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 shop assistant says that 7.2 × 3.9 = 56.16. Work out an estimate for 7.2 × 3.9, by rounding each number to the nearest whole number, to show that the assistant’s answer cannot be correct.
- 2.In a shop a shirt costs £x and a pair of trousers costs £(2x + 30). Together the two items cost at least £150. Work out the lowest possible price of the shirt.
- 3.A recipe for pancakes uses 240 g of flour to make pancakes for 6 people. Work out how many grams of flour are needed to make pancakes for 15 people, using the same recipe.
- 4.The three angles of a triangle are 10°, 58° and 112°. Write down the name that describes this triangle.
- 5.A = {factors of 12} and B = {factors of 18}. Work out n(A ∩ B), the number of elements in both sets.
- 6.A café sold 10 sandwiches on each of four days: 10, 10, 10, 10. Work out the range of the numbers sold.
- 7.Write the fraction 3/4 as a decimal.
- 8.The area of a circle is given by the formula A = πr², where r is the radius. Rearrange the formula to make r the subject.
- 9.Write 2 m : 150 cm : 50 cm as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
- 10.A scale drawing of a bridge uses a scale of 1 : 25. A support beam on the drawing measures 4.4 cm. What is the real length of the beam, in metres?
- 11.Jack rolls two ordinary fair dice and adds the two scores together. Work out the probability that the total is 6.
- 12.A number is multiplied by 4, then 8 is added, giving the result 40. Work out the number.
- 13.Solve x² − 100 = 0.
- 14.300 g of a salt solution of concentration 10% is poured into 200 g of a salt solution of concentration 25%. Work out the concentration of salt in the mixture.
- 15.Write down the mathematical name for a quadrilateral that has exactly one pair of parallel sides.
- 16.A supermarket sells apples at £1.85 per kg. Anna buys 3.6 kg of apples. Estimate the cost by rounding each number to 1 significant figure before multiplying. Work out Anna's estimate.
- 17.Solve x² = 49.
- 18.A box holds 80 chocolates. 75% of them are milk chocolates. Work out how many milk chocolates are in the box.
- 19.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
- 20.The density of a type of wood is 0.8 g/cm³. Work out the mass of a piece of this wood with a volume of 150 cm³.
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.