the product of two consecutive integers is always even: (i) Let the two consecutive integers be n and n + 1. (ii) Since n(n + 1) is even, one of n and n + 1 must be an even number. (iii) Therefore, n(n + 1) is even. At which statement does the proof first assume the very fact it is trying to prove?
(a)Statement (iii)
(b)Statement (i)
(c)Statement (ii)
(d)The proof does not assume anything it is trying to prove

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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