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.Work out 250 ÷ 1000.
(a)25
(b)0.025
(c)2.5
(d)0.25
2.Solve x² + 7x = 0.
(a)x = 0 or x = 7
(b)x = 0 or x = −14
(c)x = 0 or x = −7
(d)x = −7
3.A delivery driver travels 45 km in the first 30 minutes of a journey, and then a further 75 km in the next 1 hour. Work out her average speed for the whole journey, in km/h.
(a)80 km/h
(b)75 km/h
(c)82.5 km/h
(d)60 km/h
4.A sector of a circle has an angle of 90° and an area of 78.5 cm². Using π = 3.14, work out the radius of the circle.
(a)10 cm
(b)20 cm
(c)100 cm
(d)5 cm
5.At a quiz night, each team's result is a win, a draw or a loss, and no team can have more than one of these results. The probability that a team wins is 42% and the probability that a team draws is 18.5%. Work out the probability, as a percentage, that a team does not win and does not draw.
(a)58.0%
(b)60.5%
(c)39.5%
(d)81.5%
6.A scatter graph shows the midday temperature, x °C, and the number of ice creams sold at a seaside kiosk, y. The line of best fit is y = 3x − 20. Give a reason why the y-intercept of this line of best fit is not a sensible estimate of the number of ice creams sold.
y = 3x − 20
(a)x = 0 gives y = −20: a negative number sold
(b)x = 0 gives y = 3, so 3 ice creams still sell
(c)Sales rise without limit as temperature rises
(d)y = −20 means 20 ice creams were given away
7.Find the missing number: ▢ ÷ 15 = 24
(a)360
(b)39
(c)9
(d)1.6
8.Solve 4x² − 9 = 0.
(a)x = 3/2 or x = −3/2
(b)x = 3/2 only
(c)x = 3 or x = −3
(d)x = 9/4 or x = −9/4
9.The population of a village is 1200. It is predicted to grow by 5% next year. Work out the predicted population after 1 year, to the nearest whole number.
(a)1260
(b)1800
(c)1205
(d)60
10.A solid has 10 vertices and 15 edges. Using the formula F + V − E = 2, work out how many faces it has.
(a)7
(b)3
(c)5
(d)27
11.A seed company tests germination using results from three greenhouses. Greenhouse 1 plants 200 seeds and 172 germinate. Greenhouse 2 plants 150 seeds and 126 germinate. Greenhouse 3 plants 250 seeds and 212 germinate. Using the combined results from all three greenhouses, work out the best estimate of the number of seeds, out of a new batch of 4000 seeds, that would be expected to germinate.
(a)3360
(b)510
(c)3440
(d)3400
12.A crowd of 8,400 people is recorded correct to the nearest 100. Work out the smallest possible number of people in the crowd.
(a)8,350
(b)8,450
(c)8,390
(d)8,300
13.Which expression means 'y squared, multiplied by 3'?
(a)3y²
(b)y³
(c)(3y)²
(d)3 + y²
14.A coach travels 210 miles at an average speed of 70 mph. Work out how long the journey takes.
(a)14700 hours
(b)140 hours
(c)3 hours
(d)280 hours
15.A radar station is at the origin of a grid, where each unit represents 1 km. A boat is detected at the point (7, 24). Work out the boat's distance from the station, then work out how many hours it will take the boat to reach the station travelling directly towards it at 5 km per hour.
(a)0.2 hours
(b)25 hours
(c)5 hours
(d)125 hours
16.Write these three numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 7/20, 0.3, 32%
(a)7/20, 32%, 0.3
(b)0.3, 32%, 7/20
(c)0.3, 7/20, 32%
(d)32%, 0.3, 7/20
17.Solve 3x + 14 = 8x − 6
(a)x = 15
(b)x = 2.5
(c)x = 4
(d)x = −1.6
18.In a fruit bowl, the number of bananas is 3/4 of the number of apples. There are 16 apples in the bowl. Write the number of apples as a fraction of the number of bananas. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(a)3/4
(b)4/3
(c)4/7
(d)4/1
19.Round 592.5 to the nearest 10.
(a)600
(b)500
(c)590
(d)595
20.Write the ratio 0.75 : 2 as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
(a)0.75 : 2
(b)75 : 200
(c)3 : 2
(d)3 : 8

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.