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.At a bus station one bus leaves every 6 minutes and another leaves every 9 minutes. The two buses leave together at the start of the day. Work out how long it is until they next leave together.
- 2.Solve the inequality 6x ≥ 18.
- 3.A prize fund of £240 is shared between two winners in the ratio 3 : 5. Write the smaller winner's share as a fraction of the whole prize fund.
- 4.A rectangular tile measures 4.5 cm by 6 cm. Work out the area of the tile.
- 5.Four pupils each flip the same coin a number of times and record the results. Sam flips it 40 times and gets 24 heads. Priti flips it 25 times and gets 10 heads. Leo flips it 20 times and gets 9 heads. Fatima flips it 15 times and gets 6 heads. Combine all four pupils' results to estimate the probability that the coin lands on heads.
- 6.A line graph shows the temperature in a greenhouse at the end of each of six hours. The six readings were 10 °C, 14 °C, 18 °C, 22 °C, 26 °C and 30 °C. Describe the trend shown by the line graph.
- 7.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
- 8.A scout leader is 44 years old and one of the scouts is 16 years old. Work out how many years it will be until the leader is exactly twice as old as the scout.
- 9.£5000 is invested in an account paying 4% compound interest each year. Work out the total interest earned after 3 years.
- 10.Two straight lines AB and CD cross at point O. Angle AOC = 74°. Work out angle AOD.
- 11.The probability that a machine completes a task successfully is 0.85. Work out the probability that the machine does not complete the task successfully.
- 12.A charity shop buys a coat for £24 and sells it for a profit that is 3/8 of the buying price. Work out the selling price.
- 13.Ben writes n + 4 ≤ 9. Which statement describes what Ben has written? Give a reason for your answer.
- 14.Two quantities, P and Q, are in inverse proportion. A graph is drawn with P on the vertical axis and Q on the horizontal axis. Write down which description fits the shape of this graph.
- 15.Write down the term for the distance all the way around the edge of a circle.
- 16.Work out −4.5 + 2.8.
- 17.Which expression is equivalent to 7x − 3(2x − 6)?
- 18.Which of these ratios is equivalent to 2:3?
- 19.Write 90 as a product of its prime factors.
- 20.Two mathematically similar oil drums have a length scale factor of 3 from the smaller drum to the larger drum. Work out the volume scale factor from the smaller drum to the larger drum.
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.