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

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.2/3 of an amount of money is £30. Work out the amount.
(a)£15
(b)£45
(c)£20
(d)£90
2.Solve 7x − 5 = 3x + 11
(a)−4
(b)1.5
(c)0.6
(d)4
3.A laptop is bought for £600. Its value decreases by 20% after 1 year. Work out the value of the laptop after 1 year.
(a)£120.00
(b)£580.00
(c)£480.00
(d)£720.00
4.A rectangle has vertices at (2, 1), (9, 1), (9, 5) and (2, 5). Work out the area of the rectangle.
(a)22
(b)28
(c)35
(d)63
5.A pupil must choose 2 different subjects at random from these five: maths, physics, biology, chemistry and history. Work out the probability that the two subjects chosen are maths and biology.
(a)1/15
(b)1/10
(c)1/5
(d)1/4
6.A bar chart shows the highest temperature recorded on each of five days. The temperatures were Monday 20 °C, Tuesday 22 °C, Wednesday 18 °C, Thursday 25 °C and Friday 23 °C. Write down the day on which the temperature was highest.
(a)Wednesday
(b)Monday
(c)Thursday
(d)Friday
7.A piece of ribbon is 2.4 metres long. Kim cuts 40 cm from it. Work out the length of ribbon left, in millimetres.
(a)2800 mm
(b)200 mm
(c)2000 mm
(d)2360 mm
8.Simplify 2b − 1 + 2b − 4 + 2b
(a)6b − 5
(b)6b − 3
(c)6b + 5
(d)8b − 5
9.A watering can holds 4500 cm³ of water. Given that 1 litre = 1000 cm³, work out the capacity of the watering can in litres.
(a)45 litres
(b)0.45 litres
(c)4.5 litres
(d)450 litres
10.A water tank holds 2.5 m³. Work out this volume in cm³.
(a)2500 cm³
(b)2 500 000 cm³
(c)25 000 cm³
(d)250 cm³
11.Kwame flips a fair coin three times and writes down what it lands on each time. Work out the probability that it lands on heads all three times.
(a)1/6
(b)1/2
(c)1/4
(d)1/8
12.Work out (−6) + (−4) × 3
(a)−30
(b)−18
(c)18
(d)6
13.Write down the y-intercept of the line with equation y = 3x + 8.
y = 3x + 8
(a)−8
(b)11
(c)3
(d)8
14.Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 7. Their sum is 60. Work out the positive difference between the two numbers.
(a)80
(b)60
(c)4
(d)24
15.A textbook contains the instruction 'Draw AB' and, on the next line, the statement 'AB = 5 cm'. Which statement about the notation AB is correct?
(a)The length must be written as |AB|, not AB
(b)A different symbol is needed for the length
(c)AB means the segment or its length, shown by context
(d)AB can only mean the segment, never a length
16.Work out the highest common factor of 15 and 25.
(a)75
(b)5
(c)15
(d)3
17.Explain why the equation 4x + 3 = 4x + 10 has no solution for x.
(a)Subtracting 4x gives 3 = 10, which is never true.
(b)x would have to be negative, but x must be positive.
(c)It's true for every x, so there are infinite solutions.
(d)x = 7, since 10 − 3 = 7.
18.Two quantities y and z are each in direct proportion to x, and are given by y = 3x and z = 7x. Work out the difference between the value of y and the value of z when x = 4.
y = 3x
(a)40
(b)16
(c)28
(d)4
19.Work out 35% of 180.
(a)45
(b)63
(c)145
(d)126
20.A worker is paid £13.20 per hour. Work out this rate of pay in pence per minute.
(a)22p
(b)79200p
(c)2.2p
(d)1320p

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.