Sample paper · GCSE Foundation · grades 1–5

GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

The real Paper 1 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, non-calculator, and all three papers carry equal weight. This sample is 20 original questions in the same content proportions as the Foundation qualification — number 25%, algebra 20%, ratio, proportion and rates of change 25%, geometry and measures 15%, probability 7.5%, statistics 7.5% — with no calculator-only items. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 50% / 25% / 25%.

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

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1.A fabric is dyed blue and yellow in the ratio 3 : 5. A tailor uses 1.5 m of blue fabric and the matching amount of yellow fabric needed for the ratio. Work out the total length of fabric used.
(a)2.5 m
(b)4 m
(c)1.5 m
(d)2.4 m
2.The nth term of a sequence is 3n + 2. Work out the 4th term of the sequence.
(a)12
(b)14
(c)9
(d)11
3.A machine fills bottles at a constant rate. It fills 18 bottles in 3 minutes. Working at the same rate, work out how many bottles the machine fills in 8 minutes.
(a)144
(b)18
(c)23
(d)48
4.A regular polygon has an exterior angle of 45°. Work out the number of sides of the polygon.
(a)4
(b)45
(c)8
(d)315
5.A bag contains 5 letter tiles spelling the word MATHS, with one letter on each tile. Two tiles are drawn at random, one after the other, without the first tile being put back. Work out the probability that both tiles drawn are consonants.
(a)3/4
(b)4/5
(c)16/25
(d)3/5
6.The lowest temperature in a garden in Sheffield was recorded on each of seven days: 3 °C, 5 °C, 2 °C, 7 °C, 4 °C, 6 °C and 3 °C. Write down what the range of these seven temperatures describes.
(a)The temperature that occurred most often in the week
(b)The temperature that was typical of the seven days
(c)How many different temperatures were recorded
(d)How much the temperatures varied over the seven days
7.In the number 3.472, work out the value of the digit 7.
(a)0.007
(b)0.7
(c)0.07
(d)7
8.Given that (x + 2)(x − 7) = 0, write down the two solutions of x.
(a)x = 2 or x = −7
(b)x = −2 or x = −7
(c)x = −2 or x = 7
(d)x = 2 or x = 7
9.The table shows values of x and y. x: 3, 5, 8. y: 12, 20, 32. Which statement correctly describes the relationship between x and y?
(a)y is always 4 times x.
(b)y is always double x, plus 6.
(c)y is always x plus 9.
(d)x is always 4 times y.
10.A fish tank is a cuboid measuring 40 cm long, 25 cm wide and 30 cm high. Water is poured in to a depth of 20 cm. Work out the volume of water in the tank, in litres.
(a)20 litres
(b)20000 litres
(c)0.02 litres
(d)30 litres
11.The universal set is {1, 2, 3, ..., 30}. Set A is the set of multiples of 4 between 1 and 30. Work out n(A′), the number of elements not in A.
(a)7
(b)22
(c)23
(d)24
12.Work out ((−3) + 5) × (−4) − (−6) ÷ 2
(a)−11
(b)−1
(c)−5
(d)11
13.The first four terms of a sequence are 5, 8, 11, 14. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
(a)n + 3
(b)3n + 5
(c)3n
(d)3n + 2
14.Divide 84 in the ratio 3:4. Work out the smaller share.
(a)42
(b)48
(c)36
(d)28
15.A parallelogram has a base of 9 cm and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. Work out its area.
(a)72 cm²
(b)18 cm²
(c)36 cm²
(d)26 cm²
16.Simplify 3² ÷ 3⁵, giving your answer as a single power of 3.
(a)3⁷
(b)3³
(c)3⁻³
(d)3¹⁰
17.The first five terms of a quadratic sequence are 5, 8, 13, 20, 29. Work out the next term in the sequence.
(a)38
(b)40
(c)32
(d)39
18.A rope of length A is 1.5 times as long as a rope of length B. Write the ratio A : B in its simplest form.
(a)2 : 3
(b)3 : 5
(c)3 : 2
(d)1.5 : 1
19.Work out the value of 5³.
(a)8
(b)53
(c)125
(d)15
20.Which of these ratios is already written in its simplest form?
(a)7:14
(b)4:9
(c)10:15
(d)6:8

How the 20 questions are shared out

Number — 5 questions (25% of the qualification)
Algebra — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
Ratio, proportion and rates of change — 5 questions (25% of the qualification)
Geometry and measures — 3 questions (15% of the qualification)
Probability — 2 questions (7.5% of the qualification)
Statistics — 1 question (7.5% of the qualification)

Where an area has fewer printable questions than its share, the shortfall is filled from the other areas. These are original questions, not past papers.