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.Round 24,681 to the nearest 1,000.
- 2.On Monday, a runner covers 15 km in 2.5 hours. On Tuesday, she covers 12 km in 1.5 hours. Using the formula speed = distance ÷ time, work out on which day she ran faster, and by how much.
- 3.Write 3 hours 45 minutes as a decimal number of hours.
- 4.A is the point (1, 3) and B is the point (7, 3). Work out the coordinates of the midpoint of AB.
- 5.Oliver flips three fair coins at the same time. Work out the probability that exactly two of the three coins land on heads.
- 6.A pie chart of the favourite hobby of a group of pupils has three sectors: reading 50%, sport 25% and music 25%. Write down, as a fraction in its simplest form, the share of the pie chart taken up by the reading sector.
- 7.A coach journey has a 55 minute first leg, a 20 minute break and a 40 minute second leg. The coach leaves at 13:25. Work out the arrival time, using the 24-hour clock.
- 8.A table of values is being drawn for the graph of y = x³. Work out the value of y when x = −2.y = x
- 9.A section of a kitchen wall has an area of 45,000 cm². Work out the area of this section in m².
- 10.a is the column vector with top number 3 and bottom number −2. b is the column vector with top number −1 and bottom number 5. Work out 2a + b, giving your answer as a column vector in the form (top, bottom).
- 11.On a probability scale from 0 to 1, five descriptions are used: impossible (0), unlikely (between 0 and 0.5), evens (exactly 0.5), likely (between 0.5 and 1) and certain (1). The probability that a particular bus is late is 3/8. Which description best fits this probability?
- 12.Simplify 3² ÷ 3⁵, giving your answer as a single power of 3.
- 13.Meera writes the statement 3(x + 4) = 3x + 12. Which of these correctly describes what she has written, with a reason?
- 14.A parcel has a mass of 2400 g. Given that 1 kg = 1000 g, work out the mass of the parcel in kilograms.
- 15.A trundle wheel has a diameter of 0.5 m. It is rolled along the ground and makes 20 complete turns. Using π = 3.14, work out the total distance rolled, in metres.
- 16.A semicircle has a diameter of 8 cm. Work out the exact area of the semicircle, in terms of π.
- 17.Solve the inequality 2(3x − 1) ≥ 4x + 8.
- 18.A hosepipe fills a paddling pool at a constant rate. The volume of water in the pool increases by 15 litres every 3 minutes. Write down the gradient of the graph of volume against time.
- 19.Which statement about the number 91 is correct?
- 20.A scale drawing of a playground is drawn to a scale of 1 : 300. A slide measures 4 cm on the drawing. Work out the real length of the slide, in centimetres.
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.