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)
MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk
- 1.Write 0.45 as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 2.Harry is 14 years old and Mia is 8 years old. Will Harry ever be exactly twice as old as Mia? Give a reason for your answer.
- 3.2.4 kg of cheese costs £36. Work out the cost of 1.5 kg of the same cheese.
- 4.A bottle holds 2 litres of water. A glass holds 250 ml. Work out how many of these glasses can be filled from one full bottle.
- 5.The probability that a plant grown from a seed packet germinates is 7/10. Work out the probability that it does not germinate.
- 6.The mean of the numbers x, 20 and 30 is equal to the mean of the numbers 15 and 25. Work out the value of x.
- 7.A circle has a radius of 5 cm. Work out the exact circumference of the circle, in terms of π.
- 8.Which of these is an identity?
- 9.A graph shows two quantities, x and y, in direct proportion. Write down which statement about the graph must be true.
- 10.A polygon has 9 sides. What is the name of this polygon?
- 11.Two events are independent. The first has probability 2/5 and the second has probability 1/3. Work out the probability that both events happen.
- 12.Work out the highest common factor of 15 and 25.
- 13.Solve 4x + 3 = 19
- 14.1 litre = 100 centilitres. Work out how many centilitres there are in 6 litres.
- 15.A circle has circumference 31.4 cm. Using π = 3.14, work out the radius of the circle.
- 16.A company sells 4 × 10³ items per day, each priced at £2.50. It operates for 3 × 10² days a year. Work out the company's total revenue for the year. Give your answer in standard form.
- 17.A car park charges a £4 fixed fee plus £3 for each hour. Kofi has exactly £25 to spend on parking. Using the inequality 4 + 3h ≤ 25, work out the greatest number of whole hours, h, he can park for.
- 18.A cartographer is choosing a scale for a map to show a small park in as much detail as possible. Which of these scales would show the MOST detail — 1 : 500, 1 : 5000, or 1 : 50 000? Give the correct scale and reason.
- 19.Freya types 4² + 3² into her calculator and writes down 49. Work out the correct value of 4² + 3².
- 20.Ffion is paid £11.20 per hour. She works 6 hours on Monday and 4.5 hours on Tuesday. Work out her total pay for the two days.
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.