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 0.875 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 2.A rectangular field has length (3a + 2) metres and width (a − 1) metres. Write a simplified expression for the perimeter of the field.
- 3.A concert hall has 54 seats in total, of which 24 are reserved and the rest are free. Write the number of free seats as a fraction of the number of reserved seats. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 4.A quadrilateral has angles of 100°, 85° and 95° at three of its vertices. Work out the fourth angle.
- 5.In a class experiment a fair six-sided dice is rolled 60 times and lands on a six 14 times. The whole school then rolls the same fair dice 3000 times. Work out the best estimate of the number of sixes the school should expect.
- 6.Work out the median of these six numbers: 13, 21, 22, 36, 37, 47
- 7.Work out √25 + 4² − 12 ÷ 3
- 8.Write down the expression that means the same as m² × m × 3.
- 9.x is 2/3 of y. Write the ratio x : y in its simplest form.
- 10.Write down the exact value of sin 45°.
- 11.A cinema sold 150 tickets for a Saturday screening. A frequency tree records the sales: 90 of the tickets were bought by adults and the rest by children. Of the adult tickets, 54 were for the 3D showing and the rest were for the standard showing. Work out how many adult tickets were for the standard showing.
- 12.Zoe worked out 3/8 + 1/8 by adding the numerators and the denominators, and got 4/16. Work out the correct value of 3/8 + 1/8, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 13.Work out the value of 5y + 9 when y = 0
- 14.A cyclist travels d kilometres in t hours. Write down an expression, in terms of d and t, for the cyclist's average speed in km/h.
- 15.In this question, a curved surface counts as a face. How many faces does a cone have?
- 16.A concrete mix is made from cement and sand in the ratio 3 : 5 by mass. A builder mixes 96 kg of concrete. Work out the mass of cement in the mix.
- 17.Work out the values of x and y that satisfy both x + y = 10 and x − y = 4.
- 18.The rent on a flat increases by 10% one year and by a further 10% the following year. Work out the overall percentage increase over the two years.
- 19.A metal cube has a mass of 540 g and a volume of 60 cm³. Work out its density in g/cm³.
- 20.A cyclist rides at an average speed of 24 km/h for 1 hour 15 minutes. Work out the distance travelled, in km.
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.