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.In standard form, 2,000 is written as 2 × 10ⁿ. Write down the value of n.
- 2.Solve 3x − 1 = 8
- 3.A salt solution has a concentration of 10%. The solution contains 50 g of salt. Work out the total mass of the solution.
- 4.A triangle has vertices A(0, 0), B(10, 0) and C(5, 12). Work out the area of the triangle.
- 5.In a game, Zara says the probability of scoring is 3/8, the probability of missing is 5/12 and the probability of a rebound is 1/6, and that these are the only three outcomes. Is Zara correct that her three probabilities are valid?
- 6.A Year 10 class has 20 boys with a mean height of 150 cm and 10 girls with a mean height of 168 cm. Work out the mean height of all 30 pupils in the class.
- 7.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
- 8.A straight line has equation y = 5x. Work out the value of y when x = 3.y = 5x
- 9.Write the ratio 0.75 : 2 as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
- 10.Write down the term for the distance all the way around the edge of a circle.
- 11.At a quiz night, each team's result is a win, a draw or a loss, and no team can have more than one of these results. The probability that a team wins is 42% and the probability that a team draws is 18.5%. Work out the probability, as a percentage, that a team does not win and does not draw.
- 12.Work out an estimate for 397 ÷ 21, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
- 13.Solve 3x − 5 = 4.
- 14.A smoothie recipe combines 350 cm³ of mango juice with 650 cm³ of orange juice. Work out the total volume of the smoothie in litres.
- 15.A patio plan states: 'Side AB of the patio is parallel to side DC, and AB is longer than DC. Sides BC and AD are not parallel to each other and are not equal in length.' The four sides measure AB = 5.1 m, BC = 3.2 m, DC = 2.8 m and AD = 4.5 m. The tiler needs to order edging strip only for the sides that are not parallel to any other side. What total length of edging strip, in metres, should the tiler order?
- 16.Work out √25 + 4² − 12 ÷ 3
- 17.The formula for the perimeter of a square is P = 4s, where s is the side length. Make s the subject of the formula.
- 18.Write 350 ml : 1.4 l as a ratio in its simplest form.
- 19.A charity bake sale sells 187 cakes at £2.95 each. By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, work out an estimate for the total amount raised.
- 20.A recipe needs 1.2 kg of flour. Dan has 750 g of flour in his cupboard. Write the mass of flour the recipe needs as a fraction of the mass of flour Dan has. Give your answer in its simplest form.
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.