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.Put these three numbers in order of size, starting with the smallest: 3/8, 0.4, 0.35
(a)0.35, 3/8, 0.4
(b)3/8, 0.35, 0.4
(c)0.4, 3/8, 0.35
(d)0.35, 0.4, 3/8
2.Solve 2x² − 32 = 0.
(a)x = 8
(b)x = 4
(c)x = 16
(d)x = 4 or x = −4
3.A map has a scale of 2 cm : 5 km. A footpath measures 8 cm on the map. Work out the real length of the footpath, in kilometres.
(a)3.2 km
(b)20 km
(c)40 km
(d)5 km
4.A rectangular tile measures 4.5 cm by 6 cm. Work out the area of the tile.
(a)10.5 cm²
(b)21 cm²
(c)27 cm²
(d)30 cm²
5.On a probability scale from 0 to 1, the points impossible (0), unlikely (0.25), evens (0.5) and certain (1) are marked. An event has a probability of 0.3. Between which two neighbouring marked points does 0.3 lie?
(a)evens and certain
(b)impossible and evens
(c)impossible and unlikely
(d)unlikely and evens
6.Priya wants to find out the favourite sport of the 900 pupils at her school. She asks 5 pupils, chosen at random. Give a reason why her sample may not give a reliable result.
(a)5 pupils are far too few to represent 900 pupils
(b)A sample must hold at least half of the population
(c)5 pupils were not chosen at random from the 900
(d)The 5 pupils may each name a different sport
7.Work out 5⁰ + 5¹ + 5²
(a)125
(b)30
(c)31
(d)35
8.Solve 2x − 2 = 2
(a)x = 2
(b)x = 8
(c)x = 0
(d)x = 4
9.A room is drawn on a plan with a scale of 1 : 200. On the plan the room has an area of 12 cm². Work out the real area of the room, in square metres.
(a)4800 m²
(b)48 m²
(c)24 m²
(d)2400 m²
10.A pop-up canopy has two sloping supports that meet at the top. Each support makes an angle of 30° with the ground and is 6 m long. Using the exact value of cos 30°, work out the total width of the canopy's base.
(a)3√3 m
(b)6√3 m
(c)12 m
(d)6 m
11.Two sets, A and B, sit inside a universal set. A region of a Venn diagram is described by the notation A ∩ B′. Work out which of these describes that region.
(a)The elements that are in both A and B
(b)The elements that are in B but not in A
(c)The elements that are in A but not in B
(d)The elements that are in neither A nor B
12.Work out an estimate for 6.4 × 3.9, by rounding each number to the nearest whole number.
(a)18
(b)25
(c)24
(d)28
13.y = x + 10. Work out the value of y when x = 0.
y = x + 10
(a)0
(b)10
(c)11
(d)−10
14.Write the ratio 20 : 30 in its simplest form.
(a)4:6
(b)3:2
(c)2:30
(d)2:3
15.a is the column vector with top number 3 and bottom number −2. Work out 4a, giving your answer as a column vector in the form (top, bottom).
(a)(7, 2)
(b)(12, −8)
(c)(3, −8)
(d)(12, −2)
16.The mass of a parcel is 3 kg, correct to the nearest kilogram. Which of these masses is not possible for the parcel?
(a)3.49 kg
(b)2.50 kg
(c)3.50 kg
(d)2.90 kg
17.Make x the subject of the formula y = 4(x − 6).
(a)x = 4y + 96
(b)x = (y + 6)/4
(c)x = (y + 24)/4
(d)x = y/4 − 6
18.A jumper normally costs £45. In a sale it is reduced by 20%. Work out the sale price, then write the sale price as a fraction of the normal price. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(a)1/5
(b)5/9
(c)4/5
(d)6/5
19.A pizza is cut into 12 equal slices. Ben eats 5 slices and Mia eats 3 slices. What fraction of the pizza is left, giving your answer in its simplest form?
(a)1/3
(b)2/3
(c)1/2
(d)7/12
20.A journey takes 4 hours at an average speed of 60 km/h. The time taken is inversely proportional to the average speed. Work out how long the same journey takes at an average speed of 80 km/h.
(a)4 hours
(b)2 hours 40 minutes
(c)3 hours
(d)5 hours 20 minutes

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.