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.Write these fractions in order, starting with the smallest: 2/3, 3/5, 5/6, 1/2
(a)1/2, 3/5, 2/3, 5/6
(b)5/6, 2/3, 3/5, 1/2
(c)1/2, 3/5, 5/6, 2/3
(d)1/2, 2/3, 3/5, 5/6
2.The formula connecting distance (d), speed (s) and time (t) is d = st. Make s the subject of the formula.
(a)s = t / d
(b)s = d / t
(c)s = d − t
(d)s = dt
3.Two cars leave the same point at the same time and travel in opposite directions. One travels at 80 km/h and the other at 60 km/h. Work out how long it takes until the cars are 350 km apart.
(a)5 hours
(b)2.5 hours
(c)17.5 hours
(d)4.375 hours
4.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 14 cm. One of the other angles is 30°. Work out the exact length of the side opposite the 30° angle.
(a)28 cm
(b)7 cm
(c)7√3 cm
(d)14/√3 cm
5.A quality inspector examines a sample of 60 items from a production line and finds that 8 are faulty. Using this sample's proportion, work out how many faulty items would be expected in a new batch of 750 items.
(a)1
(b)100
(c)8
(d)75
6.There are 10,000 pupils in a city. A researcher picks a sample of 500 of them by drawing names at random from a list of every pupil in the city. Give the reason why this method gives a representative sample.
(a)Because the pupils most willing to help are chosen
(b)Because the sample must be exactly 5% of the population
(c)Because every pupil has an equal chance of being picked
(d)Because 500 is large enough however they are chosen
7.Work out (−2)³ + (−3)² − (−4)
(a)5
(b)−13
(c)−3
(d)21
8.To rearrange the formula y = 3x − 8 to make x the subject, Priya writes: 'Add 8 to both sides to get y + 8 = 3x, then divide both sides by 3 to get x = y + 8 ÷ 3.' Work out the correct expression for x.
y = 3x − 8
(a)x = 3(y + 8)
(b)x = (y − 8) / 3
(c)x = y + 8 / 3
(d)x = (y + 8) / 3
9.In a bag, the ratio of green counters to yellow counters is 3 : 8. There are 24 yellow counters. A student says, 'There must be 9 green counters.' Is the student correct? Choose the correct verdict and reason.
(a)No, incorrect, because 24 + 3 = 27 green counters.
(b)No, incorrect, because 24 ÷ 3 × 8 = 64.
(c)Yes, correct, because 24 ÷ 8 × 3 = 9.
(d)No, incorrect, because 24 ÷ 8 = 3 green counters.
10.A regular nonagon has 9 sides. Work out the sum of its interior angles.
(a)1260°
(b)1620°
(c)1440°
(d)140°
11.Spinner P and Spinner Q are each fair and have 5 equal sections, numbered 1 to 5. Both spinners are spun once, and every outcome is listed as an ordered pair, Spinner P then Spinner Q, such as (2, 4). Work out how many of the outcomes have the score on Spinner P less than the score on Spinner Q.
(a)4
(b)10
(c)15
(d)20
12.A van has a mass of 2,000 kg, correct to 1 significant figure. Using m for the mass of the van in kilograms, write down the error interval for m.
(a)1,500 ≤ m < 2,500
(b)1,000 ≤ m < 3,000
(c)1,950 ≤ m < 2,050
(d)1,500 < m ≤ 2,500
13.Tom is asked to classify the statement 5(2x − 3) = 10x − 15. Which statement about it is correct?
(a)An equation, since it has an equals sign and unknown x.
(b)An identity, since both sides are equal for every x.
(c)A formula, since it relates two different quantities.
(d)An inequality, since the sides are equal sometimes.
14.A car uses 6 litres of petrol to travel 90 km. Write the ratio of the distance travelled in km to the amount of petrol used in litres, in its simplest form.
(a)15:1
(b)5:2
(c)14:1
(d)1:15
15.A trundle wheel has a diameter of 0.5 m. It is rolled along the ground and makes 20 complete turns. Using π = 3.14, work out the total distance rolled, in metres.
(a)31.4
(b)62.8
(c)3.14
(d)15.7
16.A sponsored walk is 36 km long. Aisha has completed 8/12 of the walk. Work out how far she has walked.
(a)288 km
(b)4.5 km
(c)12 km
(d)24 km
17.Matchsticks are laid out as a row of squares, with each new square sharing a side with the square before it. The first square uses 4 matchsticks and every extra square uses 3 more. Work out how many matchsticks a row of 4 squares uses.
(a)10
(b)16
(c)12
(d)13
18.In a fruit bowl, the ratio of apples to oranges is 5 : 3. Work out what percentage of the fruit in the bowl is apples.
(a)37.5%
(b)62.5%
(c)160%
(d)50%
19.Which of these statements about −0.7 and −0.25 is true?
(a)−0.7 = −0.25
(b)−0.7 < −0.25
(c)−0.7 ≥ −0.25
(d)−0.7 > −0.25
20.A cyclist travels 18 km in 45 minutes. Work out the average speed, in km/h.
(a)40 km/h
(b)24 km/h
(c)13.5 km/h
(d)0.4 km/h

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.