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.A concert hall has 300 seats. 20% of the seats are in the balcony. Work out how many of the seats are in the balcony.
- 2.Write down the expression that means the same as m² × m × 3.
- 3.Write the ratio 5 : 8 in the form 1 : n.
- 4.Two angles lie on a straight line. One angle is 118°. Which reason correctly explains why the other angle is 62°?
- 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 age, in years, and the score in a reaction test are recorded for eight members of a sports club: (14, 92), (18, 88), (23, 85), (27, 80), (31, 78), (36, 74), (42, 70), (49, 65). The eight pairs are plotted on a scatter graph. Describe the correlation between age and score.
- 7.Work out √225 ÷ 3.
- 8.The diagram shows two curves drawn on the same grid. Curve A is the graph of . Which equation could represent curve B?
- 9.A necklace uses 22 blue beads and 8 red beads. Write the number of blue beads as a fraction of the number of red beads. Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
- 10.A garden designer describes a flower bed as a shape with four straight sides: exactly one pair of sides is parallel, those two parallel sides are different lengths, and the other two sides are equal in length to each other but not parallel to each other. Which shape should the designer draw?
- 11.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled. Work out the probability that the difference between the two scores is 1.
- 12.Work out (4 × 10⁻³) × (2 × 10⁵). Give your answer in standard form.
- 13.A plumber charges a £40 call-out fee plus £25 for each hour worked. The total charge, £C, for a job lasting h hours is given by C = 40 + 25h. Work out the charge for a job lasting 3 hours, and name what kind of statement C = 40 + 25h is.
- 14.Write 350 ml : 1.4 l as a ratio in its simplest form.
- 15.A triangular bunting flag has two equal sides. The angle between those two equal sides is 80°, and the other two angles of the flag are equal to each other. Work out the size of each of the two equal angles.
- 16.A circle has a radius of 5 cm. Work out the exact circumference of the circle, in terms of π.
- 17.Six years ago Harry was three times as old as his brother Leo. Harry is now 24 years old. Work out Leo's age now.
- 18.A bottle contains 1.5 litres of juice. Given that 1 litre = 1000 ml, work out the capacity of the bottle in millilitres.
- 19.Work out the value of 2⁻⁴
- 20.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.
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.