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)
MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk
- 1.A fruit bowl contains apples, pears and plums in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5. What fraction of the fruit are not plums?
- 2.A rectangular garden has width w metres and length (w + 3) metres. A gardener writes its perimeter as 2w + 3. Which statement corrects the gardener's mistake?
- 3.In one batch of shortbread, a bakery uses 240 g of butter and 160 g of sugar. Another batch, made in the same ratio, uses 90 g of sugar. Work out how much butter is needed for the second batch.
- 4.The cross-section of a tent is an isosceles triangle. The angle at the top, between the two equal sloping sides, is 62°. The other two angles are equal to each other. Work out the size of each of those two angles.
- 5.The probability that Priya scores with a netball shot is 3/4. She takes two shots, and the shots are independent. Work out the probability that she scores with her first shot but misses her second shot.
- 6.Four pairs of variables are listed below. Write down the pair that you would expect to show no correlation.
- 7.Four weather stations each recorded their lowest overnight temperature. Which of these readings is the lowest?
- 8.The first four terms of a sequence are 18, 15, 12, 9. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
- 9.£2000 is invested in a savings account that pays 5% compound interest each year. Work out the value of the investment at the end of 2 years.
- 10.A solid has 6 faces: one pentagon and five triangles that all meet at a single point above the pentagon. What is the name of this solid?
- 11.In a survey of 45 students, 22 said they like reading, 18 said they like gaming, and 6 said they like both. Work out how many students like exactly one of reading or gaming.
- 12.Write 0.25 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 13.The formula for the circumference of a circle is C = 2πr, where r is the radius. Make r the subject of the formula.
- 14.A cyclist rides 30 km in 1 hour 30 minutes. Work out the average speed of the cyclist in km/h.
- 15.A trapezium has parallel sides of 5 cm and 11 cm, and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. Work out the area of the trapezium.
- 16.In a classroom the ratio of boys to girls is 3 : 4. What fraction of the class are boys?
- 17.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?y = -2x² + 5
- 18.A textbook is reduced from £60 to £45. Work out the percentage reduction.
- 19.A supermarket sells apples at £1.85 per kg. Anna buys 3.6 kg of apples. Estimate the cost by rounding each number to 1 significant figure before multiplying. Work out Anna's estimate.
- 20.1 litre = 100 centilitres. Work out how many centilitres there are in 6 litres.
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.