Sample paper · GCSE Foundation · grades 1–5
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 2 (calculator)
The real Paper 2 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, 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 a calculator allowed. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 50% / 25% / 25%.
CalculatorGCSE Foundation
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 2 (calculator)
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- 1.Work out (4 × 10³) × (3 × 10¹). Give your answer in standard form.
- 2.y = 3x − 2. Work out the value of y when x = 4.y = 3x − 2
- 3.A company had 8000 employees. The number of employees decreased by 5% in the first year, and then increased by 5% in the second year. Work out the number of employees at the end of the second year, to the nearest whole number.
- 4.Two triangular offcuts of wood, PQR and STU, are cut for a construction project. PQ = 8 cm, QR = 6 cm and angle PQR = 90°. ST = 8 cm, TU = 6 cm and angle STU = 90°. A carpenter wants to check the two pieces are identical in shape and size before using them as a matching pair. Using only the measurements given, and without working out any further lengths, which condition proves that triangle PQR is congruent to triangle STU?
- 5.A basketball player takes two free throws, and the throws are independent. The probability of scoring on each throw is 0.6, and the probability of missing is 0.4. Work out the probability that she scores exactly one of the two throws.
- 6.A two-way table records whether each of 40 people at a gym in Sheffield prefers weights or cardio, and whether they are male or female. 24 of the 40 people are female. 15 of the males prefer cardio. 10 of the females prefer weights. Work out the total number of people who prefer cardio.
- 7.A measuring jug shows a volume of 340 ml, correct to the nearest 20 ml. Work out the smallest possible volume in the jug.
- 8.Solve the simultaneous equations 3x + y = 14 and x + y = 6. Work out the value of x.
- 9.A map has a scale of 1:25000. A road on the map is 6 cm long. Work out the real-life length of the road, giving your answer in kilometres.
- 10.Triangle ABC is translated by the column vector with top number 3 and bottom number −5 to form triangle A′B′C′. Triangle A′B′C′ is then translated by the column vector with top number −7 and bottom number 2 to form triangle A″B″C″. Work out the single column vector that translates triangle ABC directly to triangle A″B″C″.
- 11.A school recorded what 60 students chose for lunch. 35 of the students are in Year 10 and the rest are in Year 11. 20 of the Year 10 students chose a sandwich and 9 of the Year 11 students chose a sandwich. Everyone else chose a hot meal. Work out how many Year 11 students chose a hot meal.
- 12.Work out 4368 ÷ 12.
- 13.Solve 4x² − 9 = 0.
- 14.The rent on a flat increases by 10% one year and by a further 10% the following year. Work out the overall percentage increase over the two years.
- 15.A straight line touches the edge of a circle at exactly one point and does not cross into the circle at all. Write down the term for this line.
- 16.A garden has flowers, herbs and vegetables in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. What fraction of the garden is not vegetables?
- 17.A mobile phone plan charges a fixed monthly fee plus an amount for each gigabyte of data used. The total cost £C for using g gigabytes in a month is given by C = 15 + 2g. What does the number 2 represent in this formula?
- 18.The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:4. Work out the size of the smallest angle.
- 19.Four weather stations each recorded their lowest overnight temperature. Which of these readings is the lowest?
- 20.Given that a is 40% of b, write the ratio a : b in its simplest 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.