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.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
- 2.Solve 6x + 4 = 28
- 3.A straight line passes through the points (1, 20) and (5, 8). Work out the gradient of the line.
- 4.A regular polygon has an interior angle of 156°. Work out the number of sides of the polygon.
- 5.A = {factors of 12} and B = {factors of 18}. Work out n(A ∩ B), the number of elements in both sets.
- 6.A pictogram shows the number of cars sold by a garage in Plymouth each month, where each whole car symbol represents 8 cars sold and a half symbol represents 4 cars. March shows 3 whole symbols and one half symbol. Work out how many cars were sold in March.
- 7.Work out (−2)³ + (−3)² − (−4)
- 8.A formula is F = 4s. A pupil says that when s = 5 the value of F is 9, because they added 4 and 5 instead of multiplying. Work out the correct value of F when s = 5.
- 9.A parcel of flour has a mass of 750 g. A sack of flour has a mass of 4 kg. Write the mass of the parcel as a fraction of the mass of the sack. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 10.A parallelogram has an area of 54 cm² and a base of 9 cm. Work out its perpendicular height.
- 11.The probability that Amelia's bus is late on a school morning is 9/10. Write this probability as a percentage.
- 12.Simplify 2³ × 2⁴, giving your answer as a single power of 2.
- 13.Two expressions are 4(x + 3) and 4x + 3. A student checks whether they are equivalent by substituting x = 2. Which statement correctly interprets the result?
- 14.In a bag the ratio of red counters to blue counters is 7 : 4. Write the number of red counters as a fraction of the number of blue counters.
- 15.Two similar flags have widths in the ratio 2 : 5. The width of the smaller flag is 8 cm. Work out the width of the larger flag.
- 16.A car travels 180 km using 6 litres of fuel. Work out the car's fuel consumption in kilometres per litre, then work out how many kilometres it can travel on a full tank of 12 litres at this rate.
- 17.Which expression is equivalent to 2(x + 6)?
- 18.£5000 is invested in an account paying 4% compound interest each year. Work out the total interest earned after 3 years.
- 19.A quarter-circle has a radius of 6 cm. Work out the exact perimeter of the quarter-circle, giving your answer in terms of π.
- 20.A spring's extension is directly proportional to the force applied to it. A force of 5 N produces an extension of 12 mm. Work out the extension produced by a force of 20 N.
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.