SEE model papers
Full practice papers for the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) in Optional Mathematics, made to CDC’s specification grid: the same sections, marks, units and kinds of question as the real paper. Every question has a model answer and a marking scheme.
The SEE Optional Mathematics paper
The SEE paper in Optional Mathematics is set to CDC’s Specification Grid 2082, Optional Mathematics, Grades 9–10: 75 marks in 3 hours, 17 questions, every one compulsory, in 3 groups. Group A (11 marks) is one question of 11 multiple-choice items, 1 mark each, from every area, Group B (40 marks) has 12 questions each on one content area and Group C (24 marks) has 4 questions that each join two or more areas. A question in groups B and C sets a scene and asks two to four parts about it, from recalling a formula to judging a claim. The paper is set by area, not by unit: each of the 6 areas has its share of the marks, set by how long it is taught, and the grid fixes its marks at each level in each group: knowledge, understanding, application and higher ability.
The papers here are new, written by us to the same grid: in every paper each area’s marks at each level in each group are exactly as in the grid, and the questions of groups B and C are split into parts as CDC’s own model paper splits them, so the papers differ in their questions, not in their plan. A part earns one mark for each step expected, so its marking scheme lists exactly as many points as its marks.
Marks for each area
| Area | Units | Hours | Group A | Group B | Group C | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | 29 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
| Trigonometry | 7 | 30 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 17 |
| Geometry | 8, 9 | 36 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 20 |
| Vectors | 10 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Statistics | 11 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Limits and continuity | 12 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 128 | 11 | 40 | 24 | 75 |
Group A: objective questions; group B: within one content area; group C: across content areas. Group B’s questions by area: Algebra 3, Trigonometry 3, Geometry 3, Vectors 1, Statistics 1, Limits and continuity 1.
Marks at each level
| Area | K | U | A | H | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Trigonometry | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Geometry | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 20 |
| Vectors | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Statistics | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Limits and continuity | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 12 | 18 | 30 | 15 | 75 |
K, U, A, H: the marks for knowledge, understanding, application and higher ability: 16%, 24%, 40%, 20% of the paper.
The questions
CDC’s model paper splits groups B and C into questions like this, and every paper here does the same: each question’s parts in order, with their levels and marks.
| Question | Group | Area | Parts | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group A | All | 11 multiple choice | 11 |
| 2 | Group B | Algebra | K 1, A 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Group B | Algebra | U 1, U 1, H 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Group B | Algebra | K 1, A 1, A 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Group B | Trigonometry | K 1, U 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Group B | Trigonometry | U 1, A 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Group B | Trigonometry | K 1, A 2, H 1 | 4 |
| 8 | Group B | Geometry | K 1, A 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Group B | Geometry | K 1, U 2, A 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Group B | Geometry | A 2, U 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Group B | Vectors | K 1, A 1, H 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Group B | Statistics | K 1, U 1, H 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Group B | Limits and continuity | K 1, A 1, U 1, H 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Group C | Across areas | U 2, A 1, H 1, H 2 | 6 |
| 15 | Group C | Across areas | H 1, A 2, H 1, A 2 | 6 |
| 16 | Group C | Across areas | A 2, U 2, U 2, H 1 | 7 |
| 17 | Group C | Across areas | A 3, A 1, H 1 | 5 |
| Total | 75 |
How the paper is made
- Each area, and the paper as a whole, carries the marks the grid sets for knowledge (16%), understanding (24%), application (40%) and higher ability (20%); a level’s marks may move by up to 2.
- Questions are set in a context, and one question may have sub-questions at more than one level.
- Every question has two to four sub-questions.
- Every sub-area of an area is included.
- A question within a content area may join topics of that area.
- A question across content areas must join topics of other areas.
- Within content areas: three questions each from Algebra, Trigonometry and Geometry, and one each from Vectors, Statistics, and Limits and continuity.
Source: CDC, Specification Grid (External Assessment) 2082, Optional Mathematics, Grades 9–10, with its Grade 10 Model Question and Marking Scheme 2083.
These are practice papers made by Science Playground, not official ones. Every fact and calculation has been checked, but they have not yet been reviewed by subject experts. If you find a mistake, please tell us.