GCSE Maths Higher Paper 2 free practice questions with answers
Read question 1 and its full worked answer from paper 1 of our 20-paper GCSE Maths Higher Paper 2 set, then download the 4-page PDF. These are original practice questions, not official past papers. Page updated 3 November 2026.
(3 marks)
Expand and simplify (3x − 1)(2x − 8).
Answer
Question 1 (3 marks) [Expanding brackets]
Expand and simplify (3x − 1)(2x − 8).
Answer: 6x² − 26x + 8
- Multiply each term in the first bracket by each term in the second (F-O-I-L: First, Outer, Inner, Last).
- First: 3x × 2x = 6x².
- Outer: 3x × −8 = −24x.
- Inner: −1 × 2x = −2x.
- Last: −1 × −8 = 8.
- Collect the two x terms: (−24x) + (−2x) = −26x.
- Answer: 6x² − 26x + 8.
Double brackets: every term in one bracket multiplies every term in the other (4 products), then collect the x terms.
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What is in the GCSE Maths Higher Paper 2 free sample?
The first 3 questions from paper 1 of the set, in the real exam layout, followed by the step-by-step worked answers. It is a 4-page PDF; this page shows question 1 with its answer.
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20 original papers for GCSE Maths Higher students. Each is an 80-mark calculator paper in 1 hour 30 minutes, with a worked solution for every question. Papers start at A$11.99 and download instantly as a PDF.
Are these official past papers?
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