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.Four weather stations each recorded their lowest overnight temperature. Which of these readings is the lowest?
- 2.Write down the expression that means the same as (x + 7) ÷ 4.
- 3.Work out 25% of 200.
- 4.Two straight lines cross at a point. To find the points that are the same distance from both lines, which construction should be used?
- 5.In a board game Mia moves forward by the total of two ordinary fair dice. Work out the probability that her total is 7. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 6.On a scatter graph the horizontal axis shows height in centimetres and the vertical axis shows mass in kilograms. One point is plotted at (170, 65). Write down the height and the mass of that person.
- 7.Find the missing number: ▢ ÷ 15 = 24
- 8.Which expression is equivalent to 0.5(4x + 6) − x?
- 9.The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:4. Work out the size of the smallest angle.
- 10.A quadrilateral has two pairs of parallel sides. All four of its interior angles are right angles, but its sides are not all the same length. Which quadrilateral is this?
- 11.A drawer contains 4 red socks and 2 blue socks. Two socks are taken out at random, one after the other, without the first being put back. Work out the probability that both socks are the same colour.
- 12.Write down a prime number between 30 and 40.
- 13.A straight line passes through the points (2, 5) and (4, 11). Work out the gradient of the line.
- 14.Zara is paid £9 per hour. Her wage is directly proportional to the number of hours she works. Work out her wage for working 6 hours.
- 15.Two triangles are similar. The sides of the first triangle are 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm. The shortest side of the second triangle is 9 cm. Work out the scale factor from the first triangle to the second.
- 16.A photography studio offers 4 backdrops and 3 outfits for a portrait session. The plain grey backdrop, one of the 4 backdrops, cannot be used with the formal suit outfit, one of the 3 outfits. Work out how many different backdrop-and-outfit combinations are possible.
- 17.Which of these equations gives a straight-line graph when plotted?
- 18.A straight-line graph passes through the origin and the point (4, 10). The line represents y = kx. Write down the ratio x : y in its simplest form.
- 19.Work out 3 1/5 + 1 2/3. Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
- 20.A concrete mix is made from gravel and cement in the ratio 5 : 1 by mass. The mass of cement is c kg and the total mass of the mix is m kg. Write down a formula for m in terms of c.
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.