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.Zoe worked out 3/8 + 1/8 by adding the numerators and the denominators, and got 4/16. Work out the correct value of 3/8 + 1/8, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 2.A geometric sequence starts at 3, and each term after that is found by multiplying the term before it by 2. Write down the first four terms.
- 3.A recipe for 8 people needs 320 g of rice. Sanjay scales the recipe down to serve 5 people, then wants to scale his new amount back up to serve 8 people again. Work out the multiplier he should use to scale his amount for 5 people back up to the amount for 8 people.
- 4.Two circles are drawn with the same centre but different radii. Write down the term used to describe this pair of circles.
- 5.A raffle at a school fair sells 500 tickets. Mia buys 25 of the tickets. One ticket is drawn at random to win the prize. Work out the probability that Mia wins the raffle. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 6.A sports club has 300 women members and 200 men members, 500 members in total. The club committee wants to choose a sample of 40 members that is in proportion to the club's membership. Work out how many women should be in the sample.
- 7.Which of these is equal to 5³?
- 8.Matchsticks are laid out as a row of squares, with each new square sharing a side with the square before it. The first square uses 4 matchsticks and every extra square uses 3 more. Work out how many matchsticks a row of 4 squares uses.
- 9.Two quantities x and y are in direct proportion. When x = 8, the value of y is 20. Work out the value of y when x = 14.
- 10.Triangle ABC has AB = 8 cm, BC = 10 cm and CA = 6 cm. Triangle LMN has LM = 10 cm, MN = 6 cm and NL = 8 cm. The two triangles are congruent by SSS. Which of the following correctly matches the corresponding vertices?
- 11.A biased spinner is spun 40 times and lands on red 16 times. It is then spun a further 60 times and lands on red 21 times. Work out the best estimate of the probability that the spinner lands on red, using the results of all 100 spins together.
- 12.A concert hall has 300 seats. 20% of the seats are in the balcony. Work out how many of the seats are in the balcony.
- 13.A point lies on the y-axis. What can be said about the x-coordinate of that point?
- 14.y is directly proportional to x, and y = 7x. Work out the value of x when y = 35.y = 7x
- 15.Point A and point B are 5 cm apart. How many points are exactly 4 cm from A and exactly 3 cm from B?
- 16.Write 0.06 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 17.A straight line passes through the points (2, 7) and (5, 16). Work out the value of y when x = 0.
- 18.Which of these ratios is equivalent to 5 : 4?
- 19.A shape is made by joining a rectangle measuring 10 cm by 6 cm to a semicircle of diameter 6 cm along one of the rectangle's shorter sides. Work out the exact area of the shape, in terms of π.
- 20.A cyclist travels d kilometres in t hours. Write down an expression, in terms of d and t, for the cyclist's average speed in km/h.
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.