Mark scheme for 1MA1 Higher themed papers: Algebraic Fractions

GCSE Mathematics (1MA1)

Themed papers – Algebraic Fractions

Compiled from student-friendly mark schemes

Please note that this mark scheme is not the one used by
examiners for making scripts. It is intended more as a guide to
good practice, indicating where marks are given for correct
answers. As such, it doesn’t show follow-through marks (marks
that are awarded despite errors being made) or special cases.

It should also be noted that for many questions, there may be

alternative methods of finding correct solutions that are not
shown here – they will be covered in the formal mark scheme.

NOTES ON MARKING PRINCIPLES

Guidance on the use of codes within this mark scheme

M1 – method mark. This mark is generally given for an appropriate method in

the context of the question. This mark is given for showing your working and
may be awarded even if working is incorrect.

P1 – process mark. This mark is generally given for setting up an appropriate

process to find a solution in the context of the question.

A1 – accuracy mark. This mark is generally given for a correct answer

following correct working.

B1 – working mark. This mark is usually given when working and the answer
cannot easily be separated.

C1 – communication mark. This mark is given for explaining your answer or

giving a conclusion in context supported by your working.

Some questions require all working to be shown; in such questions, no marks

will be given for an answer with no working (even if it is a correct answer).

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©2020 Pearson Education Limited.
Question 1 (Total 3 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
2x2 – 5x – 12 = (2x + 3)(x – 4) M1 This mark is given for factorising
the denominator

x2 – 16 = (x + 4)(x – 4) M1 This mark is given for factorising

the numerator

x +4 A1 This mark is given for the correct

2 x +3 answer only

Question 2 (Total 3 marks)

Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
3x2 – 8x – 3 = (3x + 1)(x – 3) This mark is given for expanding
M1
the brackets of the numerator

2x2 – 6x = 2x(x – 3) This mark is given for expanding

M1
the brackets of the denominator

(3 x+1)( x−3 ) 3 x +1 A1 This mark is given for cancelling

2 x ( x−3 ) 2x (x – 3) for the correct answer
=

Question 3 (Total 3 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
(3 + 2x)(1 − 2x) M1 This mark is given for
factorising the numerator of the
fraction

(2x − 1)(x – 3) M1 This mark is given for

factorising the denominator of
the fraction

3+2 x A1 This mark is given for the

3−x correct answer only
Question 4 (Total 3 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
(2x − 5)(x + 1) M1 This mark is given for a start to
the factorisation
(x + 5)(x + 1) M1 This mark is given for
factorisation

A1 This mark is given for the

correct answer only

Question 5 (Total 4 marks)

Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
3(3 x−2) 4 (2 x +5 ) 2(1−x ) M1 This mark is given for writing at
12 12 12 least two algebraic factions with
– = a common denominator

3(3x – 2) – 4(2x + 5) = 2(1 – x) M1 This mark is given for a method

to eliminate all fractions in the
equation

9x – 8x + 2x = 2 + 6 + 20 M1 This mark is given for

rearranging and correctly
3x = 28
isolating terms in x

A1 This mark is given for the

correct answer only
x=
Question 6 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see

6+
[ ( x +5)÷
( x+5 )( x−2 )
x−1 ] B1 This mark is given for
factorising x2 + 3x – 10

=6+
[ ( x +5)×
x−1
( x+5 )( x−2 ) ] M1 This mark is given for a method
to rearrange the fraction in
brackets and cancel through by
(x – 5)
x−1
x−2
=6+

6( x−2 ) x−1 M1 This mark is given for putting

x−2 x−2 the two terms of the expression
= + over the same common
6( x−2 )+( x−1) denominator
x−2
=

7 x−13 A1 This mark is given for a correct

x−2 answer only

Question 7 (Total 2 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes

might expect to see
(a) 15 x 2( x+1) M1 This mark is given for a method
3 x ( x +1) 3 x ( x +1) to find a common denominator
+ and at least one correct numerator

17 x +2 A1 This mark is given for a correct

3 x ( x +1) single simplified fraction
Question 8 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner might Mark Notes
expect to see
2( x−3)( x +3 )−( x +2 )(x +3 )−( x−6 )(x −3) M1 This mark is given for at
( x−3)( x +3 ) least two correct terms in
rearranging the equation

2 x 2 −18−( x 2 +5 x+6)−( x 2−9 x+18 ) M1 This mark is given for

the correct expansion of
( x−3)( x +3)
at least two expressions

2 x 2 −18 x−x 2−5 x−6−x 2 +9 x−18 M1 This mark is given for

collecting terms
( x−3 )( x +3)

4 x−42 A1 This mark is given for

( x 2 −9 ) the correct answer only
= , so a = 4, b = –42

Question 9 (Total 4 marks)

Part Working an or answer examiner might Mark Notes

expect to see
x2 – 4x – 5 = (x – 5)(x + 1) B1 This mark is given for
factorisation, although
may be seen later

3( x  1) 2( x  1) M1 This mark is given for


( x  1)( x  5) ( x  1)( x  5) or finding a common
denominator
3( x  1)( x  5) 2( x 2  4 x  5)

( x 2  4 x  5)( x  5) ( x 2  4 x  5)( x  5)

x5 M1 This mark is for

( x  1)( x  5) simplifying the
expression

1 A1 This mark is given for

x 1 the correct answer only
Question 10 (Total 6 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
(a) (2 x−3)(2 x +3) 2x M1 This mark is given for a
6 x +9 2
x −3 x method to factorise the
 numerator

(2 x−3)(2 x +3)2 x M1 This mark is given for a

3 (2 x +3 )x ( x−3 ) method to factorise the
denominator

4 x−6 A1 This mark is given for

3 x−9 cancelling the numerator and
denoiminator by x(2x + 3)
(a = 4, b = –6, c = 3, d = –9)

(b) (x + 1)(x – 2)x M1 This mark is given for

finding a common
denominator

3 x ( x−2 )+( x +1) x−4 ( x +1)( x−2 ) M1 This mark is given for
x ( x+1 )( x−2) finding a numerator

3 x 2 −6 x + x 2 + x−4 x 2 +4 x+ 8 A1 This mark is given for the

correct answer only
x ( x +1)( x−2)
=
−x +8
x( x +1 )(x −2)
=

Question 11 (Total 3 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
2x2 + x − 15 = (2x − 5)(x + 3) M1 This mark is given for
3x2 + 9x = 3x(x + 3) factorising the denominators of
the fractions

M1 This mark is given for inverting

one fraction and multiplying

A1 This mark is given for the

correct answer only
(a = 3, b = 2, c = –5)
Question 12 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
3( x+2) 3 M1 Factorising numerator and
(= ) denominator of first fraction
( x−5)(x +2) ( x−5)

x+ 5 1 M1 Factorising denominator of
(= ) second fraction
x( x+5)(x−5) x( x−5)
3( x+2) x( x+5)(x−5) M1 Multiplication by reciprocal
×
( x−5)(x +2) (x+ 5)

3x A1 Completing algebra to reach 3x

Question 13 (Total 2 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
a(b+ 1)−a a(b+1)2 −a(b +1) C1
(b +1)2 (b+1 )3
or

C1 This mark is given for a

complete chain of reasoning

Question 14 (Total 4 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
( x +3 ) (x +2) B1 This mark is given for
factorising

M1 This mark is given for dealing

with the division of ( x +3 ) by
x ²+5 x +6
x−2
M1 This mark is given for two
correct fractions with a common
denominator or a correct single
fraction

3 x +10 A1 This mark is given for the

x+2 correct answer only
 Mark scheme for 1MA1 Higher themed papers: Algebraic Fractions

Performance data:

Total % Edexcel mean averages

Taken from Spec
Q Marks TOPIC AO Mean Marks of candidates who achieved grade:
Ref
Q Series Paper available marks ALL 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 U
1 14a June 2017 3H 3 Algebra A4 1 45 1.36 2.93 2.69 2.12 1.33 0.6 0.19 0.05 - - 0.02
2 17 June 2018 1H 3 Algebra A4 1 42 1.25 2.92 2.59 1.96 1.18 0.51 0.18 0.07 - - 0.03
3 17b Mock Set 3 1H 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 15 Spec Set 1 1H 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 11 June 2017 2H 4 Algebra A17 1 33 1.32 3.50 2.76 1.89 1.13 0.55 0.22 0.07 - - 0.04
6 13 June 2019 2H 4 Algebra A4 2 32 1.29 3.46 2.61 1.71 1.02 0.53 0.24 0.10 - - 0.07
7 13a Nov 2019 1H 2 Algebra A4 1 21 0.42 2 1.86 1.36 0.88 0.55 0.14 0.02 - - 0.01
8 19 June 2017 2H 4 Algebra A4 1 20 0.79 2.4 1.71 1.18 0.64 0.25 0.07 0.02 - - 0
9 18 Mock Set 4 3H 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10a 12a Nov 2018 2H 3 Algebra A4 2 7 0.22 2.5 2.21 0.91 0.39 0.26 0.08 0.02 - - 0.03
10b 12b Nov 2018 2H 3 Algebra A4 1 9 0.26 2.2 1.79 1.26 0.62 0.29 0.06 0.02 - - 0
11 17b Mock Set 2 1H 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
12 20 Spec Set 2 1H 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
13 15 Spec Set 2 3H 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
14 14 Spec Set 1 3H 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
49 6.91 21.91 18.22 12.39 7.19 3.54 1.18 0.37 - - 0.2

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©2020 Pearson Education Limited.