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 number is divided by 5, then 6 is subtracted, giving the result −1. Work out the number.
- 2.Solve the inequality 3x + 6 ≤ 0.
- 3.A fruit bowl contains 9 apples and 21 oranges. Write down the ratio of apples to oranges in its simplest form.
- 4.A straight line crosses a pair of parallel lines. One of the co-interior (allied) angles is 118°. Work out the size of the other co-interior angle.
- 5.Spinner P and Spinner Q are each fair and have 5 equal sections, numbered 1 to 5. Both spinners are spun once, and every outcome is listed as an ordered pair, Spinner P then Spinner Q, such as (2, 4). Work out how many of the outcomes have the score on Spinner P less than the score on Spinner Q.
- 6.On a scatter graph of the age of a car, in years, and its value, in pounds, the points fall from left to right. Write down the type of correlation shown.
- 7.Simplify 5⁻² × 5⁴, giving your answer as a single power of 5.
- 8.Solve the inequality 5 − x ≤ 2.
- 9.A plan is drawn to a scale of 1 : 500. Work out how many metres are represented by 1 cm on the plan.
- 10.A map has a scale of 1 : 25000. A distance between two points measures 2 cm on the map. What is the real distance, in kilometres?
- 11.180 people entered a fun run. A frequency tree splits them into 108 adults and the rest children. It then splits each of those groups into those who finished and those who did not. 99 of the adults finished, and 153 of the 180 people finished altogether. Work out how many children did not finish.
- 12.A fabric is dyed blue and yellow in the ratio 3 : 5. A tailor uses 1.5 m of blue fabric and the matching amount of yellow fabric needed for the ratio. Work out the total length of fabric used.
- 13.Which of these points lies in the first quadrant?
- 14.A class has 28 pupils. 16 of the pupils are girls and the rest are boys. Write the ratio of girls to boys in its simplest form.
- 15.A surveyor is marking out field ABCD for a new crop. The plan states that side AB is parallel to side DC, but AB and DC are not equal in length, and sides BC and AD are not parallel to each other. Which term correctly describes the shape of field ABCD?
- 16.The distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384,000 km. Write this distance in standard form, in kilometres.
- 17.The solution set of an inequality is x ≥ 7. Write down the value that does NOT satisfy this inequality.
- 18.A jug holds 2 litres. Given that 1 litre = 1000 cm³, work out the capacity of the jug in cm³.
- 19.A charity bake sale sells 187 cakes at £2.95 each. By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, work out an estimate for the total amount raised.
- 20.The price of a cycling helmet rises from £80 to £116. Work out the percentage increase.
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.