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 coach journey has a 55 minute first leg, a 20 minute break and a 40 minute second leg. The coach leaves at 13:25. Work out the arrival time, using the 24-hour clock.
- 2.Work out the distance of the point (−6, 4) from the x-axis.
- 3.£96 is shared between Ben, Cara and Dev in the ratio 2:3:7. Work out how much Cara receives.
- 4.Triangle ABC has AB = 6 cm, BC = 8 cm and angle B = 90°. Triangle XYZ has XY = 6 cm, YZ = 8 cm and angle Y = 90°. Which congruence statement correctly shows the matching vertices?
- 5.A biased spinner is spun 200 times. It lands on red 70 times, on blue 50 times, and on green 80 times. Using these results, work out the expected number of times the spinner does NOT land on red, in 500 spins of the same spinner.
- 6.In a vertical line chart of test results, the tallest line stands for 40 pupils. The same results are to be shown in a pie chart of all 100 pupils. Work out the angle at the centre of the sector that will stand for those 40 pupils.
- 7.Is 120 divisible by 5? Give a reason for your answer.
- 8.Make p the subject of the formula n = p/3.
- 9.Noah runs 2 km in 10 minutes. Work out how long he takes to run 5 km at the same speed.
- 10.A treasure map has a scale of 1 cm to 4 m. A path from the start to a rock is drawn as two straight sections, measuring 3 cm and 2.5 cm. Work out the total real distance from the start to the rock, in metres.
- 11.A basketball player has a free-throw success probability of 0.75. She wants to expect to score 60 successful free throws. Work out how many free throws she needs to attempt.
- 12.Work out an estimate for 6.8 × 41, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
- 13.Make x the subject of the formula y = 5x + 3.y = 5x + 3
- 14.Two mathematically similar containers have a volume scale factor of 64 (the larger container's volume is 64 times the smaller container's volume). Work out the length scale factor between the two containers.
- 15.A gardener wants to plant a tree so that it is the same distance from two straight garden walls that meet at a corner, and also the same distance from two ornamental posts standing 4 m apart. Which construction locates this point?
- 16.Write down the reciprocal of 0.2
- 17.The perimeter, P, of a rectangle with length l and width w is calculated using P = 2l + 2w. What kind of mathematical statement is P = 2l + 2w?
- 18.3 kg of apples cost £6. Work out the cost of 5 kg of the same apples.
- 19.Work out ⁴√16
- 20.In a bag, the ratio of green counters to yellow counters is 3 : 8. There are 24 yellow counters. A student says, 'There must be 9 green counters.' Is the student correct? Choose the correct verdict and reason.
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.