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.An allotment is divided into two plots in the ratio 2:3. The larger plot has an area of 18 m². Work out the fraction of the total area taken up by the smaller plot.
- 2.A mobile phone plan charges a fixed monthly fee plus an amount for each gigabyte of data used. The total cost £C for using g gigabytes in a month is given by C = 15 + 2g. What does the number 2 represent in this formula?
- 3.Two cars travel at constant speeds. Car A travels 150 km in 3 hours. Car B travels 180 km in 4 hours. Which car is faster, and what is its speed?
- 4.Point C is at (5, 2). It is reflected in the x-axis. Work out the coordinates of the image of point C.
- 5.A fair coin is flipped and a fair three-sided spinner, labelled X, Y and Z, is spun. Every outcome is listed as a pair, such as (H, X). Work out the probability that the outcome is a head and Z.
- 6.The mean of five test scores is 68. Four of the scores are 55, 62, 74 and 80. Work out the fifth score.
- 7.Round 4,685 to the nearest 100.
- 8.Work out the gradient of the straight line with equation 3y = 12 − 6x.
- 9.A ribbon of length 90 cm is cut into two pieces in the ratio 4:5. Work out the length of the shorter piece.
- 10.Write down the term for the distance all the way around the edge of a circle.
- 11.Kwame flips a fair coin three times and writes down what it lands on each time. Work out the probability that it lands on heads all three times.
- 12.The density of a type of plastic is 0.9 g/cm³. Work out this density in kg/m³.
- 13.Point A has coordinates (4, −5). Point B has coordinates (4, 3). Work out the distance between A and B.
- 14.A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours. A lorry travels 160 miles in 4 hours. Write the car's average speed as a fraction of the lorry's average speed, giving your answer in its simplest form.
- 15.An ice cream is made from a cone of radius 3 cm and height 10 cm, topped with a hemisphere of the same radius sitting exactly on top of the cone. Work out the total volume of the ice cream. Use π = 3.14. Give your answer to the nearest whole number. Volume of a cone = 1/3 × πr²h. Volume of a sphere = 4/3 × πr³.
- 16.At a book fair the ratio of fiction books to non-fiction books is 4 : 5. Of the non-fiction books, 3/5 are about history. Work out the fraction of all the books at the fair that are history books.
- 17.Work out the coordinates of the point halfway between (−9, −2) and (−1, −2).
- 18.In a fruit squash mix, the ratio of squash to water is 2 : 9. A shop wants to make up the mix using 3.4 litres of squash. Work out how many litres of water are needed.
- 19.A flight departs at 21:35 and lands at 06:10 the following morning. Work out the total flight time.
- 20.£5000 is invested in an account paying 4% compound interest each year. Work out the total interest earned after 3 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.