Maths questions
Don't forget to take a ruler and scientific calculator into the exam.
Maths questions often start with the command word 'calculate'. You need to use numbers given in the question to work out the answer.
When an answer to a maths question is marked:
- full marks are given for the right answer
- marks may be given for working, including substitution and rearrangement
- calculation errors carried forward are worked through to give credit for later working
Make sure you give answers to a suitable number of significant figures.
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, where appropriate
You may be given a grid with axes labelled 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
- choose even scales and make sure that the points cover at least half the given grid
- label the axes with their quantity and unit, eg time (s)
Take extra care when converting between units.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
A student investigated the number of ribwort plants in a field.
He used a quadrat and 100 metre tape measure.
The student calculated that the mean number of ribwort plants per m2 was 3.2.
The area of the field was 8,250 m2.
Calculate the total number of ribwort plants in the field. [1 mark]
26,400 [1]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The graph below shows how the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere changed between 1900 and 2000.
One of the causes of the increase in carbon dioxide between 1900 and 2000 is increased use of fossil fuels.
Suggest when use of fossil fuels began to increase.
Use data from the graph to explain your answer. [2 marks]
1945 [1] because the rise becomes much steeper [1].
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Information about emissions of oxides of nitrogen in the UK is presented in the graph below.
Calculate the percentage decrease in emissions of oxides of nitrogen from 1990 to 2014.
Give your answer to three significant figures. [3 marks]
2.9 - 0.95 [1]
1.95 ÷ 2.9 (× 100) [1]
= 67.2% [1]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder that affects the nervous system.
It is caused by a dominant allele.
A man is heterozygous for Huntington's disease.
His partner is healthy and does not have the allele that causes Huntington's disease.
a) What are the genotypes of the man and the women? [1 mark]
Use:
- H for the allele that causes Huntington's disease.
- h for the healthy allele
b) The couple decide they want to have a child.
Use a Punnett square to determine the probability of the child having Huntington's disease.
Highlight the genotypes of any children that will have Huntington's disease. [4 marks]
a) Man's genotype Hh
Woman's genotype hh
Both genotypes must be given to be awarded the mark.
b) Gametes correctly derived from parents genotypes in part a) [1].
Offspring genotypes correctly derived from gametes [1].
All Hh highlighted in bold [1].
| h | h | |
| H | Hh | Hh |
| h | hh | hh |
| H | |
|---|---|
| h | Hh |
| h | Hh |
| h | |
|---|---|
| h | hh |
| h | hh |
Probability [1].
Any one from:
- 50%
- \(\frac{1}{2}\)
- \(\frac{2}{4}\)
- 0.5
- 1 in 2
- 2 in 4
