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.The graph of y = (x − 4)(x + 1) crosses the x-axis. Which pair gives the correct roots and reasoning?
(a)x = −4 and x = −1, because the roots are always the negative of the numbers shown in the brackets.
(b)x = 4 and x = 1, because both brackets must be positive at the roots.
(c)x = 4 and x = −1, because the graph crosses the x-axis where x − 4 = 0 or x + 1 = 0.
(d)x = −4 and x = 1, because the signs inside the brackets must be reversed to solve them.
3.The table shows values of x and y. x: 3, 5, 8. y: 12, 20, 32. Which statement correctly describes the relationship between x and y?
(a)y is always 4 times x.
(b)y is always double x, plus 6.
(c)y is always x plus 9.
(d)x is always 4 times y.
4.Two identical ladders lean against the same vertical wall from opposite sides, each making an angle of 58.2° with the ground. The two ladders and the ground form a triangle. Work out the size of the angle between the two ladders at the top, where they meet.
(a)121.8
(b)58.2
(c)116.4
(d)63.6
5.A phone network sends automatic text alerts to customers. On average, 1,500 alerts are sent each day, and the probability that a customer replies 'STOP' to an alert is 0.18. Work out how many replies of 'STOP' the network should expect over a 30-day month.
(a)270
(b)8,100
(c)810
(d)5
6.A council wants to find out what all residents of a town think about a new cycle lane. It posts a survey only on its website and asks people to fill it in online. Give a reason why this sample is likely to be biased.
(a)People might lie on an online survey.
(b)The survey is free, so too many people will respond.
(c)Online surveys cannot stay anonymous.
(d)Only internet users reach the website; others are excluded.
7.A charity raises money from a raffle and a cake sale in the ratio 5 : 3. Altogether the charity raises £320. Work out how much money the cake sale raised.
(a)£40
(b)£192
(c)£200
(d)£120
8.Write down the coordinates of the point where the line y = 2x + 4 crosses the y-axis.
y = 2x + 4
(a)(4, 0)
(b)(−2, 0)
(c)(0, 2)
(d)(0, 4)
9.Two mathematically similar containers have a volume scale factor of 64 (the larger container's volume is 64 times the smaller container's volume). Work out the length scale factor between the two containers.
(a)4
(b)8
(c)64
(d)32
10.In triangle ABC and triangle DEF, the angle at A and the angle at D are both 40°, and the angle at B and the angle at E are both 70°. No side lengths are given. Write down whether the two triangles must be similar, with the reason.
(a)No, because the triangles may be different sizes
(b)Yes, by the SSS condition
(c)No, because no side lengths are given
(d)Yes, by the AA condition
11.A card is taken at random from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. The pack contains 4 aces and 4 kings. Work out the probability that the card is an ace or a king.
(a)16/52
(b)8/52
(c)4/52
(d)1/52
12.An allotment plot is divided into vegetables and flowers in the ratio 9 : 4. A third of the vegetable section is used for potatoes. What fraction of the whole plot is potatoes?
(a)3/13
(b)4/39
(c)1/3
(d)9/13
13.Solve 2x + 1 = 9
(a)x = 8
(b)x = 16
(c)x = 4
(d)x = 5
14.A recipe for 6 muffins needs 150 g of flour. Aisha wants to make 15 muffins using the same recipe. Work out how much flour she needs.
(a)375 g
(b)60 g
(c)150 g
(d)300 g
15.A footpath is 3750 m long. Work out this distance in kilometres.
(a)3.75 km
(b)0.375 km
(c)37.5 km
(d)375 km
16.Work out 3.7 × 24.
(a)8.88
(b)88.8
(c)888
(d)87.8
17.A vertical line passes through the point (4, 7). Write down the equation of this line.
(a)y = 7
(b)x = 4
(c)x = 7
(d)y = 4x
18.Two mathematically similar water bottles have a volume scale factor of 8 from the smaller bottle to the larger bottle. Work out the surface area scale factor from the smaller bottle to the larger bottle.
(a)8
(b)4
(c)2
(d)64
19.Work out (8 × 10⁻⁵) × (5 × 10³). Give your answer in standard form.
(a)4 × 10⁻⁸
(b)4 × 10⁻¹⁵
(c)4 × 10⁻¹
(d)40 × 10⁻²
20.Triangle A and triangle B are mathematically similar. A side of triangle A is 5 cm long, and the corresponding side of triangle B is 15 cm long. Write the ratio of the length in triangle A to the length in triangle B in its simplest form.
(a)5 : 15
(b)1 : 3
(c)1 : 2
(d)3 : 1

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.