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%.

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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.Round 0.006852 to 2 significant figures.
(a)0.0069
(b)0.0068
(c)0.007
(d)0.00685
2.Factorise fully 5x + 5y − 5
(a)5(xy − 1)
(b)5(x + y + 1)
(c)5(x + y − 1)
(d)5(x + y − 5)
3.A cyclist rides at an average speed of 24 km/h for 1 hour 15 minutes. Work out the distance travelled, in km.
(a)27.6 km
(b)1800 km
(c)30 km
(d)19.2 km
4.A regular polygon has 5 lines of symmetry. What is the order of rotational symmetry of this polygon?
(a)5
(b)6
(c)10
(d)4
5.A basketball player has a free-throw success probability of 0.75. She wants to expect to score 60 successful free throws. Work out how many free throws she needs to attempt.
(a)45
(b)80
(c)90
(d)240
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.A rectangular field measures 19.6 m by 48.3 m. Work out an estimate for the area of the field, by rounding each length to 1 significant figure.
(a)800 m²
(b)70 m²
(c)1,000 m²
(d)140 m²
8.A student is asked whether 3(x − 4) = 3x − 4 is an identity. Which statement gives the correct verdict and reason?
(a)It is an identity, because both sides begin with the term 3x, so they must be equivalent.
(b)It is not even an ordinary equation with a solution: expanding the left-hand side gives 3x − 12, and 3x − 12 = 3x − 4 would require −12 = −4, which is never true.
(c)It is not an identity, because the student forgot to multiply the 4 by 3 on both sides of the equation.
(d)It is not an identity, because the student needs to substitute a specific value of x before comparing the two sides.
9.y is directly proportional to x. When x = 7, the value of y is 21. Work out the value of x when y = 12.
(a)4
(b)36
(c)84
(d)9
10.Work out the exact value of cos 0° − sin 30°.
(a)1/2
(b)−1/2
(c)3/2
(d)1
11.Five balls numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are in a bag. Two of them are taken out together at random. Work out the probability that the two numbers on them add up to more than 7.
(a)1/10
(b)2/5
(c)4/5
(d)1/5
12.Work out 3 + 4 × 2²
(a)28
(b)67
(c)196
(d)19
13.In which quadrant does the point (−3, 0.5) lie?
(a)the second quadrant
(b)the fourth quadrant
(c)the third quadrant
(d)the first quadrant
14.A journey takes 4 hours at an average speed of 60 km/h. The time taken is inversely proportional to the average speed. Work out how long the same journey takes at an average speed of 80 km/h.
(a)4 hours
(b)2 hours 40 minutes
(c)3 hours
(d)5 hours 20 minutes
15.The angle between north and a footpath is 35°, measured clockwise from north. What is the three-figure bearing of the footpath?
(a)035°
(b)325°
(c)350°
(d)215°
16.Write down the value of 3⁰
(a)3
(b)0
(c)1/3
(d)1
17.Solve x² − 6x = 0.
(a)x = 0
(b)x = 3
(c)x = 6
(d)x = 0 or x = 6
18.Water flows into a tank at a constant rate. After 8 minutes the tank holds 200 litres. Write the ratio of time in minutes to volume in litres, in its simplest form.
(a)25:1
(b)1:25
(c)25:8
(d)8:25
19.A laptop costs £720. A carrying case for it costs 1/9 of the price of the laptop. Work out the cost of the carrying case.
(a)£72
(b)£640
(c)£80
(d)£6480
20.Write the ratio 6a : 9a in its simplest form, where a is a positive number.
(a)6:9
(b)2a:3a
(c)2:3
(d)3:2

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.