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%.
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 2 (calculator)
- 1.Nadia has £84. She spends 3/7 of it on a jacket and the rest on a bag. Work out the ratio of the amount spent on the jacket to the amount spent on the bag, in its simplest form.
- 2.Work out the equation of the straight line that passes through (−2, 3) and (4, −9).
- 3.Write the ratio 4x : 6x in its simplest form, where x is a positive number.
- 4.A straight line passes through points A, B and C, with B between A and C. A fourth point D is not on the line. Angle ABD = 132°. Work out the size of angle DBC.
- 5.In a trial, a drawing pin was dropped 80 times and landed point-up 52 times. Assuming this relative frequency continues, work out how many times you would expect it to land point-up in 300 drops.
- 6.A line graph shows the temperature in a greenhouse at the end of each of six hours. The six readings were 10 °C, 14 °C, 18 °C, 22 °C, 26 °C and 30 °C. Describe the trend shown by the line graph.
- 7.Work out the value of √64.
- 8.A number machine adds 6 to its input. Work out the output when the input is −4.
- 9.A straight-line graph shows the cost, C pounds, of hiring a bike for h hours. The line passes through the points (1, 12) and (4, 27). Which of these statements about the line is true?
- 10.A parallelogram has a base of 4 cm and a perpendicular height of 17 cm. Work out the area of the parallelogram.
- 11.A spinner is divided into sectors of 144°, 90° and 126°, coloured purple, orange and grey in that order. The spinner is spun 300 times. Work out how many times you would expect it to land on purple.
- 12.A window display has red baubles, gold baubles and green baubles in the ratio 4 : 5 : 6. What fraction of the baubles are not green?
- 13.A ferry's distance-time graph is a straight line from (0 minutes, 0 km) to (25 minutes, 15 km). Work out the ferry's speed in kilometres per hour.
- 14.The speed of a car is given by v = d ÷ t. A car travels 180 km in 3 hours. Work out the average speed of the car in km/h.
- 15.To construct a perpendicular to a line at a given point P on the line, compasses are first opened to draw two arcs crossing the line, one on each side of P. What is the correct next step?
- 16.Write down the reciprocal of 0.2
- 17.The point C is 6 units to the right of the origin and 0 units up. Write down the coordinates of C.
- 18.Noah runs 2 km in 10 minutes. Work out how long he takes to run 5 km at the same speed.
- 19.Work out 15% of £40, using 10% and 5%.
- 20.Work out 25% of 200.
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.