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 cinema has 21 rows of seats with 29 seats in each row. Work out an estimate for the number of people the cinema can hold, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
- 2.Solve the inequality x + 5 < 12.
- 3.An acid solution has a concentration of 20%. The solution contains 40 g of acid, and the rest of the solution is water. Work out the mass of water in the solution.
- 4.The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 1980°. Work out the number of sides of the polygon.
- 5.An ordinary six-sided dice, numbered 1 to 6, is rolled 30 times and lands on a 6 seven times. Ravi says the theoretical probability of rolling a 6 and the relative frequency of rolling a 6 in this trial are the same number. Is Ravi right?
- 6.Four pairs of variables are listed below. Write down the pair that you would expect to show negative correlation.
- 7.Write the fraction 3/4 as a decimal.
- 8.x = 5. Work out the value of 3x² − 4.
- 9.A map's scale is given as '1 cm represents 2 km'. Write this scale in the form 1 : n.
- 10.A square has sides of length 7 cm. Work out its area.
- 11.120 members of a sports club were asked whether they play football or netball; each member plays exactly one of the two sports. 70 of the members are male. 45 of the male members play football. 38 of the female members play netball. Work out how many female members play football.
- 12.Round 3.947 to 2 decimal places.
- 13.Meera writes the statement 3(x + 4) = 3x + 12. Which of these correctly describes what she has written, with a reason?
- 14.A post 2 metres tall casts a shadow 3 metres long. At the same time a nearby tree casts a shadow 12 metres long. Work out the height of the tree.
- 15.A plan of a car park is drawn to a scale of 1 : 500. A parking bay is drawn as a rectangle measuring 1.2 cm by 0.6 cm. The real width of the bay corresponds to the 0.6 cm side. What is the real width of the bay, in metres?
- 16.A box holds 140 pens. 25% of the pens are red. Work out how many of the pens are red.
- 17.The solution to an inequality is n ≤ 5. Write down the largest integer value of n that satisfies this inequality.
- 18.A jug holds 3 litres of a drink that is 60% fruit juice. 1 litre of water is added to the jug. Work out the percentage of the new mixture that is fruit juice.
- 19.Write the fraction 9/25 as a decimal.
- 20.A vegetable patch is divided between carrots, potatoes and onions in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. Write down the fraction of the patch used for potatoes.
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.