Imperial College London Mathematics School Admissions Test

Mark Scheme

Marking instructions
• Each question in sections A and B scores 2 marks for the correct answer or zero for no answer, the wrong answer or more
than one answer.
•
• For section C
o M marks are for working and are given for a correct method, clearly shown even if there are some errors of arithmetic.
o A marks are for the correct answer from correct working and can only be given if all the M marks so far in that part of
the question have been earned.
o B marks are independent marks.
o Candidates may use any correct method; if this method is not in the mark scheme, award marks in a way that is as
similar as possible to the methods shown in the mark scheme.

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 Section A
Number Solution Mark Guidance
1 A They are both the same. Either 2 or zero for each question on Section A.
Example reasoning
2 p  25
They can each be calculated by working out
100
2 12ab5 Example reasoning
C = 1.5a −4b5
8a 4 2 12ab5
is equal to 1.5a −3b5 so this is the false one.
8a 4
3 D 1:4 Example reasoning
1
Area of rectangle is 2 PQ ∙ RQ
2 1 1
PT is 2 PQ so area of triangle is 4 PQ ∙ RQ; a quarter of the
rectangle.
4 D 60 Example reasoning
660m + 8400n = 60 (11m + 140n )
2
11 and 140 have no common factor. 60 is always a
factor.
5 B There is exactly one prime number in the sequence. Example reasoning
n2 + 2n − 3 = ( n + 3)( n − 1) so n2 + 2n − 3 has two
2
factors unless one of the brackets is 1. This can only be
when n − 1 = 1 so when n = 2
6 2V Example reasoning
E A= + 2 r 2 The total surface area consists of two circles and the
r
curved surface area. The two circles together have area
2 r 2 . The curved surface area opens out to form a
2 rectangle of length equal to the circumference of the
circle and width equal to the height, h , of the cylinder.
2V
Curved surface area = 2 rh =
r

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
7 C No, the mean has to be bigger than 22. Example reasoning
With 9 buses at the station, the total number of people is
2 9  25 = 225 . There must be at least one person on the
10th bus to drive it. The smallest number of people on
the 10 buses is 226. So the mean is 22.6 or more.
8 E b is greater than a for all values of x and there are Example reasoning
some values of x for which a is greater than c . b = a + 5 so b  a for all values of x . Could a be
2 greater than c ? If a  c then 3x + 5  5x + 10 .
−5  2x so −2.5  x . There are values of x for which a
is greater than c .
9 D 4 Example reasoning
The centre of the circle can be anywhere in a square of
side 2mm

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
10 A (-1, -27) Example reasoning
The turning point must lie on the line of symmetry, so
the x-coordinate is -1. The y-coordinate must be below
-24.

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 Section B
Number Solution Mark Guidance
11 C There is a country in Europe where more than half Either 2 or zero for each question on Section B.
the population are over 50. Example reasoning
A one mobile phone each would be 100 phones per 100
people and most countries have more than that so it’s
not average.
2
B There is positive correlation but that does not mean
that one factor causes the other.
C The highest median age is about 56. This means that
half the population are 56 are over so more than half the
population are over 50.
12 D 1785  870 Example reasoning
distance
speed =
2 time
The greatest speed is when the largest possible
distance is divided by the smallest possible time.
13 D 984 Example reasoning
You can subtract multiples of 4 or 40 from 1000.
40 is a multiple of 4.
You can add multiples of 4 to 1000.
2
850 is 150 below 1000. 150 is not a multiple of 4.
874 is 26 below 1000. 26 is not a multiple of 4.
930 is 70 below 1000. 70 is not a multiple of 4.
984 is 16 below 1000. 16 is a multiple of 4..

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
14 A 2010 to 2011 Example reasoning
Change from previous
Year Price (p) year (p)
2010 111
2011 129 18
2012 141 12
2013 140 1
2014 138 2
2015 118 20
2
A and E are possible answers.
Percentage change 2010 to 2011 is
18 6
100 = 100
111 37
Percentage change 2014 to 2015 is
20 10
100 = 100
138 69
6 6 1 10 10 1 1 1
 = ;  = ; 
37 36 6 69 70 7 6 7
15 E Two of the three events are equally likely Example reasoning
Heads and tails are equally likely.
2
Exactly two heads is the same as exactly one tail so
exactly one head is as likely as exactly two heads.

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
16 B 3 Example reasoning
No. of jumpers No. of balls No. balls wool
wool left
1 7 45
2 14 38
3 21 31
4 28 24
2
5 35 17
6 42 10
7 49 3

The number of balls of wool left from jumpers must be a

multiple of 3 so that they are all used on scarves. The
multiples of 3 in the last column are 45, 24 and 3.
17 A 1FREE Example reasoning
Offer How many are paid for?
2 1FREE 8
25OFF 9
HALF 9
18 C Example reasoning
Min Max You can see 6 cubes in the second view so it can’t be
7 9 done in less than 6. Making the second shape from 6
cubes in a set of steps would not give the first view so at
least 7 cubes are needed.
The two diagrams below show the views from the top
2 with the number of cubes vertically from the bottom of
the shape for the min and max number of cubes.

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
19 A 40% Example reasoning
If p % of the mixture comes from powder X then
(100 − p ) % comes from powder Y.
0.59 p + 0.89 (100 − p ) = 77
2
89 − 0.3 p = 77
12 = 0.3p
12
p= = 40
0.3
20 B 3 Example reasoning
For a square with 4 numbers, the numbers are
n n +1
n+7 n+8

The answer is (n + 1)(n + 7) − n(n + 8) = 7

For a square with 9 numbers, the numbers are

n n +1 n+2
2
n+7 n+8 n+9
n + 14 n + 15 n + 16

The answer is (n + 2)(n + 14) − n(n + 16) = 28

Squares with 16 numbers all give the answer 63

It’s not possible to get a square with 25 numbers.

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 Section C
Number Solution Mark Guidance
21 2 Deciding to square
 1
x+  M1
 x
1 Correct expression
= x2 + 2 + 2 A1
x
1
x 2 + 2 = 32 − 2 M1
x
7 A1 Correct answer from correct working
Alternative method
x 2 − 3x + 1 = 0
3 5
x= M1
2
2 2
 3 + 5   2  14 + 6 5 4
  +   = + M1
 2   3+ 5  4 14 + 6 5

7+3 5 2 7−3 5
+
(
=
7+7)=7 A1
Getting 7 from correct working for one of the roots

2 49 − 45 2
2 2
 3 − 5   2  14 − 6 5 4
  +   = +
 2   3− 5  4 14 − 6 5

7−3 5 2 7+3 5
+
(
=
7+7)=7 A1
Showing that the other root gives the same answer
Correct answer from correct working
2 49 − 45 2
[4]

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
22 Angle BAC Is exterior angle of polygon so 360°÷12 Or finding interior angle of polygon (150°)
M1
OR ABC= 120°
BAC= 30° OR ABM= 60° OR equivalent angle in other right
A1
angled triangle
Splitting the triangle into two right angled triangles

M1

1
cos 30 = M1
AB
3 1 Use of correct value for cos30
= M1
2 AB
2 Correct answer from correct working
AB = cm A1
3
Alternative method for last 4 marks
AB 2 M1
=
sin 30 sin120
1 3 M1 for each of: correct value for sin 30°, sin 120°
AB = 2   M2
2 2
2 Correct answer from correct working
AB = cm A1
3
Another alternative method for last 4 marks AB
Triangle ABM is half an equilateral triangle M1 or BM =
2

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 2
 AB 
AB = 1 + 
2
 M1
 2 
3AB2
=1 M1
4
2 Correct answer from correct working
AB = cm A1
3

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
23 (a) Circumference of circle is  D M1
d  (D − d )  D Correct expressions for at least two semicircles
Perimeter of shaded region is + + M1
2 2 2
 d + D − d + D Convincing completion to show that the perimeter of the
=D A1 shaded region is the same as the circumference of the
2
original circle
Alternative method One semicircle as a fraction of the length of the
d semicircle with diameter AC (or of the whole large circle)
Semicircle with diameter BC is of the semicircle with M1
D
diameter AC

Semicircle with diameter AB is

( D − d ) of the semicircle
D
with diameter AC
d (D − d ) Finding both semicircles above (or all three semicircles)
Total fraction of the whole semicircle is + =1
M1 as a fraction of the large semicircle (or whole large
D D circle)
So total perimeter of the shaded area is two semicircles Clear correct conclusion from correct working
with diameter AC or the same as the circumference of A1
the circle with diameter AC

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
23(b) d 2 Allow correct and clear expressions using radius
Area of semicircle with diameter BC is M1
8
 (D − d )
2 If wrong denominator is used for semicircles then just
Area of semicircle with diameter AB is M1 deduct one method mark as long as the denominators
8 are consistent
 D2
Area of circle with diameter AC is M1
4
 d 2  D2  ( D − d )
2

Area of shaded region is + − M1

8 8 8
 ( d + D − D − d + 2 Dd )
2 2 2 2
M1
8
 Dd  D 2
Fraction of circle is  M1
4 4
 Dd 4 d Convincing completion from correct working
 = A1
4 D 2
D
Alternative method May be implied by later working rather than stated
Semicircles are similar M1 explicitly

2
d
Area of semicircle with diameter BC is   of the
D M1
semicircle with diameter AC
(D − d )
2

Area of semicircle with diameter AB is of the M1

D2
semicircle with diameter AC

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Number Solution Mark Guidance
Shaded region as a fraction of semicircle with diameter
d2 (D − d )
2
M1
AC is 1 + 2 −
D D2
D 2 + d 2 − D 2 − d 2 + 2 Dd
M1
D2
2d
of the large semicircle M1
D
d
So of the circle with diameter AC A1
D
[7]

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