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.Chloe wants to work out 3 1/4 − 1 2/3. She converts both mixed numbers to twelfths, then subtracts the whole numbers and the fraction parts separately, without checking whether she needs to exchange first. Work out the correct value of 3 1/4 − 1 2/3, giving your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
- 2.The nth term of a sequence is 4n − 3. Work out the 7th term of the sequence.
- 3.Write 1/5 as a percentage.
- 4.Work out the gradient of the line segment joining A(2, 3) and B(6, 11).
- 5.Two fair coins are thrown together 400 times. Work out how many of the 400 throws you would expect to give one head and one tail.
- 6.The mean mass of four parcels is 17 kg. Three of the parcels have masses 12 kg, 16 kg and 18 kg. Work out the mass of the fourth parcel.
- 7.A supermarket sells apples at £1.85 per kg. Anna buys 3.6 kg of apples. Estimate the cost by rounding each number to 1 significant figure before multiplying. Work out Anna's estimate.
- 8.The solution set of x ≥ −1 is drawn on a number line. Which description of that number line is correct?
- 9.Write 3/4 as a percentage.
- 10.A triangular flag has a base of 40 cm and a perpendicular height of 25 cm. Work out its area.
- 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 van has a mass of 2,000 kg, correct to 1 significant figure. Using m for the mass of the van in kilograms, write down the error interval for m.
- 13.Simplify p + p + p.
- 14.A map has a scale of 1 : 100 000. Two railway stations are 8 km apart in real life. Work out the distance between the stations on the map, in centimetres.
- 15.A regular polygon has 12 sides. Work out the size of one exterior angle of the polygon.
- 16.A train leaves Leeds at 14:35. The journey takes 1 hour 50 minutes. Work out the time the train arrives. Give your answer using the 24-hour clock.
- 17.A plumber charges a call-out fee of £30 plus £25 for each hour worked. The total bill for a job was £130. Work out how many hours the plumber worked.
- 18.A glass holds 250 ml of squash. Work out how many of these glasses are needed to fill a 1 litre bottle.
- 19.Amelia estimates 48 × 21 by working out 50 × 20 = 1,000. Work out whether her estimate is an under-estimate or an over-estimate, and by how much.
- 20.A necklace uses 22 blue beads and 8 red beads. Write the number of blue beads as a fraction of the number of red beads. Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
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.