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.Which one of these statements is true?
- 2.Which expression means 'y squared, multiplied by 3'?
- 3.A vegetable patch is divided between carrots, potatoes and onions in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. Write down the fraction of the patch used for potatoes.
- 4.Angle ABC is 130°. The line BF divides angle ABC into two equal parts. Work out the size of angle FBC.
- 5.Spinner A is numbered 1 to 3 and Spinner B is numbered 1 to 5. Both spinners are spun once, and every outcome is listed as a pair, one number from each spinner. Work out how many equally likely outcomes there are in total.
- 6.The rainfall, in millimetres, was recorded in Cambridge on six days: 12, 5, 9, 15, 3 and 11. Work out the range of the rainfall.
- 7.In a classroom the ratio of boys to girls is 3 : 4. What fraction of the class are boys?
- 8.A student says that 5(x + 2) is equivalent to 5x + 2. Which statement explains why the student is wrong?
- 9.A metal has a density of 7.8 g/cm³. Work out the density of the metal in kg/m³.
- 10.A solid has a plan view that is a circle, and a front elevation that is a triangle. Which solid is this?
- 11.A market research company found that, out of 120 shoppers surveyed, 42 preferred paper bags to plastic bags. A supermarket expects 900 shoppers this week. Using this relative frequency, work out how many of the 900 shoppers would be expected to prefer paper bags.
- 12.A tank contains 120 litres of water. Water is drained out at a rate of 8 litres per minute for 6 minutes, and then a hose adds 15 litres. Work out how much water is left in the tank.
- 13.Write down the gradient of the line with equation y = 7x − 2.y = 7x − 2
- 14.A necklace is made using gold beads and silver beads in the ratio 7:3. There are 40 more gold beads than silver beads. Work out the total number of beads in the necklace.
- 15.In triangle ABC and triangle DEF, the angle at A and the angle at D are both 40°, and the angle at B and the angle at E are both 70°. No side lengths are given. Write down whether the two triangles must be similar, with the reason.
- 16.Work out the value of 2⁻²
- 17.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 6, 8, 10. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
- 18.y is directly proportional to x, and y = 3x. Work out the value of y when x = 4.y = 3x
- 19.At a bus station one bus leaves every 6 minutes and another leaves every 9 minutes. The two buses leave together at the start of the day. Work out how long it is until they next leave together.
- 20.A tank is filled at a rate of 3 litres every 2 minutes. Given that 1 litre = 1000 cm³, work out the flow rate in cm³ per minute.
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.