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.Write '3.2 million' as a number in figures.
- 2.The formula connecting speed, distance and time is v = s ÷ t. Work out v, in km/h, when s = 180 and t = 4.
- 3.A footpath is drawn 3 cm long on a map with a scale of 1 : 50 000. Work out the real length of the footpath, in metres.
- 4.Triangle DEF is isosceles, with DE = DF. Angle E = 58°. Work out angle F.
- 5.A bag contains 3 yellow counters and 2 green counters. Sophie takes one counter at random and does not put it back. She then takes a second counter at random. Work out the probability that the first counter is yellow and the second is green.
- 6.A gardener plants 600 daffodil bulbs. In March she digs up 20 of them, chosen at random, and finds that 17 have flowered. Write down what she can conclude about the 600 bulbs.
- 7.A vending machine sells 4 types of crisps, 5 types of chocolate bar and 2 types of drink. Work out how many different combinations of one crisp packet, one chocolate bar and one drink can be bought.
- 8.Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence: 4, 7, 10, 13, 16. Work out the 9th term.
- 9.Write £3.60 : £2.40 as a ratio in its simplest form.
- 10.P is the point (3, 4) and Q is the point (6, 0). Work out the distance of each point from the origin, and write down which point is closer to the origin.
- 11.At a youth club, 65 members are asked which sports they play. 27 play football, 21 play basketball, and 9 play both. Work out the number of members who play neither sport.
- 12.Write 0.0038 in standard form.
- 13.Matchsticks are laid out as a row of squares, with each new square sharing a side with the square before it. The first square uses 4 matchsticks and every extra square uses 3 more. Work out how many matchsticks a row of 4 squares uses.
- 14.Write the ratio 20 : 30 in its simplest form.
- 15.A square-based pyramid has a square base and four identical triangular sloping faces, with its apex directly above the centre of the base. How many planes of symmetry does it have?
- 16.Jack buys 3 books, each costing £4.25, and pays with a £20 note. Work out how much change he receives.
- 17.A curve has equation y = x² − 9. Which statement about its graph is correct?y = x² − 9
- 18.A train journey takes 2 hours 15 minutes. A bus journey to the same place takes 3 hours 45 minutes. Write the time for the train journey as a fraction of the time for the bus journey, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 19.A jar of jam costs £2.35. Tom buys 3 jars. He says the total cost is more than £7. Work out the exact total cost, and state whether Tom's claim is correct.
- 20.y is directly proportional to x. When x = 8, y = 20. Work out the value of y when x = 12.
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.