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.A country's population is 8,340,000, and it is estimated that 1,950,000 of them live in the capital city. By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, work out an estimate for the number of people who do not live in the capital city.
- 2.A caterer uses the formula C = 6p + 20 to work out the total cost, £C, of a buffet for p people, where £20 covers fixed costs. A customer is charged £92. Work out how many people, p, the buffet was for.
- 3.A coach travels 210 miles at an average speed of 70 mph. Work out how long the journey takes.
- 4.A translation is described by the column vector . Write down a description of this translation in words, stating the horizontal and vertical movement.
- 5.In a game, Freddie says the probability of winning is 0.45, the probability of drawing is 0.3 and the probability of losing is 0.35, and that all three of his probabilities are correct. Which statement about Freddie's probabilities is correct?
- 6.A shop recorded the number of books it sold on five days: 100, 40, 70, 20, 60. Work out the range of the numbers of books sold.
- 7.A fruit bowl contains apples, pears and plums in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5. What fraction of the fruit are not plums?
- 8.Work out the equation of the straight line that passes through (−2, 3) and (4, −9).
- 9.A plan is drawn to a scale of 1 : 500. Work out how many metres are represented by 1 cm on the plan.
- 10.A perpendicular bisector is drawn through the midpoint of a line segment AB. Which set of points does this construction show?
- 11.At a gym, 45 members are surveyed. 24 use the running machines, 20 use the weights machines, and 9 use both. Work out how many of the 45 members use neither machine.
- 12.A water tank holds 80 litres when full. It currently contains 60 litres. Work out what fraction of the tank is empty.
- 13.A plumber charges a £35 call-out fee plus £20 for each hour worked, h. On a certain job the total charge was £115. Work out how many hours the plumber worked.
- 14.A box contains 12 red counters and 18 blue counters. Write the number of red counters as a fraction of the number of blue counters. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 15.A ship's radio can be heard up to 30 km from the ship. A lighthouse's light can be seen up to 20 km from the lighthouse. The ship and the lighthouse are 40 km apart along the coast. Describe the region where BOTH the radio can be heard AND the light can be seen.
- 16.Work out the highest common factor of 12 and 18.
- 17.A rectangular field has length (3a + 2) metres and width (a − 1) metres. Write a simplified expression for the perimeter of the field.
- 18.Write the ratio 3/4 : 1/2 as a ratio of whole numbers in its simplest form.
- 19.Write these three numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 7/20, 0.3, 32%
- 20.Rice costs £3.20 per kg. Work out the cost of the rice in pence per 100 g.
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.