Converting standard and compound units - Edexcel GCSE Maths (Non-calculator) Exam Questions

Practise 29 exam-style questions on Converting standard and compound units for Edexcel GCSE Maths (Non-calculator). Write your answer as you would in the exam and get it marked in seconds against the mark scheme, point by point, with an AI tutor on hand if you get stuck.

29 questions
1–5 marks each
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20 questions, marked as you go

Sample questions with model answers

Here are 4 of the questions in this topic, each with a model answer, an explanation of why it earns the marks and the mark scheme an examiner would use.

Question 1

2 marks

Change a speed of 72 km/h into metres per second.

Model answer

72 km/h = 72 000 metres per hour
72 000 ÷ 60 = 1200 metres per minute
1200 ÷ 60 = 20 metres per second

Explanation

Change the distance to metres (× 1000) and the time to seconds (1 hour = 3600 seconds), then divide. Doing it in two steps through metres per minute keeps the arithmetic easy.

Mark scheme

1 mark
M1 for \(72 \times 1000 \div 3600\) oe, e.g. 72 000 metres per hour or 1200 metres per minute
correct answer with no working scores full marks
1 mark
A1 for 20
cao

Question 2

2 marks

A train travels 150 km in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Work out the average speed of the train in km/h.

Model answer

1 hour 15 minutes = 1.25 hours
Speed = 150 ÷ 1.25 = 120 km/h

Explanation

For a speed in km/h the time must be in hours: 15 minutes is 0.25 hours. Dividing by 1.25 is easier as 150 ÷ 5 × 4 = 120, because 1.25 = \(\dfrac{5}{4}\).

Mark scheme

1 mark
M1 for 150 ÷ 1.25, or 150 ÷ 75 × 60
150 ÷ 1.15 scores M0; correct answer with no working scores full marks
1 mark
A1 for 120
cao

Question 3

3 marks

Ali is paid £540 for working 40 hours.
Bea is paid £1.20 for every 5 minutes she works.

Who has the higher rate of pay?
You must show how you get your answer.

Model answer

Ali: 540 ÷ 40 = £13.50 per hour
Bea: there are 12 lots of 5 minutes in an hour, so 1.20 × 12 = £14.40 per hour
£14.40 > £13.50, so Bea has the higher rate of pay.

Explanation

Rates of pay must be compared over the same length of time, so convert both to pay per hour. An hour contains 12 lots of 5 minutes.

Mark scheme

1 mark
M1 for 540 ÷ 40 (= £13.50 per hour)
or another comparable rate, e.g. Ali £1.125 per 5 minutes
1 mark
M1 for 1.20 × 12 (= £14.40 per hour)
1 mark
C1 for Bea, with £13.50 and £14.40 (or other correct comparable values)

Question 4

4 marks

An empty tank is a cuboid measuring 2 m by 1.2 m by 0.75 m.
Water flows into the tank at a rate of 15 litres per minute.

How long will it take to fill the tank completely?
Give your answer in hours.

Model answer

Volume = 2 × 1.2 × 0.75 = 1.8 m³
1 m³ = 1000 litres, so 1.8 m³ = 1800 litres
Time = 1800 ÷ 15 = 120 minutes = 2 hours

Explanation

Find the volume, convert it to litres to match the flow rate, then divide by the rate. Remember 1 m³ = 1 000 000 cm³ = 1000 litres, and give the final answer in the units asked for.

Mark scheme

1 mark
P1 for the volume, 2 × 1.2 × 0.75 (= 1.8 m³)
or 200 × 120 × 75 (= 1 800 000 cm³); correct answer with no working scores full marks
1 mark
P1 for converting to litres, 1800 litres
ft their volume
1 mark
P1 for 1800 ÷ 15 (= 120 minutes)
ft their number of litres
1 mark
A1 for 2 (hours)
cao

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