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)
MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk
- 1.A student always writes the digits after the decimal point over a denominator of 100, whatever the number of decimal places. Using this wrong rule, they convert 0.9 to a fraction. Work out the correct fraction that 0.9 is equal to, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 2.The diagram shows the graph of a straight line, drawn on a grid numbered from −5 to 5 on both axes. Which equation could represent the line?
- 3.Last week Priya worked 5 shifts of 7 hours. This week she worked 4 shifts of 8 hours. Write the number of hours she worked last week as a fraction of the number of hours she worked this week.
- 4.A tent is shaped like a triangular prism: two triangular end faces and three rectangular faces. One of the rectangular faces lies flat on the ground as the groundsheet. How many of the tent's faces are above the ground, not touching the ground?
- 5.A card is taken at random from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. The probability that the card is a diamond is 1/4. Work out the probability that the card is not a diamond.
- 6.Write down the statement that correctly describes the difference between correlation and causation.
- 7.Work out 100 − 4 × 5²
- 8.Write down the y-intercept of the line with equation y = 3x + 8.y = 3x + 8
- 9.The ratio of the amount of money Harry has to the amount of money Isla has is 5:3. Harry has £35. Work out how much money Isla has.
- 10.A solid has 4 triangular faces, 4 vertices and 6 edges. What is the name of this solid?
- 11.A spinner has three equal sections, coloured red, blue and green. It is spun twice, and each outcome is listed as an ordered pair of colours, such as (red, blue). Work out how many outcomes are in the full list.
- 12.A measuring jug shows a volume of 340 ml, correct to the nearest 20 ml. Work out the smallest possible volume in the jug.
- 13.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 9, 14, 19. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
- 14.A recipe for 8 muffins needs 200 g of sugar. Sam wants to make 20 muffins for a bake sale, and he already has 350 g of sugar. Work out how many more grams of sugar he needs to buy.
- 15.In parallelogram PQRS, angle P = 65°. Which reason correctly explains why angle R = 65°?
- 16.In a classroom the ratio of boys to girls is 3 : 4. What fraction of the class are boys?
- 17.Solve 4x² − 9 = 0.
- 18.A scale drawing of a playground is drawn to a scale of 1 : 300. A slide measures 4 cm on the drawing. Work out the real length of the slide, in centimetres.
- 19.Work out 1 − 1/2 − 1/4 − 1/8 − 1/16. Give your answer as a fraction.
- 20.Cheng is paid an hourly rate that is proportional to the number of hours she works. She earns £52.50 for 7 hours. Work out how much she earns for 11 hours, assuming the same rate.
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.