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%.

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 2 (calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 2 · Calculator · 20 questions

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1.Round 6.283 to 1 significant figure.
(a)10
(b)6.3
(c)6
(d)0.6
2.In a sequence, each term is half the term before it. The sequence begins 100, 50, 25. Write down the next term.
(a)0
(b)12.5
(c)12
(d)6.25
3.A rectangular room is drawn on a plan with a scale of 1 : 50. On the plan, the room measures 8 cm by 6 cm. Work out the real area of the room, in square metres.
(a)12 m²
(b)24 m²
(c)120000 m²
(d)0.24 m²
4.A tent's sloping side makes an angle of 45° with the ground. The sloping side is 3√2 m long. Using the exact value of sin 45°, work out the exact height of the tent.
(a)3 m
(b)3√2/2 m
(c)6 m
(d)3√2 m
5.In a survey of 45 students, 22 said they like reading, 18 said they like gaming, and 6 said they like both. Work out how many students like exactly one of reading or gaming.
(a)6
(b)40
(c)28
(d)34
6.The mean of 5 numbers is 8. Work out the total of the 5 numbers.
(a)40
(b)1.6
(c)13
(d)8
7.Write 0.06 as a fraction in its simplest form.
(a)3/5
(b)3/50
(c)1/6
(d)3/500
8.A sequence has the position-to-term rule n² + 1, where n is the position number. Work out how much bigger the 5th term is than the 4th term.
(a)9
(b)7
(c)1
(d)11
9.A laptop bag has a mass of 2.4 kg. A school bag has a mass of 3.6 kg. Write the mass of the laptop bag as a fraction of the mass of the school bag, giving your answer in its simplest form.
(a)2/3
(b)2/5
(c)1/3
(d)3/2
10.A parallelogram has an area of 96 cm² and a base of 8 cm. Work out the perpendicular height of the parallelogram.
(a)12 cm
(b)768 cm
(c)104 cm
(d)24 cm
11.Priya and Ben each want to estimate the probability that a coin lands on heads. Priya flips the coin 50 times and works out her relative frequency. Ben flips the same coin 500 times and works out his relative frequency. Whose relative frequency is more likely to be close to the true probability? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)Ben, because a larger sample is closer to the theory
(b)Neither, because every flip is a separate random event
(c)Ben, because 500 flips must give exactly 250 heads
(d)Priya, because a small sample is less affected by luck
12.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
(a)0.02 cm
(b)0.023 cm
(c)0.0238 cm
(d)0.024 cm
13.Sophie's mother is 34 years old. In x years' time she will be 50 years old. Work out the value of x.
(a)16
(b)24
(c)84
(d)50
14.A laptop is bought for £600. Its value decreases by 20% after 1 year. Work out the value of the laptop after 1 year.
(a)£120.00
(b)£580.00
(c)£480.00
(d)£720.00
15.Write down the exact value of cos 30°.
(a)1
(b)1/2
(c)√2/2
(d)√3/2
16.Write these numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 3, −1, 0, −5
(a)3, 0, −1, −5
(b)−1, −5, 0, 3
(c)0, −1, −5, 3
(d)−5, −1, 0, 3
17.Isla says that the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = −2x + 3 are parallel. Write down the statement that gives the correct answer for the correct reason.
y = 2x + 1y = -2x + 3
(a)Yes, because the gradients 2 and −2 add to 0
(b)No, because their gradients are 2 and −2
(c)Yes, because both gradients have size 2
(d)No, because their y-intercepts are 1 and 3
18.Noah runs 2 km in 10 minutes. Work out how long he takes to run 5 km at the same speed.
(a)50 minutes
(b)20 minutes
(c)15 minutes
(d)25 minutes
19.Four weather stations each recorded their lowest overnight temperature. Which of these readings is the lowest?
(a)−15 °C
(b)−1 °C
(c)−7 °C
(d)0 °C
20.Two mathematically similar jugs have heights 8 cm and 12 cm. The smaller jug holds 200 ml when it is full. Work out how much the larger jug holds when it is full.
(a)675 ml
(b)300 ml
(c)450 ml
(d)900 ml

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.