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.Write 0.25 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 2.A student solves the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 11 and x − y = 1 by elimination, adding the two equations together. Which of these is the correct result of that step?
- 3.The ratio of the amount of money Harry has to the amount of money Isla has is 5:3. Harry has £35. Work out how much money Isla has.
- 4.A sector of a circle has radius 5 cm and angle 72°. Work out the arc length of the sector, in terms of π.
- 5.A spinner has three equal sections, coloured red, blue and green. It is spun twice, and each outcome is listed as an ordered pair of colours, such as (red, blue). Work out how many outcomes are in the full list.
- 6.A netball team scored 50, 83 and 68 points in three matches. Work out the mean number of points scored.
- 7.Work out 1 1/2 ÷ 3/4 exactly, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 8.A number machine multiplies its input by 3. The output is 15. Work out the input.
- 9.Which of these ratios is equivalent to 6 : 10 : 14?
- 10.A triangular prism has two triangular faces and three rectangular faces. How many vertices does a triangular prism have?
- 11.A factory checked 400 items. A frequency tree splits them into 250 items made by machine A and 150 items made by machine B. On machine A's branch, 15 of the items were faulty. On machine B's branch, 5 of the items were faulty. One of the 400 items is picked at random. Work out the probability that it is faulty. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 12.Hannah works out 3.1 × 19.6 on her calculator and writes down 6.076. Work out an estimate for 3.1 × 19.6, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
- 13.Write down the coordinates of the point that is 4 units to the left of the origin and 7 units up.
- 14.The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:4. Work out the size of the smallest angle.
- 15.A carpenter measures two triangular braces. Brace 1 has a 55° angle, a 65° angle, and, opposite the 55° angle, a side of 8 cm. Brace 2 has matching 55° and 65° angles and, opposite its 55° angle, a side of 8 cm. The carpenter says that because the equal 8 cm side is not between the two equal angles in either brace, he cannot be sure the two braces are the same size. Is the carpenter correct?
- 16.Round 24,681 to the nearest 1,000.
- 17.A sequence has the position-to-term rule n² + 2, where n is the position number. Work out the 6th term.
- 18.The density of a type of wood is 0.8 g/cm³. Work out the mass of a piece of this wood with a volume of 150 cm³.
- 19.A pizza is cut into 12 equal slices. Ben eats 5 slices and Mia eats 3 slices. What fraction of the pizza is left, giving your answer in its simplest form?
- 20.Priya is paid £58.50 for working 7.5 hours on a Saturday. Work out her rate of pay, in £ per hour.
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.