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.On one night in Manchester the temperature at 3 am was 8 °C below zero and at 9 am it was 3 °C below zero. Write down the warmer of the two readings.
- 2.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?y = -2x² + 5
- 3.A vegetable patch is divided between carrots, potatoes and onions in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. Write down the fraction of the patch used for potatoes.
- 4.A scale drawing of a rectangular lawn uses a scale of 1 : 125. On the drawing, the lawn measures 4 cm by 2.4 cm. Work out the perimeter of the real lawn, in metres.
- 5.The probability that a spinner lands on blue is 2/5. Write this probability as a percentage.
- 6.The lowest temperature in a garden in Sheffield was recorded on each of seven days: 3 °C, 5 °C, 2 °C, 7 °C, 4 °C, 6 °C and 3 °C. Write down what the range of these seven temperatures describes.
- 7.The number of pages in a book is 240, correct to the nearest 10 pages. Write down the error interval for the actual number of pages, n.
- 8.The first five square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25. Write down the next square number in the sequence.
- 9.The price of a share falls by 10% on Monday and then rises by 10% on Tuesday. Work out the overall percentage change from Monday's starting price.
- 10.A raised garden bed is a prism whose cross-section is a triangle with a base of 1.2 m and a perpendicular height of 0.8 m. The bed is 3 m long. Work out the volume of soil needed to fill it, in m³.
- 11.A fair six-sided dice is rolled 300 times. Work out how many more times you would expect it to land on an even number than on a six.
- 12.Work out 3³ + 2⁴.
- 13.Solve the inequality x + 5 < 12.
- 14.A concrete block exerts a force of 45 N on the ground through a base with an area of 0.05 m². Work out the pressure on the ground, in N/m².
- 15.P is the point (3, 4) and Q is the point (6, 0). Work out the distance of each point from the origin, and write down which point is closer to the origin.
- 16.A jumper is reduced by 15% in a sale to a price of £42.50. Work out the original price.
- 17.A ramp rises 3 m over a horizontal distance of 12 m. Work out the gradient of the ramp.
- 18.Write 400 g : 1.5 kg as a ratio in its simplest form.
- 19.3/5 of a 5/6 litre bottle of juice is poured out. Work out the exact volume poured out, in litres.
- 20.Which of these ratios is equivalent to 5 : 4?
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.