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.On one night in Manchester the temperature at 3 am was 8 °C below zero and at 9 am it was 3 °C below zero. Write down the warmer of the two readings.
- 2.Which of these equations is equivalent to 5x − 2 = 3x + 8?
- 3.x × y is used to test whether two quantities are in inverse proportion. For the pairs x = 4, y = 15 and x = 6, y = 10, which statement is correct?
- 4.Work out the exact value of (cos 45°)² + (sin 45°)².
- 5.A small pack contains 5 cards, numbered 1 to 5. One card is drawn at random from the pack, and a fair coin is flipped. Every outcome is listed as a pair, such as (3, H). Work out how many equally likely outcomes there are in total.
- 6.A scatter graph of the number of ice creams sold at a seaside kiosk in Bournemouth and the number of sunburn cases treated at a nearby pharmacy, recorded on the same 30 days, shows strong positive correlation. Which statement about this correlation is correct?
- 7.A grain of fine sand has a mass of 0.001 grams. Write this mass in standard form.
- 8.A cyclist's distance-time graph shows the following: she travels 12 km in the first 30 minutes at a steady speed, then rests for 30 minutes, then travels a further 8 km in the next 15 minutes. Work out her average speed, in km/h, for the whole journey.
- 9.Two scale plans of the same football pitch are drawn: Plan A has a scale of 1 : 1000 and Plan B has a scale of 1 : 200. A pitch length is 8 cm on Plan A. Work out the length of the same pitch on Plan B, in centimetres.
- 10.A square tile has sides of length 4.5 cm. Work out the perimeter of the tile.
- 11.120 members of a sports club were asked whether they play football or netball; each member plays exactly one of the two sports. 70 of the members are male. 45 of the male members play football. 38 of the female members play netball. Work out how many female members play football.
- 12.In a class, 1/3 of the pupils are girls. There are 12 girls in the class. Work out how many pupils are in the class.
- 13.A pattern is made from tiles. Pattern 1 has 7 tiles, pattern 2 has 11 tiles, pattern 3 has 15 tiles, and pattern 4 has 19 tiles, with each new pattern having 4 more tiles than the one before it. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the number of tiles in pattern n.
- 14.The time taken for a train journey is inversely proportional to the average speed of the train. At an average speed of 60 km/h the journey takes 2 hours. Work out the time taken at an average speed of 40 km/h.
- 15.The diagram shows a prism resting on a table. Which shape is its front elevation, the view looking at it from directly in front?
- 16.A cinema has 250 seats. 12% of the seats are reserved. Work out how many of the seats are reserved.
- 17.A gas company charges a standing charge plus a rate per unit used. The total cost, y in pounds, for using x units is given by y = 0.15x + 20. Work out the cost of using 200 units.y = 0.15x + 20
- 18.A cyclist rides at an average speed of 24 km/h for 1 hour 15 minutes. Work out the distance travelled, in km.
- 19.A lorry travels 105 miles in 1 hour 45 minutes. Work out its average speed in miles per hour.
- 20.A prize fund of £240 is shared between two winners in the ratio 3 : 5. Write the smaller winner's share as a fraction of the whole prize fund.
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.