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 3/4 − 5/12 exactly, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 2.In the expression 5x² − 3x + 7, which of these is a single term of the expression?
- 3.A necklace uses 22 blue beads and 8 red beads. Write the number of blue beads as a fraction of the number of red beads. Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
- 4.A parallelogram has an area of 84 cm² and a base of 12 cm. Work out the perpendicular height of the parallelogram.
- 5.A fair coin is flipped three times. Work out the probability of getting at least one head.
- 6.Five friends have heights, in cm, of 150, 152, 155, 158 and 160. A sixth friend, with a height of 170 cm, joins the group. Write down what happens to the mean and the range of the heights once this sixth friend is included.
- 7.Amelia estimates 48 × 21 by working out 50 × 20 = 1,000. Work out whether her estimate is an under-estimate or an over-estimate, and by how much.
- 8.The diagram shows part of the graph of a reciprocal function of the form , passing through the labelled point. Work out the value of k.
- 9.Write the ratio 18:22 in its simplest form.
- 10.Write down how many right angles a right-angled triangle has.
- 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.Freya types 4² + 3² into her calculator and writes down 49. Work out the correct value of 4² + 3².
- 13.A straight line passes through the points (−1, 2) and (3, 14). Work out the equation of the line.
- 14.A textbook is reduced from £60 to £45. Work out the percentage reduction.
- 15.Triangle ABC has AB = 8 cm, angle B = 50° and BC = 6 cm. Triangle DEF has DE = 8 cm, angle E = 50° and EF = 6 cm. Which condition proves the two triangles are congruent?
- 16.Is 120 divisible by 5? Give a reason for your answer.
- 17.Factorise x² − 64.
- 18.A recipe for 4 people needs 300 g of rice. Work out how much rice is needed for 6 people, assuming the amount is in direct proportion to the number of people.
- 19.Work out an estimate for 6.4 × 3.9, by rounding each number to the nearest whole number.
- 20.The number of pupils who walk to school is 3 times the number who cycle. Write the ratio of the number who cycle to the number who walk, 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.