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.Simplify 5⁻² × 5⁴, giving your answer as a single power of 5.
- 2.The point D has coordinates (3, −8). Write down the distance of D from the y-axis.
- 3.In a box of pens, 3/7 of the pens are blue and the rest are black. Write down the ratio of the number of blue pens to the number of black pens, in its simplest form.
- 4.A path goes from A(1, 1) to B(1, 5), then from B to C(6, 5). Work out the total length of the path from A to C.
- 5.A fair six-sided dice is rolled once. Write down the probability of rolling a 6.
- 6.The mean of the four numbers 10, 15, 20 and x is 18. Work out the value of x.
- 7.Insert one pair of brackets into 2 + 3 × 5 − 1 so that the calculation is equal to 24. Which calculation is correct?
- 8.Matchsticks are laid out as a row of squares, with each new square sharing a side with the square before it. The first square uses 4 matchsticks and every extra square uses 3 more. Work out how many matchsticks a row of 4 squares uses.
- 9.A textbook is reduced from £60 to £45. Work out the percentage reduction.
- 10.A furniture catalogue drawing uses a scale of 1 cm to 1.5 m. A sofa in the drawing is measured as 7 cm long. What is the real length of the sofa, in metres?
- 11.A spinner has equal sections, and the probability that it lands on blue in a single spin is 1/4. It is spun twice, and the two spins are independent. Work out the probability that it lands on blue on both spins.
- 12.Estimate the value of √45, giving your answer to the nearest whole number.
- 13.A vertical line passes through the point (4, 7). Write down the equation of this line.
- 14.A fruit bowl contains 9 apples and 21 oranges. Write down the ratio of apples to oranges in its simplest form.
- 15.A triangle has vertices A(1, 1), B(5, 1) and C(5, 4). Work out the lengths of AB, BC and CA, and write down whether triangle ABC is right-angled.
- 16.Work out (4 × 10⁻³) × (2 × 10⁵). Give your answer in standard form.
- 17.Which expression is equivalent to 0.5(4x + 6) − x?
- 18.£1 is worth 1.25 US dollars. Write the ratio of pounds to dollars in its simplest form, using whole numbers.
- 19.In the number 3.472, work out the value of the digit 7.
- 20.A scale drawing states '1 cm represents 25 m'. Which of these is the correct way to write this scale in the form 1 : 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.