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.Two bags of mixed nuts are combined. Bag A has peanuts and cashews in the ratio 2 : 3. Bag B has peanuts and cashews in the ratio 1 : 4. Both bags contain the same total number of nuts. Work out the fraction of the combined mixture that is peanuts.
(a)3/5
(b)3/10
(c)1/10
(d)1/5
2.Write down the expression that means the same as w ÷ 6.
(a)6w
(b)6/w
(c)w/6
(d)w − 6
3.Write the ratio 2/3 : 1/2 as a ratio of whole numbers, in its simplest form.
(a)4:3
(b)2:3
(c)3:4
(d)1:2
4.Write down the exact value of cos 60°.
(a)0
(b)1
(c)1/2
(d)1/3
5.Two pupils each flip the same coin to estimate the probability of heads. Leah flips it 40 times and gets 24 heads. Ben flips it 60 times and gets 33 heads. By combining both pupils' results, work out the relative frequency of heads, giving your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/5
(b)57/100
(c)11/20
(d)23/40
6.A dual bar chart shows the number of hours of rain recorded in Leeds and in Bristol on each of four days. Leeds: Monday 3 hours, Tuesday 5 hours, Wednesday 2 hours, Thursday 4 hours. Bristol: Monday 4 hours, Tuesday 4 hours, Wednesday 6 hours, Thursday 2 hours. Work out the greatest amount, in hours, by which Bristol's rainfall exceeded Leeds's rainfall on a single day.
(a)1
(b)4
(c)2
(d)6
7.The attendance at a football match is 23,000, correct to the nearest thousand. Which of these attendances is not possible for the match?
(a)23,499
(b)22,500
(c)23,000
(d)23,600
8.The diagram shows the graph of a straight line, drawn on a grid numbered from −5 to 5 on both axes. Which equation could represent the line?
(a) $y = 2 x + 1$
(b) $y = - 2 x - 1$
(c) $y = x - 1$
(d) $y = 2 x - 1$
9.Two mathematically similar polygons have perimeters in the ratio 2 : 5. Write the ratio of their areas in its simplest form.
(a)8 : 125
(b)4 : 25
(c)4 : 5
(d)2 : 5
10.A triangular prism has a cross-section that is a triangle with a base of 3.5 cm and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. The prism is 10 cm long. Work out the volume of the prism.
(a)7 cm³
(b)70 cm³
(c)35 cm³
(d)140 cm³
11.A drawing pin is dropped many times and lands either point up or point down. The relative frequency of landing point up is recorded as the experiment goes on: after 50 drops it is 0.720, after 200 drops it is 0.665, and after 1000 drops it is 0.638. The pin is to be dropped a further 2000 times. Work out the best estimate of the number of times it will land point up.
(a)1276
(b)1330
(c)1440
(d)1348
12.Tickets to a theme park cost £38.50 for an adult and £19.75 for a child. A family estimates the total cost for 4 adults and 3 children, by rounding each ticket price to the nearest £5. Work out their estimate for the total cost.
(a)£160
(b)£220
(c)£213.25
(d)£200
13.The formula for converting a distance in miles, m, to kilometres, k, is k = 8m ÷ 5. Work out k when m = 10.
(a)16
(b)80
(c)18
(d)6.25
14.Order these three values from smallest to largest: 3/8, 0.43, 41%.
(a)3/8, 41%, 0.43
(b)0.43, 41%, 3/8
(c)3/8, 0.43, 41%
(d)41%, 0.43, 3/8
15.A solid is built from five centimetre cubes, standing side by side on a table in a single straight row. Looking down from directly above (the plan view), how many squares are visible?
(a)5
(b)25
(c)10
(d)1
16.Estimate the value of √45, giving your answer to the nearest whole number.
(a)2,025
(b)7
(c)6
(d)22.5
17.Expand and simplify (x − 3)²
(a)x² + 6x + 9
(b)x² − 9
(c)x² − 3x + 9
(d)x² − 6x + 9
18.Write 3/4 as a percentage.
(a)133%
(b)34%
(c)0.75%
(d)75%
19.Work out the value of 2⁻²
(a)4
(b)−4
(c)1/4
(d)−1/4
20.Simplify the ratio 12 : 18 : 30 to its simplest form.
(a)3:2:5
(b)4:6:10
(c)6:9:15
(d)2:3:5

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.