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 number line runs from 0 to 1 and is divided into 4 equal parts. Which mark on the line represents 1/4?
- 2.The first four terms of a sequence are 5, 8, 11, 14. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
- 3.A company's turnover this year is £180,000. Last year's turnover was £120,000. Write down this year's turnover as a percentage of last year's turnover.
- 4.A cylindrical candle and a cone-shaped candle have the same base radius and the same height. State the cone's volume as a fraction of the cylinder's volume.
- 5.A spinner is spun 50 times. It lands on green 18 times. Work out the relative frequency of landing on green.
- 6.Isla wants to find out the favourite television programme of the pupils at her school. She asks only her own close group of friends. Write down what is wrong with her sample.
- 7.Round 0.006852 to 2 significant figures.
- 8.Solve the inequality 3x + 6 ≤ 0.
- 9.The ratio of two lengths is 0.6 : 1.5. Write this ratio in its simplest whole-number form.
- 10.A chord divides a circle into two regions, one larger than the other. Write down the term used for the smaller of these two regions.
- 11.On the probability scale from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain), evens is exactly halfway. An event is 3/10 more likely than evens. Work out the probability of that event, giving your answer as a decimal.
- 12.By listing systematically, work out how many two-digit multiples of 5 can be made using the digits 0, 3 and 5, if each digit can be used at most once and the number cannot start with 0.
- 13.The point C is 6 units to the right of the origin and 0 units up. Write down the coordinates of C.
- 14.y is inversely proportional to x, and y = 20 ÷ x. Work out the value of y when x = 4.
- 15.Write down the mathematical name for a quadrilateral that has exactly one pair of parallel sides.
- 16.In a car park the ratio of vans to cars is 2 : 7. Work out the number of vans as a fraction of the number of cars.
- 17.Solve x² = 49.
- 18.The price of a games console is reduced by 10%. In a later sale the reduced price is reduced by 10% again. Work out the overall percentage decrease.
- 19.Leah measures the length of her classroom with a tape measure marked in centimetres. She writes the length down as 7.3157 m. Give a reason why this is not an appropriate degree of accuracy.
- 20.Two numbers are in the ratio 5 : 8. The larger number is 40. Work out the smaller number.
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.