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.Round 0.006852 to 2 significant figures.
- 2.y = 5x − 1. Work out the value of y when x = 3.y = 5x − 1
- 3.Simplify the ratio 45 : 30 : 75 to its simplest form.
- 4.In a phone game, a character starts at the point (−5, 2) on a grid. It moves by the vector to collect a coin. The player now wants the character's next single move to finish at the point (3, 0). Write down the column vector of that second move.
- 5.A spinner is divided into 8 equal sections. 3 of the sections are red and the rest are not red. The spinner is spun once. Work out the probability that it does not land on red.
- 6.A factory makes 4,000 light bulbs a day. In a random sample of 80 of one day's bulbs, 3 were faulty. Work out an estimate for the number of faulty bulbs the factory makes in a day.
- 7.A recipe for one cake needs 2/3 of a cup of sugar. Priya has 3 1/2 cups of sugar. Work out how many complete cakes she can make.
- 8.Write down the gradient of the line with equation y = 7x − 2.y = 7x − 2
- 9.The ratio of cats to dogs in a shelter is 3:4. There are 18 cats. Work out the total number of animals in the shelter.
- 10.A triangle has vertices X, Y and Z, with a right angle at Y. Side XY is twice as long as side YZ. Which of the following correctly describes this triangle?
- 11.Four students each drop a drawing pin repeatedly to estimate the probability that it lands point-up. Freya makes 20 drops, Malik makes 50 drops, Priya makes 200 drops and Tom makes 80 drops. Which student's relative frequency is likely to give the best estimate of the true probability?
- 12.Write down the value of 7⁰
- 13.Work out the value of a² − 2b when a = −3 and b = 4.
- 14.Rice costs £3.20 per kg. Work out the cost of the rice in pence per 100 g.
- 15.A triangular badge has two sides of length 8 cm and a third side of length 5 cm. Work out the perimeter of the badge.
- 16.Round 592.5 to the nearest 10.
- 17.The area of a triangle is given by the formula A = bh/2, where b is the base and h is the height. Make h the subject of the formula.
- 18.The time taken for a train journey is inversely proportional to the average speed of the train. At an average speed of 60 km/h the journey takes 2 hours. Work out the time taken at an average speed of 40 km/h.
- 19.Given that 2⁵ = 32, work out 2⁶.
- 20.A metal alloy is made from copper and tin in the ratio 9:1. Write the mass of tin as a fraction of the mass of copper, 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.