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.In a box of chocolates 5/8 are milk chocolates and the rest are dark chocolates. Work out the number of dark chocolates as a fraction of the number of milk chocolates.
- 2.A square has vertices at (−2, 3), (−2, −3) and (4, −3). Write down the coordinates of the fourth vertex.
- 3.A post 2 metres tall casts a shadow 3 metres long. At the same time a nearby tree casts a shadow 12 metres long. Work out the height of the tree.
- 4.A hiker walks due west. What is the three-figure bearing for this direction?
- 5.A jar contains counters that are pink, gold or grey only. The probability that a counter taken at random is pink is 0.2 and the probability that it is gold is 0.45. The jar contains 60 counters in total. Work out the number of grey counters.
- 6.A sector of a pie chart stands for 25% of the data. Work out the angle at the centre of that sector.
- 7.Put these numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 3.2 × 10⁴, 2.9 × 10⁵, 4.1 × 10³
- 8.A geometric sequence starts at 4, and each term after that is found by multiplying the term before it by 3. Write down the first four terms of the sequence.
- 9.A train travels at a constant speed of 90 km/h. Work out the speed in m/s.
- 10.In pentagon PQRST, which of the following correctly names the interior angle at vertex R, using standard three-letter angle notation?
- 11.A bag contains 20 counters. 8 of the counters are red and 12 are blue. A counter is taken at random, its colour is recorded, and it is put back in the bag. This is done 150 times. Work out how many red counters you would expect to be recorded.
- 12.Work out the value of √64.
- 13.Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence: 4, 7, 10, 13, 16. Work out the 9th term.
- 14.A force of 20 N acts on an area of 4 m². Using pressure = force ÷ area, work out the pressure, in pascals.
- 15.The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 1980°. Work out the number of sides of the polygon.
- 16.Write down the value of 3⁰
- 17.Write down the expression that means the same as m × m × m × n.
- 18.A scale drawing of a park has a scale of 1 : 2500. On the drawing, the distance between the entrance and the lake is 4.4 cm. A jogger runs from the entrance to the lake and then back to the entrance. Work out the total distance the jogger runs, in kilometres.
- 19.A jug holds 3 1/3 litres of juice. Each glass holds 2/3 of a litre. Work out how many glasses can be filled from the jug.
- 20.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?
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.