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 an estimate for 37 × 84, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
- 2.A straight line has gradient 3 and passes through the point (1, 4). Work out the equation of the line.
- 3.Triangle A and triangle B are mathematically similar. A side of triangle A is 5 cm long, and the corresponding side of triangle B is 15 cm long. Write the ratio of the length in triangle A to the length in triangle B in its simplest form.
- 4.A parallelogram has an area of 54 cm² and a base of 9 cm. Work out its perpendicular height.
- 5.A basketball player has a free-throw success probability of 0.75. She wants to expect to score 60 successful free throws. Work out how many free throws she needs to attempt.
- 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.Work out (5 + 2) × 3²
- 8.A straight line has equation y = 4 − 3x. Work out the gradient of the line.
- 9.A table shows three pairs of values: when x = 2, y = 6; when x = 5, y = 15; when x = 8, y = 24. In every pair the ratio y : x is the same. Write down a formula for y in terms of x.
- 10.Which of the following correctly describes what it means for two lines to be perpendicular?
- 11.Two cards are dealt one after the other from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. The first card is not put back before the second is dealt. The pack contains 4 aces. Work out the probability that neither card is an ace. Give your answer as a product of two fractions.
- 12.A café is planning its lunch menu. It will offer one soup from 3 choices and one sandwich from 4 choices, but the mushroom soup, one of the 3 soups, will only be served with the cheese sandwich, one of the 4 sandwiches, on a normal day. Work out how many different soup-and-sandwich combinations are available on a normal day.
- 13.Write down the gradient of the line with equation y = 6 + 4x.
- 14.Simplify the ratio 12 : 18 : 30 to its simplest form.
- 15.A recipe uses 1.25 kg of flour. Work out how many grams of flour this is.
- 16.Write these numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 5, −8, 0, −3, 2
- 17.Simplify 5a/6 − a/3
- 18.In a test, Amelia answered 18 of the 24 questions correctly. Work out the percentage of the questions she answered correctly.
- 19.In the number 3.472, work out the value of the digit 7.
- 20.A ratio is 3 : 5. Write the first part of the ratio as a fraction of the whole.
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.