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 total cost of 3 pens at 45p each and one notebook at £2.35. Give your answer in pounds.
- 2.Write down the coordinates of the point where the line y = 2x + 4 crosses the y-axis.y = 2x + 4
- 3.A straight line passes through the points (1, 20) and (5, 8). Work out the gradient of the line.
- 4.A garden flower bed is in the shape of a trapezium. Its two parallel edges are 3.5 m and 6.5 m long, and the perpendicular distance between them is 4 m. Bedding plants cost £2.50 per square metre to cover the bed. Work out the total cost of the bedding plants.
- 5.A bag contains 20 counters. 8 of the counters are red and 12 are blue. A counter is taken at random, its colour is recorded, and it is put back in the bag. This is done 150 times. Work out how many red counters you would expect to be recorded.
- 6.On a scatter graph of the arm span and the height of some pupils, the points rise from left to right. Write down the type of correlation this shows.
- 7.A rectangular patio measures 90 cm by 120 cm. Ben wants to cover it exactly with identical square tiles, as large as possible, with no tiles cut. Work out the side length of the largest square tile he can use.
- 8.The formula for converting a distance in miles, m, to kilometres, k, is k = 8m ÷ 5. Work out k when m = 10.
- 9.A colony of bacteria has 400 bacteria. The number increases by 15% each hour. Work out the number of bacteria after 1 hour.
- 10.A cylinder has a volume of 942 cm³ and a height of 12 cm. Using π = 3.14, work out the radius of the cylinder.
- 11.A bag contains 4 red counters and 6 blue counters. A counter is taken at random, its colour noted, and it is put back in the bag before a second counter is taken at random. Work out the probability that the two counters are different colours. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 12.Write down the symbol that makes this statement true: 0.45 ___ 0.5
- 13.A company's profit is £500 in its first year. Each year after that, the profit is £300 more than the year before. Work out the profit in the company's 6th year.
- 14.Butter costs £2.40 per kg. Work out the cost of the butter in pence per 100 g.
- 15.A trapezium has parallel sides of length 6 cm and 10 cm, and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. Work out its area.
- 16.Write these fractions in order, starting with the smallest: 2/3, 3/5, 5/6, 1/2
- 17.Here are the first four terms of an arithmetic sequence: 5, 9, 13, 17. Work out the 5th term.
- 18.The number of members of a running club increases from 45 to 54. Work out the percentage increase.
- 19.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
- 20.A map's scale is given as '1 cm represents 2 km'. 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.