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 school orders 187 packed lunches for a trip. Each packed lunch costs £4.85. The school has £900 to spend. By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, work out an estimate for the total cost and decide whether £900 is enough.
- 2.Write down the number of terms in the expression 4x² − 7x + 3.
- 3.Three numbers are in the ratio 1:2:3. The three numbers add up to 72. Work out the largest of the three numbers.
- 4.A circle has centre O. Radii OA and OB are drawn, together with the arc AB, enclosing a sector. The straight chord AB is also drawn. Write down the name of the region enclosed between the chord AB and the arc AB.
- 5.An ordinary fair dice is rolled twice. Work out the probability of getting at least one 5.
- 6.Write down the statement that correctly describes the difference between correlation and causation.
- 7.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
- 8.The first four terms of a sequence are 9, 14, 19, 24. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
- 9.2.4 kg of cheese costs £36. Work out the cost of 1.5 kg of the same cheese.
- 10.A parallelogram has an area of 96 cm² and a base of 8 cm. Work out the perpendicular height of the parallelogram.
- 11.The probability that it rains on a given morning is 0.3. If it rains, the probability that Priya's bus is late is 0.8. If it does not rain, the probability that her bus is late is 0.1. Work out the probability that her bus is late.
- 12.Which of these units would be most appropriate to use when stating the mass of a small car?
- 13.A straight line has gradient −3 and passes through the point (0, 1). Work out the value of y when x = 2.
- 14.A photo is enlarged so that its new width is 1.4 times its original width. Write the multiplier that would scale the new width back down to the original width, as a fraction in its simplest form.
- 15.Two circles are drawn with the same centre but different radii. Write down the term used to describe this pair of circles.
- 16.Freya uses her calculator to work out 7² and writes down 14. Work out the correct value of 7².
- 17.The nth term of a sequence is 3n + 2. Work out the 4th term of the sequence.
- 18.A gardener mixes 300 ml of plant feed concentrate with 1.2 litres of water to make a spray. Write the ratio of concentrate to water in its simplest form.
- 19.Work out 2/3 × 3/4 exactly, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 20.A map has a scale of 1 : 25 000. A footpath measures 6 cm on the map. Work out the real length of the footpath, in kilometres.
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.