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

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

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1.Which of these statements about −0.7 and −0.25 is true?
(a)−0.7 = −0.25
(b)−0.7 < −0.25
(c)−0.7 ≥ −0.25
(d)−0.7 > −0.25
2.Priya says that x = 6 is the solution of the equation 4x + 8 = 24. Priya is wrong. Work out the correct value of x.
(a)12
(b)4
(c)8
(d)16
3.A jumper normally costs £45. In a sale it is reduced by 20%. Work out the sale price, then write the sale price as a fraction of the normal price. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(a)1/5
(b)5/9
(c)4/5
(d)6/5
4.A fish tank is a cuboid measuring 40 cm long, 25 cm wide and 30 cm high. Water is poured in to a depth of 20 cm. Work out the volume of water in the tank, in litres.
(a)20 litres
(b)20000 litres
(c)0.02 litres
(d)30 litres
5.120 members of a sports club were asked whether they play football or netball; each member plays exactly one of the two sports. 70 of the members are male. 45 of the male members play football. 38 of the female members play netball. Work out how many female members play football.
(a)45
(b)38
(c)25
(d)12
6.A bar chart shows the highest temperature recorded on each of five days. The temperatures were Monday 20 °C, Tuesday 22 °C, Wednesday 18 °C, Thursday 25 °C and Friday 23 °C. Write down the day on which the temperature was highest.
(a)Wednesday
(b)Monday
(c)Thursday
(d)Friday
7.Work out ∛(−27) + ∛8
(a)5
(b)−5
(c)−1
(d)−6
8.The graph of y = x² − 5x + 6 crosses the x-axis at two points. By factorising, work out the x-coordinates of these two points.
y = x² − 5x + 6
(a)x = −1 and x = −6
(b)x = 2 and x = −3
(c)x = 2 and x = 3
(d)x = −2 and x = −3
9.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.
(a)8/5
(b)3/5
(c)25/64
(d)5/8
10.A vertical line passes through the point (5, 2). Write down the equation of this line.
(a)x = 2
(b)x = 5
(c)y = 2
(d)y = 5
11.Two games at a school fete are played independently. The probability of winning game X is 3/8. The probability of winning game Y is 0.4. Which statement correctly compares the two games?
(a)Game X — 3/8 has the larger denominator.
(b)Equal — 3/8 rounds to 0.4 to one decimal place.
(c)Game Y — 0.4 is greater than 3/8.
(d)Game X — 3 is greater than 0, the units digit of 0.4.
12.Write 12 as a product of its prime factors.
(a)2² × 3
(b)2 × 3²
(c)2 × 3
(d)2 × 6
13.Which of these is an inequality?
(a)P = 2n + 7
(b)2n + 7 = 15
(c)2n + 7
(d)2n + 7 > 15
14.A map has a scale of 1 : 25 000. A footpath measures 6 cm on the map. Work out the real length of the footpath, in kilometres.
(a)1.5 km
(b)0.15 km
(c)150 km
(d)150000 km
15.A stained-glass window panel is designed as a kite. Two adjacent sides are each 25 cm, and the other two adjacent sides are each 40 cm. A frame is fitted around the whole panel. The frame costs £2.50 per metre, sold only in whole metres. Work out the total cost of the frame.
(a)£2.50
(b)£5.00
(c)£325.00
(d)£3.25
16.A grain of fine sand has a mass of 0.001 grams. Write this mass in standard form.
(a)1 × 10³
(b)0.1 × 10⁻²
(c)1 × 10⁻⁴
(d)1 × 10⁻³
17.Make x the subject of the formula y = 5x + 3.
y = 5x + 3
(a)x = (y + 3)/5
(b)x = (y − 3)/5
(c)x = y/5 − 3
(d)x = 5(y − 3)
18.A jug holds 3 litres of a drink that is 60% fruit juice. 1 litre of water is added to the jug. Work out the percentage of the new mixture that is fruit juice.
(a)60%
(b)75%
(c)45%
(d)15%
19.Work out an estimate for 8,900 ÷ 29, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
(a)300
(b)307
(c)450
(d)3,000
20.A furniture designer makes a scale model of a wardrobe using a scale of 1 : 8. The real wardrobe is 2.4 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Work out the perimeter of the front face of the model wardrobe, in centimetres.
(a)510 cm
(b)720 cm
(c)11.25 cm
(d)90 cm

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.