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%.

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

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1.The number 24 can be written as 2³ × 3, and the number 60 can be written as 2² × 3 × 5. Work out the lowest common multiple of 24 and 60.
(a)120
(b)12
(c)1440
(d)60
2.Which expression is equivalent to 3(x + 4) − 2(x − 1)?
(a)x + 14
(b)x + 10
(c)5x + 10
(d)x + 13
3.In a mix of mortar the ratio of the mass of sand to the mass of cement is 5 : 2. Write the mass of cement as a fraction of the total mass of the mix.
(a)5/7
(b)2/5
(c)2/7
(d)7/2
4.A cyclist rides around a perfectly circular track with centre O. At every moment of the ride, the distance from O to the cyclist is exactly the same. Which term names this fixed distance?
(a)radius
(b)diameter
(c)circumference
(d)chord
5.The probability that Isla answers a quiz question correctly is 0.8. She answers three questions, and her answers are independent of each other. Work out the probability that she answers all three correctly.
(a)0.0512
(b)0.8
(c)0.512
(d)0.64
6.The seven members of Team A took 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 40 seconds to finish a task. The seven members of Team B took 20, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 seconds. Tomás says that because the two teams have the same range, their times are spread out in the same way. Is Tomás right? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)Yes, each team has seven times, so the spreads match
(b)Yes, sets with equal ranges are spread out alike
(c)No, Team B's times have a higher mean than Team A's
(d)No, the range uses only the fastest and slowest time
7.Simplify 3² ÷ 3⁵, giving your answer as a single power of 3.
(a)3⁷
(b)3³
(c)3⁻³
(d)3¹⁰
8.The simultaneous equations y = 3 and 4x − y = 9 are given. Work out the value of x.
(a)1.5
(b)8
(c)3
(d)12
9.8 identical pens cost £6.40 in total. Work out the cost of 5 of the same pens.
(a)£2.40
(b)£0.80
(c)£4.00
(d)£10.24
10.Triangles ABE and CDE share the vertex E, where lines AC and BD cross at E. AE equals CE, and BE equals DE. Angle AEB and angle CED are formed as vertically opposite angles where the lines cross. Which condition proves that triangle ABE is congruent to triangle CDE?
(a)ASA, vertically opposite angle at E
(b)Cannot prove — no angle measured
(c)SSS, three equal side pairs
(d)SAS, vertically opposite angle included
11.The probability that Amelia's bus is late on a school morning is 9/10. Write this probability as a percentage.
(a)90%
(b)9%
(c)10%
(d)0.9%
12.Amelia has 49 boxes of apples with 21 apples in each box. Work out an estimate for the total number of apples, by rounding each number to 1 significant figure.
(a)1,029
(b)1,500
(c)800
(d)1,000
13.Solve 2x² = 18.
(a)x = 9 or x = −9
(b)x = 4 or x = −4
(c)x = 6 or x = −6
(d)x = 3 or x = −3
14.Tap A fills a swimming pool in 6 hours. Tap B pours water twice as fast as tap A. The time taken to fill the pool is inversely proportional to the rate of flow. Work out how long tap B takes to fill the pool.
(a)3 hours
(b)12 hours
(c)4 hours
(d)1.5 hours
15.Triangle JKL and triangle MNP are similar, with JK ÷ MN = JL ÷ MP = 2. A student says triangle JKL must be congruent to triangle MNP. Write down why the student is wrong.
(a)The angles are not necessarily equal
(b)Similar triangles are never congruent
(c)The scale factor is 2, not 1, so the sides are not equal
(d)Congruent triangles must have a right angle
16.In a school, 3/5 of the students study French. Of these students, 2/3 also study Spanish. What fraction of all the students study both French and Spanish?
(a)3/5
(b)9/10
(c)2/5
(d)3/4
17.A curve has equation y = x³ − 4x. Work out the coordinates of the point where the curve crosses the y-axis.
y = x
(a)(0, 4)
(b)(4, 0)
(c)(0, 0)
(d)(0, −4)
18.1 litre = 100 centilitres. Work out how many centilitres there are in 6 litres.
(a)6000 centilitres
(b)60 centilitres
(c)600 centilitres
(d)106 centilitres
19.Work out 15% of £40, using 10% and 5%.
(a)£6
(b)£4
(c)£600
(d)£2
20.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.
(a)£7
(b)£28
(c)£21
(d)£33

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.