GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator)

Edexcel Specification
Mark Scheme
Types of marks: Abbreviations:
M method marks cao cannot accept other
A accuracy marks ft follow through
B unconditional accuracy marks oe or equivalent
(independent of M marks)

No working: Other:
If no working is shown, then correct answers score If the correct answer has clearly been obtained
full marks and incorrect answers score no marks. from incorrect working, award zero marks.

1. 3 marks total

a. 22 204 1 mark

b. E.g. the number of beans it takes to fill a cup may not be the same 1 mark
each time.
c. 12 116 1 mark

2. 7 marks total

a. 1 mark for triangle correctly plotted. 1 mark

b. 1 mark for line correctly drawn. 1 mark

c. 1 mark for correct reflection of their triangle in their line. 1 mark

d. C=3 1 mark

e. For enlargement of their triangle by correct scale factor or two 1 mark

correct vertices.

(-2, 4) , (-2, 8) and (0, 2)

or 2 marks
For correct enlargement with scale factor and centre.
f. A or (-2, 4) 1 mark

3. 3 marks total

a. Positive correlation because on hot days, people are more likely to buy 1 mark
ice creams or other sensible answer to explain their correlation.
b. If positive correlation given in a. hot, not many or cold, many. If 1 mark
negative correlation chosen in b. hot many or cold, not many.

With sensible reason given e.g. cold day but lots sold because a or 2 marks
school trip visited the newsagent and the teacher bought everyone
an ice cream.

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 GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator) Edexcel Specification Mark Scheme

4. 2 marks total

We need to use combinations rather than permutations, as the 1 mark for combinations
order is not important. with at least 1 correct
number or permutations
C5 = 658 008
40
with 2 correct numbers
or 2 marks for correct
answer
Alternative method:
40! 1 mark for 2 correct
35!5! = 658 008 numbers in fraction with
factorials or 2 marks for
correct answer

5. 3 marks total

Let the smaller of the square numbers be n², where n is a positive 1 mark for correctly
whole number. The next square number would be (n + 1)². introducing consecutive
squares algebraically
We find the range of the square numbers by subtracting the smaller
square number from the larger square number.

Range = (n + 1)² − n² 1 mark

= n2 + 2n + 1 − n2

= 2n + 1 1 mark

6. 3 marks total

x+2
×
9
=
x+2
× 4(x9+ 2) = 11 × 34 = 34 1 mark for factorising
3 4x + 8 3
4x + 8 or 2 marks for fully
cancelling or 3 marks for
answer

7. 5 marks total

a. £1000 × 1.0125⁸ = £1104.49 (nearest penny) 1 mark for correct

multiplier or working out
three years of compound
interest correctly or 2
marks for correct answer

b. 0.0125 × £1000 = £12.50 1 mark

12.50 × 8 = 100 or 2 marks

104.49 − 100 = 4.49 £4.49 less. or 3 marks

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 GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator) Edexcel Specification Mark Scheme

8. 6 marks total

a. 2x2 + 7x − 15 1 mark for 1 correct term

or 2 marks for correct
answer

b. (x − 2)(x − 8) 1 mark for 1 correct

bracket or 2 correct
numbers regardless of
+/− signs or 2 marks for
correct answer

c. (2x + 3)(3x − 4) 1 mark for 1 correct

bracket or 2 correct
numbers regardless of
+/− signs or 2 marks for
correct answer

9. 6 marks total

a. 215
= 0.47 1 mark for decimal or 2
450
marks for correct answer
= 47.8% (1dp)

b. 0.27 × 280 = 75.6 1 mark for 0.27 × 280 or

0.73 or 2 marks for correct
280 − 75.6 = 204.4g
answer

c. Multiplier for 55% decrease = 0.45 1 mark

18 ÷ 0.45 = 40 1 mark

Alernative method

18 ÷ 45 = 0.4 1 mark

0.4 × 100 = 40 1 mark

10. 5 marks total

a. 3, there are more ways of making 20 by adding two numbers under 1 mark
20, therefore he could expect more winners and less profit.

b. There are 6 ways of making 8 (1 + 7, 2 + 6, 3 + 5, 5 + 3, 6 + 2, 1 mark for 6 ways, 1 mark

7 + 1) and 30 × 29 = 870 ways of taking 2 ducks. In 870 plays, he for 870 ways or 3 marks
would take £870 and expect to give away 6 prizes. The largest prize for £145
he could give to expect to break even would be 870 ÷ 6 = £145.

c. Probability assesses how likely things are to happen, it does not 1 mark for sensible reason
predict what will happen. E.g. Ryan could get just 3 players and one
of these could win.

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 GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator) Edexcel Specification Mark Scheme

11. 6 marks total

a. x2 = mk 1 mark

k or 2 marks
25² = 4

k = 625 × 4

k = 2500 or 3 marks

2500
x2 = m

x= 2500
m

50 or 4 marks
x= m

b. x = 50 1 mark
6

x = 8.3 (1dp) or 2 marks

12. 3 marks total

11² + 5² − 13²
Using cosine rule gives cos(ADC) = 2 × 11 × 5 1 mark for 2 numbers
correctly substituted or
2 marks for all numbers
correctly substituted
ADC = 102.1° or 3 marks

13. 4 marks total

Let the width of the rectangle be w; the length is w + 5. 1 mark

w(w + 5) = 3451.19 or 2 marks

w² + 5w − 3451.19 = 0 or 3 marks

Quadratic formula gives: w = -5 ± 5 − 42××11× -3451.19

2

w = 56.3 or -294 (reject)

length = 61.3cm or 4 marks

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 GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator) Edexcel Specification Mark Scheme

14. 3 marks total

x = 0.1̇3̇ 1 mark

100x = 13.1̇3̇ or 2 marks

99x = 13
13
x = 99 or 3 marks

15. 4 marks total

a. Angle CAE = Angle EBD (angles in the same sector are equal) 2 marks for 2 pairs of
equal angles with reasons
Angle AEC = Angle BED (opposite angles)

Angle BDE = Angle ACE (angles in the same sector are equal)

b. 12 ÷ 4 = 3 1 mark for scale factor, 3

or 13 or 2 marks for answer
3 × 3 = 9cm
9cm

16. 5 marks total

Rearrange second equation to give y = 10 − x 1 mark for making x or

y the subject of either
In first equation, substitute 10 − x in for y.
equation; or 2 marks for
x² + 10 − x = 52
correctly eliminating x or
x² − x − 42 = 0 y from either equation; 1

(x + 6)(x − 7) = 0 mark for each of up to 2

values or 5 marks for two
x = -6 or x = 7
correct solutions.
y = 10 − 6 or y = 10 − 7

(-6, 16) and (7, 3)

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 GCSE Higher Maths Practice Paper 3 (Calculator) Edexcel Specification Mark Scheme

17. 5 marks total

a. 1
1 mark for expressing
300 + 32 = 3 100 + 3 = 10 3 + 3 = 11 3
300 as a b, where a
or b is a square number
other than 1 or 2 marks
for expressing 300 as
10 3.

1 mark for expressing

1
32 as 3.

b. Expressing the numerator as 36 5 or 6 5 1 mark

5
Simplify 6 =6 1 mark
5

Alternative method:

Multiply top and bottom by 5 1 mark

900 30
5 = 5 =6 1 mark

18. 7 marks total

a. 20
f (20) = ( 2 − 2)² = 64 1 mark for substituting or
2 marks for answer

b. f divides by 2, subtracts 2 then squares, so f -¹ square roots, adds 2 1 mark for listing process
then multiplies by 2: for f or 2 marks for listing
process for f -¹ or 3 marks
f -¹(x) = 2( x + 2)
for answer or equivalent
Alternative method:
x
y = ( 2 − 2)²
1 mark
y = ( 2x − 2)
or 2 marks
y + 2 = 2x

2( y + 2) = x
or 3 marks for this or
f -¹(x) = 2( x +2)
equivalent

c. 2x
fg(x) = ( 2 − 2)² 1 mark

= (x − 2)² or 2 marks

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