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

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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.Work out 6² − 4².
(a)2
(b)52
(c)20
(d)4
2.Solve 5x + 2 = 17.
(a)3
(b)3.8
(c)15
(d)1.4
3.Write 2 m : 150 cm : 50 cm as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
(a)4:3:1
(b)4:3:2
(c)2:150:50
(d)3:4:1
4.The angle between north and a footpath is 35°, measured clockwise from north. What is the three-figure bearing of the footpath?
(a)035°
(b)325°
(c)350°
(d)215°
5.A spinner is spun 50 times. It lands on green 18 times. Work out the relative frequency of landing on green.
(a)0.36
(b)0.18
(c)0.64
(d)0.036
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.
(a)12 mm
(b)3 mm
(c)15 mm
(d)10 mm
7.Write 0.36 as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)36/10
(b)9/25
(c)9/50
(d)3/10
8.A ramp rises 3 m over a horizontal distance of 12 m. Work out the gradient of the ramp.
(a)0.25
(b)4
(c)9
(d)36
9.The ratio of the number of pages Mia has read to the number of pages Leo has read is 7 : 4. Mia has read 84 pages. Work out how many pages they have read altogether.
(a)147
(b)231
(c)48
(d)132
10.A bearing is described as being exactly halfway between north and east, measured clockwise. What is the three-figure bearing?
(a)090°
(b)045°
(c)225°
(d)135°
11.A fair four-sided dice, numbered 1 to 4, is rolled twice. Every outcome is listed as an ordered pair, first roll then second roll, such as (2, 3). Work out how many different outcomes are in the list.
(a)16
(b)8
(c)10
(d)4
12.A student writes 0.08 as the fraction 8/10, reading the 8 as if it stood in the tenths column and ignoring the zero. Work out the correct fraction that 0.08 is equal to, giving your answer in its simplest form.
(a)25/2
(b)1/125
(c)4/5
(d)2/25
13.Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14. Work out the 8th term.
(a)20
(b)26
(c)24
(d)23
14.The ratio of cats to dogs in a shelter is 3:4. There are 18 cats. Work out the total number of animals in the shelter.
(a)42
(b)126
(c)25
(d)24
15.Point C is at (5, 2). It is reflected in the x-axis. Work out the coordinates of the image of point C.
(a)(−5, 2)
(b)(5, −2)
(c)(2, 5)
(d)(−5, −2)
16.A number is divided by 5, then 6 is subtracted, giving the result −1. Work out the number.
(a)25
(b)−5
(c)1
(d)−35
17.Factorise x² − 3x − 10.
(a)(x − 10)(x + 1)
(b)(x − 5)(x + 2)
(c)(x + 5)(x − 2)
(d)(x − 5)(x − 2)
18.A rectangle has its height and its width in the ratio 3:2. The height of the rectangle is 18 cm. Work out the width of the rectangle.
(a)17 cm
(b)12 cm
(c)27 cm
(d)6 cm
19.Round 592.5 to the nearest 10.
(a)600
(b)500
(c)590
(d)595
20.The ratio of two lengths is 0.6 : 1.5. Write this ratio in its simplest whole-number form.
(a)1:2
(b)3:5
(c)6:15
(d)2:5

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.