Mark scheme for 1MA1 Higher themed papers: Vectors

GCSE Mathematics (1MA1)

Themed papers – Vectors

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).

This publication may only be reproduced in accordance with Pearson Education Limited copyright policy.
©2020 Pearson Education Limited.
Question 1 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see

( ) ()
(a)(i) 1+3 4 B1 This mark is given for the correct
4+ 2 answer only
6
=

() ()
(a)(ii) 2 9 M1 This mark is given for a method

2a =
8
or 3b =
6
to use either
(28 ) ( 96 )
or

( ) ( )
2+ 9 11 A1 This mark is given for the correct
8+6 answer only
14
=

(b) Correct line from P drawn on B1 This mark is given for a correct
diagram vector drawn

Question 2 (Total 4 marks)

Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
1 1 P1 This mark is given for the first
OX 2 2 step to solve the problem
= a+ c

1 1 P1 This mark is given for a process

OD OX XD 2 2 to find a vector expression for
= + = a+ c+ CD
1
2
3c – a
CD OD OC
= – = 3.5c – c =
2.5c

OC CD P1 This mark is given for a process

: = k : 1 = c + 2.5c to find the value of k (using
ratios)

1 2 A1 This mark is given for the correct

2. 5 5 answer only
k= =
 Question 3 (Total 6 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner might Mar Notes
expect to see k
(a) ⃗
FE ⃗
FC ⃗
CD ⃗
DE M1 This mark is given for a method to find a
= + + ⃗
FE
vector expression for
= (a – b) + a +b

= 2a A1 This mark is given for the correct answer only

(b) ⃗
MF ⃗
DM ⃗
CD ⃗
FC P1 This mark is given for a method to find a
=– – – ⃗
MF
vector expression for
1
2
=– b –a – (a – b)
1
2
= b – 2a

⃗
CE ⃗
CX ⃗
XE P1 This mark is given for a method to
= + ⃗
CX
find vector expressions for and
1
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
XE
CX CD ⃗
DM n+1 ⃗
MF
= + +
⃗
XE ⃗
XM ⃗
ME
= +
1
n+1 ⃗
FM ⃗
ME
= +
⃗
CE
=a+b
1 1 1
⃗
CX 2 n+1 2
=a+ b+ ( b – 2a)
2 1 1
n+1 2 2(n+1)
=a– a+ b+ b
n+1 2 (n+1 ) 1
n+1 n+1 2(n+1) 2(n+1)
= a– a+ b+ b
n−1 (n+2 )
n+1 2(n+1)
= a+ b
1 1 1
⃗
XE n+1 2 2
= (2a – b)+ b
 2 1 1
n+1 2(n+1) 2
= a– b+ b
2 1 (n+1 )
n+1 2(n+1) 2(n+1)
= a– b+ b
2 n
n+1 2(n+1)
= a+ b
Question 3 continued (Total 6 marks)
Part Working an or answer Mark Notes
examiner might expect to see
⃗
CE ⃗
CX ⃗
XE P1 This mark is given for a
= + process to find the value
(n+2 ) of n
n−1 2
n+1 2(n+1) n+1
a+b= a+ b+ a+
n
2(n+1)
b
Thus
n−1 (n+2 ) 2 n
n+1 2(n+1) n+1 2(n+1)
= or =

2(n + 1)(n – 1) = (n + 1)(n + 2)

2(n – 1) = n + 2
n–2=2

or

4(n + 1) = n(n + 1)

n=4 A1 This mark is given for the correct

answer only
Question 4 (Total 3 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner might Mark Notes
expect to see
B1 This mark is given for a
correct vector drawn
(including the arrow)

–2a

() ( )
1 1 M1 This mark is given for
2 −3 writing a and b as column
a= ,b= vectors

() ( ) ( )
1 2 3 A1 This mark is given for the
2 −6 −4 correct answer only
a + 2b = + =
Question 5 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner might Mark Notes
expect to see
(a) The curve cuts the y axis at x = 0 B1 This mark is given for the
correct answer only
y = ax = a0 = 1
(0, 1)

(b) M1 This mark is given for any one

of a circle with radius 4,
centre (3, 0) or points (1, 0) and
(7, 0) labelled

M1 This mark is given for any

further element of a circle with
radius 4, centre (3, 0) or points
(1, 0) and (7, 0) labelled

A1 This mark is given for a fully

correct sketch only: a circle with
radius 4 and centre (3, 0) and
with the points (1, 0) and (7, 0)
labelled

(–1, 0) (3, 0) (7, 0)

Question 6 (Total 2 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner might Mark Notes
expect to see
M1 This mark is given for
showing a rotation of 180
about (–2, 0) followed by

a translation
( )
−3
2

(–3.5, 1) A1 This mark is given for the

correct answer only
Question 7 (Total 5 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
1 1 P1 This mark is given a process to
⃗
OP 3⃗OX 3 ⃗
OP ⃗
OR
= = a find and
1 1
⃗
OR 4⃗OY 4
= = b

1 P1 This mark is given for a process to

⃗
ZO 3⃗YX use vector equivalence of opposite
= =a–b sides of a parallelogram to find
⃗
ZY ⃗
ZO
=a vector expressions for and
⃗
ZY

1 This mark is given for a process to

⃗
ZP 3 ⃗
ZP ⃗
ZR
=a–b+ a find and in terms of a and
1 b
⃗
ZR 4
=a–b+ b

⃗
ZP This mark is given for a process to
12 = 12a – 12b + 4a = 16a – ⃗
ZP ⃗
ZR
12b write and as multiples of
the same vector
⃗
ZR
12 = 12a – 12b + 3b = 12a –
9b

4
3 ⃗
ZP
16a – 12b = (12a – 9b) so
4
3⃗ZR
=

4:3 This mark is given for the correct

answer only (or an equivalent
ratio)
Question 8 (Total 5 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
AB = b – a P1 This mark is given for the start to
a process by finding the vector AB

1 P1 This mark is given for a process to

2 find the vector OM
OM = OA + AB
1
2
=a+ (b – a)

3 P1 This mark is given for a process to

5 find the vector AP
AP = AO + OM
3 1
5 2
= –a + (a + (b – a))
3 1 1
5 2 2
= –a + ( a+ b)
7 3
10 10
=– a+ b

10 P1 This mark is given for a process to

7 3
AN = –a + kb = AP 7
find k = using AN as a multiple
10 7 3 3
of AP
7 10 10 7
= (– a+ b) = –a +
b

Thus ON: NB = 3 : 4 A1 This mark is given for the correct

answer only
Question 9 (Total 4 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
⃗
BC B1 This mark is given for finding the
= 2b – 3a vector equation for at least one of
⃗ ⃗
BC ⃗
CB
CB or
= 3a – 2b

3 M1 This mark is given for a method

⃗
AD ⃗
AB 4⃗BC to find the vector expression for
= + ⃗
BC ⃗
CB
3 at least one of or
⃗
DE 4⃗CB ⃗
BE
= +

3 3 A1 This mark is given for a method

⃗
AD 4 4 to find the vector equation for at
= 3a + (2b – 3a) = (2b + ⃗
BC ⃗
CB
a) least one of or
3 9
⃗
DE 4 4
= (3a – 3b) + 6b = (2b +
a)

⃗
DE ⃗
AD C1 This mark is given for a complete
=3 so vectors are parallel correct conclusion
and have the point D in common
Thus ADE is a straight line

Question 10 (Total 4 marks)

Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
⃗
AB = b − a or ⃗
BA = a – b M1 This mark is given for a start to
the method

3 M1 This mark is given for a complete

(b−a)+a
5 method
2 a+3 b
A1 This mark is given for a correct
5 answer or an equivalent
Question 11 (Total 5 marks)
Part Working an or answer examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
⃗
AB 1 This mark is given for finding a
=b–a ⃗
AB
vector expression for

⃗
MN
1
2
1 This mark is given for finding a
= – b + a + 2a ⃗
MN
1 vector expression for
2
= – b + 3a

⃗
PN 1 This mark is given for finding a
= –k(b – a) + 2a ⃗
PN
vector expression for
= –kb + (2 + k)a

⃗
MN ⃗
PN 1 This mark is given for
Since is a multiple of ⃗
MN
recognising that is a
− 12 3
⃗
PN
−k ( 2+k ) multiple of and comparing
=
coefficients of a and b
1
2
– (2 + k) = –3k

2 1 This mark is given for the correct

5 answer only
k=
Question 12 (Total 5 marks)
Part Working or answer an examiner Mark Notes
might expect to see
⃗
BA M1 This mark is given for a method
= a – 3b to represent BA or YA as vectors
or
1
⃗
YA 2
= (a – 3b)

1 M1 This mark is given for a method

⃗
XY 2 to represent one of XY, YZ or XZ
=b+ (a – 3b) as vectors
or
1
⃗
YZ 2
=a+ (a – 3b)
or
⃗
XZ
= 2a – 2b

M1 This mark is given for a method

to represent a second of XY, YZ
or XZ as vectors

1 M1 This mark is given for a method

⃗
XY 2 to simplify at least two vector
= (a – b) terms to enable comparison of
or ⃗
XY ⃗
XZ ⃗
YZ
two of , and
3
⃗
YZ 2
= (a – b)
or
⃗
XZ
= 2(a – b)

⃗
XY ⃗
XZ ⃗
YZ C1 This mark is given for a complete
, and are each proof with reference to two of
multiples of (a – b) and so are ⃗
XY ⃗
XZ ⃗
YZ
parallel; point Y is common, so X, , and being parallel
Y and Z lie on a straight line and a common point
 Mark scheme for 1MA1 Higher themed papers: Vectors

Performance data:

Total % Edexcel mean averages

Taken from
Marks Spec Mean Marks of candidates who achieved grade:
Q TOPIC AO
Pap availa Ref mark 8 7 6 5
Q ALL 9 4 3 2 1 U
Series er ble s
1a 4a Mock Set 3H 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2
1b 4b Mock Set 3H 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2
2 19 June 1H 4 Geometr G25 3 25 0.98 3.15 2.10 1.25 0.72 0.39 0.20 0.09 - - 0.03
2017 y R4R
8
3a 20 June 2H 2 Geometr G25 1 65 1.29 1.98 1.94 1.78 1.41 0.84 0.35 0.10 - - 0.03
a 2019 y
3b 20 June 2H 4 Geometr N11, 3 20 0.80 2.03 1.49 1.06 0.66 0.38 0.18 0.08 - - 0.05
b 2019 y G25
4a 10 June 2H 3 Geometr G25 1 45 0.45 0.89 0.76 0.62 0.47 0.29 0.14 0.04 - - 0.01
a 2018 y
4b 10 June 2H 2 Geometr G25 1 34 0.67 1.67 1.32 0.95 0.62 0.34 0.15 0.08 - - 0.04
b 2018 y
5a 20 June 3H 1 Algebra A14 1 20 0.20 0.81 0.49 0.22 0.10 0.05 0.03 0.03 - - 0.03
a 2017
5b 20 June 3H 3 Algebra A13 2 25 0.76 2.66 2.01 1.10 0.44 0.14 0.04 0.02 - - 0.01
b 2017
6 20 Nov 3H 2 Geometr G8 2 11 0.21 1.30 0.68 0.48 0.38 0.28 0.15 0.08 - - 0.01
2018 y
7 24 Nov 3H 5 Geometr R4, 3 7 0.34 4 2.41 1.59 0.75 0.24 0.04 0 - - 0
2019 y R8,
G25
8 21 Nov 1H 5 Geometr G25 3 4 0.18 2.50 0.82 0.71 0.30 0.15 0.11 0.07 - - 0.03
2018 y
9 19 Mock Set 3H 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3

This publication may only be reproduced in accordance with Pearson Education Limited copyright policy.
©2020 Pearson Education Limited.
10 19 Mock Set 2H 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4
11 21 Nov 3H 5 Geometr G25 3 1 0.06 1.75 1.15 0.53 0.19 0.06 0.01 0.00 - - 0.00
2017 y
12 21 Mock Set 2H 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1
52 5.9 22. 15. 10. 6.0 3.1 1.4 0.5 - - 0.2
4 74 17 29 4 6 9 4