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.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.
- 2.A wall is tiled in rows, and every row uses the same number of tiles. One row uses 10 tiles, two rows use 20 tiles and three rows use 30 tiles. Work out how many tiles are needed for 7 rows.
- 3.y is directly proportional to x. If the value of x is trebled (multiplied by 3), what happens to the value of y?
- 4.A wooden block is a cuboid measuring 2 cm by 10 cm by 15 cm. Work out the volume of the block.
- 5.The probability that Priya's dentist appointment overruns is 0.35. Work out the probability that it does not overrun.
- 6.The table shows the times, t minutes, that 30 pupils took to walk to school. 0 < t ≤ 10: 8 pupils. 10 < t ≤ 20: 12 pupils. 20 < t ≤ 30: 6 pupils. 30 < t ≤ 40: 4 pupils. Write down which average can be given exactly from this table, and give a reason for your answer.
- 7.Which of these units would be most appropriate to use when stating the mass of a small car?
- 8.Solve the simultaneous equations x + y = 1 and 2x + y = 5.
- 9.Two mathematically similar rectangles have widths 5 cm and 10 cm. The perimeter of the smaller rectangle is 18 cm. Work out the perimeter of the larger rectangle.
- 10.A garden water trough is a prism whose cross-section is a right-angled triangle with base 40 cm and height 30 cm. The trough is 120 cm long. Work out the volume of water needed to fill the trough completely.
- 11.A fair six-sided dice is rolled 120 times. Work out how many of the rolls you would expect to give a score of 3 or more.
- 12.Write these numbers in order, starting with the largest: −0.6, 0.45, −0.15, 0.5, −0.09
- 13.In the expression 5x² − 3x + 7, which of these is a single term of the expression?
- 14.For the pairs x = 6, y = 15 and x = 10, y = 25, which statement is correct?
- 15.Two similar flags have widths in the ratio 2 : 5. The width of the smaller flag is 8 cm. Work out the width of the larger flag.
- 16.Two fair six-sided dice are rolled and their scores are added together. By listing the possible totals systematically, work out how many different totals are possible.
- 17.A sequence has nth term 3n + 4. Two terms are missing from the list of its first five terms: 7, 10, _, 16, _. Work out the missing 3rd and 5th terms added together.
- 18.The number of tickets a group can afford is inversely proportional to the price per ticket. At £4 per ticket, the group can afford 12 tickets. Work out how many tickets the group can afford at £6 per ticket.
- 19.A measuring jug shows a volume of 340 ml, correct to the nearest 20 ml. Work out the smallest possible volume in the jug.
- 20.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.
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.