Maths questions
Don't forget to take a ruler and calculator into the exam.
Maths questions often start with the command words like 'Calculate', 'Determine', 'Estimate' and 'Measure'. They will then include blank space for you to show your working.
When an answer to a maths question is marked:
- full marks are given for the right answer (but it’s wise to show your working so you can check your answer)
- marks are given for working, including substitution and rearrangement
- errors carried forward are taken into account
If a later answer depends on an earlier answer, and you get the earlier one wrong, you could still get full marks in the later answer if your working is correct.
If your answer has many decimal places or figures, make sure you give it to an appropriate number of decimal places or significant figures. You may be asked to give units. This may earn you an additional mark, so don’t forget to check whether you need to do this.
Maths questions might ask you to plot or complete a graph or table. When you draw a graph, make sure you:
- plot each point accurately
- draw a best fit straight line or curve
You may be given a grid with axes and scales already given. Sometimes you may be given an empty grid for you to supply your own axes. When you do this:
- put the independent variable on the x-axis and the dependent variable on the y-axis
- make sensible scales so that the plotted points cover at least 50% of the area of the graph
Label the axes with their quantity and unit, eg time (s).
Learn maths skills with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.
Brush up on the maths you need for your exam - percentages, averages and converting units.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Ali heats zinc carbonate.
Ali records the mass of the zinc carbonate before he starts heating. He also records the mass after he has finished heating.
Ali then repeats the experiment with three more substances.
| Substance | Mass before heating in g | Mass after heating in g | Effect on limewater |
| Zinc carbonate | 2.00 | 1.30 | Goes milky |
| Sodium carbonate | 2.00 | 2.00 | Stays colourless |
| Copper carbonate | 2.00 | 1.29 | Goes milky |
| Iron(II) sulfate | 2.00 | 1.16 | Stays colourless |
| Substance | Zinc carbonate |
|---|---|
| Mass before heating in g | 2.00 |
| Mass after heating in g | 1.30 |
| Effect on limewater | Goes milky |
| Substance | Sodium carbonate |
|---|---|
| Mass before heating in g | 2.00 |
| Mass after heating in g | 2.00 |
| Effect on limewater | Stays colourless |
| Substance | Copper carbonate |
|---|---|
| Mass before heating in g | 2.00 |
| Mass after heating in g | 1.29 |
| Effect on limewater | Goes milky |
| Substance | Iron(II) sulfate |
|---|---|
| Mass before heating in g | 2.00 |
| Mass after heating in g | 1.16 |
| Effect on limewater | Stays colourless |
Which substance had the greatest change in mass? [1 mark]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, Paper J248/02 Paper 2 (Foundation Tier).
iron(II) sulfate [1]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The group 7 elements are known as the halogens.
The halogens have similar chemical properties.
Their physical properties vary with increasing atomic number.
Look at the table of information about the halogens.
| Halogen | Atomic symbol | Atomic number | Molecular formula | Atomic radius in pm |
| Fluorine | F | 9 | F2 | 64 |
| Chlorine | Cl | 17 | Cl2 | 99 |
| Bromine | Br | 35 | Br2 | 114 |
| Iodine | I | 53 | I2 | 133 |
| Astatine | At | 85 |
| Halogen | Fluorine |
|---|---|
| Atomic symbol | F |
| Atomic number | 9 |
| Molecular formula | F2 |
| Atomic radius in pm | 64 |
| Halogen | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| Atomic symbol | Cl |
| Atomic number | 17 |
| Molecular formula | Cl2 |
| Atomic radius in pm | 99 |
| Halogen | Bromine |
|---|---|
| Atomic symbol | Br |
| Atomic number | 35 |
| Molecular formula | Br2 |
| Atomic radius in pm | 114 |
| Halogen | Iodine |
|---|---|
| Atomic symbol | I |
| Atomic number | 53 |
| Molecular formula | I2 |
| Atomic radius in pm | 133 |
| Halogen | Astatine |
|---|---|
| Atomic symbol | At |
| Atomic number | 85 |
| Molecular formula | |
| Atomic radius in pm |
Predict the molecular formula and atomic radius of astatine. Put your answers in the table. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, Paper J248/02 Paper 2 (Foundation Tier)
Molecular formula is At2 [1]
Atomic radius is anywhere between 148 - 168 [1]
ALLOW any range of numbers provided it is completely within the range given for the answer.
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Look at the table.
It shows information about the group 7 elements.
| Halogen | Appearance | Melting point in °C | Boiling point in °C |
| Fluorine | Yellow gas | -220 | |
| Chlorine | Green gas | -101 | -34 |
| Bromine | Red/brown liquid | -7 | 59 |
| Iodine | 114 | 184 | |
| Astatine | Black solid | 337 |
| Halogen | Fluorine |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellow gas |
| Melting point in °C | -220 |
| Boiling point in °C |
| Halogen | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Green gas |
| Melting point in °C | -101 |
| Boiling point in °C | -34 |
| Halogen | Bromine |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Red/brown liquid |
| Melting point in °C | -7 |
| Boiling point in °C | 59 |
| Halogen | Iodine |
|---|---|
| Appearance | |
| Melting point in °C | 114 |
| Boiling point in °C | 184 |
| Halogen | Astatine |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Black solid |
| Melting point in °C | |
| Boiling point in °C | 337 |
Complete the table. Use ideas about trends down a group. [3 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, June 2016 Gateway Science B: B742/02 Q3(a)
Appearance of iodine = grey solid/black solid [1]
Melting point of astatine = anywhere in the range 200 to 310 [1]
Boiling point of fluorine = anywhere in the range -80 to -150 [1]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Iron rusts when it gets wet.
The word equation for rusting is: iron + water + oxygen → rust (hydrated iron(III) oxide)
Balance the symbol equation for the formation of rust.
______Fe(s) + 6H2O(l) + ______O2(g) → 2Fe2O3.3H2O(s) [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Chemistry, J248/02 Paper 2 (Foundation Tier) Sample Question Paper Q22(a)
- 4 in front of Fe [1]
- 3 in front of O2 [1]
- ie: 4Fe(s) + 6H2O(l) + 3O2(g) → 2Fe2O3.3H2O(s)
