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%.
Non-calculatorGCSE Foundation
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)
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- 1.Write these three numbers in order of size, starting with the smallest: 0.7, 3/4, 0.72
- 2.A theatre has rows of seats arranged so that row 1 has 12 seats, row 2 has 17 seats, row 3 has 22 seats and row 4 has 27 seats, with each row having 5 more seats than the row before. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the number of seats in row n.
- 3.A cookery class lasts 45 minutes. A double lesson at school lasts 2 hours. Write the length of the cookery class as a fraction of the length of the double lesson. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 4.Vector A is and vector B is . Write down how vector B compares to vector A.
- 5.Jack rolls two ordinary fair dice and adds the two scores together. Work out the probability that the total is 6.
- 6.A scatter graph shows the midday temperature, x °C, and the number of ice creams sold at a seaside kiosk, y. The line of best fit is y = 3x − 20. Give a reason why the y-intercept of this line of best fit is not a sensible estimate of the number of ice creams sold.y = 3x − 20
- 7.Write down the symbol that makes this statement true: 3/10 ___ 0.3
- 8.A sequence has the position-to-term rule 5n − 2, where n is the position number. Which of these is a term in the sequence?
- 9.A graph shows y plotted against x. The graph is a curve that gets closer to both axes but never touches them, and y decreases as x increases. Write down whether this graph could show direct proportion, inverse proportion, or neither.
- 10.The bearing of a harbour B from a ferry's position A is 260°. What is the bearing of A from B?
- 11.An ordinary fair dice is rolled twice. Work out the probability of getting at least one 5.
- 12.Freya uses her calculator to work out 7² and writes down 14. Work out the correct value of 7².
- 13.Work out the value of n² − n when n = −3
- 14.A tray holds 8 muffins and 20 cupcakes. Write the ratio of the number of muffins to the number of cupcakes in its simplest form.
- 15.A dog is tied by a lead 4 m long to a fixed ring on a straight garden wall. The wall extends much further than the lead can reach in both directions, and the dog cannot cross through it. Describe the region the dog can reach.
- 16.A florist has 60 red roses and 84 white roses. She wants to make identical bunches using all the flowers, with the greatest possible number of bunches. Work out how many red roses will be in each bunch.
- 17.Write down the expression that means the same as (x + 7) ÷ 4.
- 18.A cyclist rides at an average speed of 24 km/h for 1 hour 15 minutes. Work out the distance travelled, in km.
- 19.Insert one pair of brackets into 2 + 3 × 5 − 1 so that the calculation is equal to 24. Which calculation is correct?
- 20.A cyclist travels d kilometres in t hours. Write down an expression, in terms of d and t, for the cyclist's average speed in km/h.
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.