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.Work out −4.5 + 2.8.
- 2.A rule multiplies the input by a fixed number and then adds a fixed number. An input of 1 gives an output of 5, and an input of 3 gives an output of 11. Work out the rule, writing the input as x and the output as y.
- 3.y is inversely proportional to x. When x = 5, y = 8. Work out the value of y when x = 10.
- 4.Shape S is enlarged by a scale factor of 3, centre the origin. A vertex of S is at (2, 1). Work out the coordinates of the image of this vertex.
- 5.A spinner has three equal sections, coloured red, blue and green. It is spun twice, and each outcome is listed as an ordered pair of colours, such as (red, blue). Work out how many outcomes are in the full list.
- 6.A café owner in Brighton records the midday temperature, x °C, and the number of hot chocolates sold, y, on 12 days. The temperatures recorded run from 4 °C to 18 °C, and the line of best fit is y = −3x + 74. The forecast for tomorrow gives a midday temperature of 12 °C. Work out the number the line of best fit predicts, and write down how much confidence the owner can have in it.y = -3x + 74
- 7.Round 0.006482 to 2 significant figures.
- 8.Write down the expression that means the same as m × m × m × n.
- 9.A salt solution has a concentration of 10%. The solution contains 50 g of salt. Work out the total mass of the solution.
- 10.A construction for the perpendicular bisector of AB begins by opening a pair of compasses to more than half the length of AB, then drawing an arc centred at A. What is the next step?
- 11.A bag contains 4 red counters and 6 blue counters. A counter is taken at random, its colour noted, and it is put back in the bag before a second counter is taken at random. Work out the probability that the two counters are different colours. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 12.Write down a prime number between 30 and 40.
- 13.Write down the first four terms of the sequence with nth term 6n − 5.
- 14.A journey to school takes 12 minutes. A journey to the gym takes 20 minutes. Write the time for the journey to school as a fraction of the time for the journey to the gym, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 15.A solid has 6 faces: one pentagon and five triangles that all meet at a single point above the pentagon. What is the name of this solid?
- 16.Simplify (y³)⁴, giving your answer as a single power of y.
- 17.Simplify 5a/6 − a/3
- 18.A graph shows two quantities, x and y, in direct proportion. Write down which statement about the graph must be true.
- 19.Work out 15% of £40, using 10% and 5%.
- 20.A sculptor makes two mathematically similar statues. The smaller statue is 20 cm tall and 80 ml of varnish covers its surface. The larger statue is 50 cm tall. Work out how much varnish is needed to cover the surface of the larger statue.
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.