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 charity raises money from a raffle and a cake sale in the ratio 5 : 3. Altogether the charity raises £320. Work out how much money the cake sale raised.
- 2.a = 2 and b = 5. Work out the value of a²b.
- 3.A road sign 3 m tall casts a shadow 5 m long. At the same time, a nearby lamppost casts a shadow 10 m long. Work out the height of the lamppost.
- 4.A solid has 4 triangular faces, 4 vertices and 6 edges. What is the name of this solid?
- 5.At a gym, 45 members are surveyed. 24 use the running machines, 20 use the weights machines, and 9 use both. Work out how many of the 45 members use neither machine.
- 6.A stacked bar for one day at a café in Norwich shows total drink sales of 50 drinks, split into three parts: 22 were tea, 15 were coffee and the rest were hot chocolate. Work out the number of hot chocolates sold.
- 7.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.
- 8.A quadratic graph has roots at x = −3 and x = 5, and it crosses the y-axis at (0, −15). Work out the equation of the curve in the form y = (x − a)(x − b).
- 9.A shop's takings were £4500 in May. In June the takings fell by £900. Write the June takings as a fraction of the May takings, in its simplest form.
- 10.In quadrilateral WXYZ, which of the following correctly names the angle at vertex Y using standard notation?
- 11.The probability that Kofi passes his driving test on any attempt is 0.6, and each attempt is independent of the others. Work out the probability that he fails both his first two attempts.
- 12.Work out 3/4 − 5/12 exactly, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 13.Which expression means 'y squared, multiplied by 3'?
- 14.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.
- 15.Quadrilateral WXYZ has WX parallel to ZY, and WZ = XY (the two non-parallel sides are equal in length). Give a reason why angle W = angle X.
- 16.Work out (−3) × 4 + 2 × (−5)
- 17.A packet contains s sweets. The sweets are shared equally between f friends. Write an expression for the number of sweets each friend receives.
- 18.A film runs for 2.25 hours. Work out the length of the film in minutes.
- 19.Work out the lowest common multiple of 4 and 6.
- 20.The ratio of two lengths is 0.6 : 1.5. Write this ratio in its simplest whole-number form.
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.