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)
MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk
- 1.Grace works out 7 × 99 by writing 99 as 100 − 1. Use her method to work out 7 × 99.
- 2.A straight line passes through the points (−1, 2) and (3, 14). Work out the equation of the line.
- 3.A printer's ink cartridge level, I millilitres, is plotted against the number of pages printed, p, and the points lie on a straight line. The line passes through (0, 24) and (300, 9). The printer has now printed 300 pages. Work out how many more pages it can print before the cartridge is empty.
- 4.Two straight roads cross at a junction. The angle between them, measured with a protractor, is 118°. What is the size of the angle vertically opposite to it?
- 5.The probability that it rains on a given morning is 0.3. If it rains, the probability that Priya's bus is late is 0.8. If it does not rain, the probability that her bus is late is 0.1. Work out the probability that her bus is late.
- 6.Five pupils spent these numbers of minutes on their homework: 50, 65, 55, 90, 60. Work out the median time.
- 7.A cheetah runs at a steady speed of 25 metres per second. Work out this speed in kilometres per hour.
- 8.Solve 6x + 4 = 28
- 9.A metal has a density of 7.8 g/cm³. Work out the density of the metal in kg/m³.
- 10.Two similar triangles have lengths in the ratio 3 : 4. The perimeter of the smaller triangle is 24 cm. Work out the perimeter of the larger triangle.
- 11.A fair six-sided dice is rolled once. Write down the probability of rolling a 6.
- 12.A shop assistant says that 7.2 × 3.9 = 56.16. Work out an estimate for 7.2 × 3.9, by rounding each number to the nearest whole number, to show that the assistant’s answer cannot be correct.
- 13.A rectangle has area 24x + 18. Ffion factorises the area as 6(4x + 3). Work out the value of the area when x = 2, and decide whether 6 and (4x + 3) are correctly identified as factors of 24x + 18.
- 14.The ratio of Josh's savings to Mia's savings is 4:7. Mia has £39 more than Josh. Work out Josh's savings.
- 15.The curved part of a circle's circumference, between two points on the circle, has its own name. Write down this name.
- 16.Which of these decimals lies between 1/4 and 2/5?
- 17.In a shop a shirt costs £x and a pair of trousers costs £(2x + 30). Together the two items cost at least £150. Work out the lowest possible price of the shirt.
- 18.A scale drawing states '1 cm represents 25 m'. Which of these is the correct way to write this scale in the form 1 : n?
- 19.In a fruit crate the ratio of oranges to lemons is 5 : 6. What fraction of the fruit in the crate are lemons?
- 20.Aisha invests £3200 in Account A, which pays 5% compound interest each year. She also invests £3200 in Account B, which pays 3% simple interest each year. Work out how much more Account A is worth than Account B after 2 years.
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.