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.A train leaves Leeds at 14:35. The journey takes 1 hour 50 minutes. Work out the time the train arrives. Give your answer using the 24-hour clock.
- 2.A plumber charges a call-out fee plus an hourly rate for a job. The total cost, £C, for a job lasting h hours is given by the formula C = 40 + 25h. What does the number 40 represent in this formula?
- 3.x × y is used to test whether two quantities are in inverse proportion. For the pairs x = 4, y = 15 and x = 6, y = 10, which statement is correct?
- 4.A solid is built from five centimetre cubes, standing side by side on a table in a single straight row. Looking down from directly above (the plan view), how many squares are visible?
- 5.Four bags each contain counters, some of which are winning counters. The probability of taking a winning counter is 5/12 from the red bag, 3/8 from the blue bag, 7/24 from the green bag and 1/3 from the yellow bag. Work out which bag has the smallest probability of giving a winning counter.
- 6.In a spelling test the 20 pupils in Group A had a mean mark of 80, and the 30 pupils in Group B had a mean mark of 70. Work out the mean mark of all 50 pupils.
- 7.A number, y, is equal to 8.2 when rounded to 1 decimal place. Write down the error interval for y.
- 8.Which of these equations is true for every value of x, making it an identity rather than an equation with just one solution?
- 9.The number of biscuits, b, that each guest at a party receives is inversely proportional to the number of guests, g. Which equation could show this relationship?
- 10.A circle has two straight radii drawn from the centre to the edge, together with the arc between them. Write down the name of the region enclosed by these two radii and the arc.
- 11.A six-sided dice is rolled 12 times. It lands on a six 4 times. Erin says that the dice must be biased. Which of these is the best comment on Erin's statement?
- 12.The density of a type of plastic is 0.9 g/cm³. Work out this density in kg/m³.
- 13.Simplify 2a + 3b − a + 2b − b
- 14.y is directly proportional to x, and y = 7x. Work out the value of x when y = 35.y = 7x
- 15.The midpoint of the line segment AB is (3, 5). A is the point (1, 3). Work out the coordinates of B.
- 16.Work out 5 + 3 × (9 − 6)
- 17.The graph of y = x² − 7x + 2 crosses the x-axis at two points. One root, read from the graph, is approximately x = 0.30. Using the fact that the sum of the two roots of x² − 7x + 2 = 0 is 7, estimate the other root, correct to 2 decimal places.y = x² − 7x + 2
- 18.In a fruit drink, 3/8 of the total volume is orange juice and the rest is apple juice. Write down the ratio of orange juice to apple juice, in its simplest form.
- 19.A cake recipe needs 3/4 of a kilogram of sugar. Aisha wants to make half the recipe. Work out how much sugar she needs, giving your answer as a fraction of a kilogram in its simplest form.
- 20.Butter costs £2.40 per kg. Work out the cost of the butter in pence per 100 g.
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.