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 (2/3)² + (1/2)². Give your answer as a fraction.
- 2.The point A lies on the x-axis. Which statement about A must be true?
- 3.Two investors put money into a business in the ratio 3:5. The first investor puts in £1,200. Work out the total amount invested by both investors.
- 4.A carpenter cuts two triangular metal brackets for a shelf. Bracket P has sides of 12 cm, 16 cm and 20 cm. Bracket Q has sides of 16 cm, 20 cm and 12 cm, listed in a different order. Before fitting them as a matching pair, the carpenter wants to check they are exactly the same shape and size. Which of the following correctly justifies this?
- 5.The probability that it rains in Manchester tomorrow is 1/12. Work out the probability that it does not rain in Manchester tomorrow.
- 6.The mean of the numbers x, 20 and 30 is equal to the mean of the numbers 15 and 25. Work out the value of x.
- 7.Work out the highest common factor of 15 and 25.
- 8.The graph of t = 240 ÷ s shows how the time, t hours, taken for a car journey of 240 miles depends on its average speed, s mph. Use the relationship to work out the time taken when the average speed is 48 mph.
- 9.Three business partners share a profit of £48,000 in the ratio 3:5:4. Work out how much the partner with 5 parts receives.
- 10.A survey team measures the angle between two fences with a protractor and gets a reading of 254°. What type of angle is this?
- 11.A fair six-sided dice is rolled 120 times. Work out how many of the rolls you would expect to give a score of 3 or more.
- 12.Work out the value of √49 + ∛27
- 13.Four sequences are shown below. Sequence P: 4, 8, 16, 32, ... Sequence Q: 4, 8, 12, 16, ... Sequence R: 4, 7, 12, 19, ... Sequence S: 4, 9, 16, 25, ... Work out which of the sequences P, Q, R and S is geometric.
- 14.The ratio of the number of pages Mia has read to the number of pages Leo has read is 7 : 4. Mia has read 84 pages. Work out how many pages they have read altogether.
- 15.A circle has centre O. Radii OA and OB are drawn, together with the arc AB, enclosing a sector. The straight chord AB is also drawn. Write down the name of the region enclosed between the chord AB and the arc AB.
- 16.A number is multiplied by 4, then 8 is added, giving the result 40. Work out the number.
- 17.Given that (x − 4)(x + 9) = 0, write down the two solutions of x.
- 18.A science technician mixes 400 g of a salt solution of concentration 5% with 100 g of a salt solution of concentration 25%. Work out the concentration of the mixture.
- 19.A rectangular field measures 19.6 m by 48.3 m. Work out an estimate for the area of the field, by rounding each length to 1 significant figure.
- 20.A fruit squash is made by mixing squash and water. In a jug, 2/9 of the total volume is squash. A caterer makes up 4.5 litres of the squash mixture. Work out how many litres of squash are in the mixture.
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.