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 fruit crate the ratio of oranges to lemons is 5 : 6. What fraction of the fruit in the crate are lemons?
- 2.A point lies on the y-axis. What can be said about the x-coordinate of that point?
- 3.Given that 1 mile ≈ 1.6 km, work out a speed of 55 mph in km/h.
- 4.A circle has a diameter of 24 cm. A sector of this circle has an angle of 90°. Using π = 3.14, work out the area of the sector.
- 5.A basketball player has a free-throw success probability of 0.75. She wants to expect to score 60 successful free throws. Work out how many free throws she needs to attempt.
- 6.A scatter graph plots the number of years, x, that 20 employees have worked at a company against their salary, y. All the plotted points lie between x = 1 and x = 15. Write down the word used to describe an estimate for y made using a value of x that lies between 1 and 15.
- 7.Write 5,000,000 in standard form.
- 8.Expand 4(2x − 3).
- 9.A map has a scale of 1 : 40 000. A cycle path measures 7.5 cm on the map. Work out the real length of the cycle path, in kilometres.
- 10.Two points on a circle divide its circumference into two arcs of different lengths. Write down the name given to the shorter of the two arcs.
- 11.120 people took a driving theory test. A frequency tree records the results. The first pair of branches splits the 120 people into 70 men and 50 women. On the men's branch, 45 passed and the rest failed. On the women's branch, 38 passed and the rest failed. Work out how many of the 120 people failed the test.
- 12.Work out (3 × 10²) × (2 × 10⁵). Give your answer in standard form.
- 13.Solve the simultaneous equations 5x − 2y = 16 and 3x + 2y = 16. Work out the value of x.
- 14.A bag contains 7 red counters and 15 blue counters. Write down the ratio of red counters to blue counters in its simplest form.
- 15.The diagram shows a prism resting on a table. Which shape is its front elevation, the view looking at it from directly in front?
- 16.Work out how many factors 100 has.
- 17.The simple interest, £I, earned on a savings account is given by the formula I = PRT/100, where P is the amount invested in pounds, R is the interest rate per year and T is the time in years. Rearrange the formula to make P the subject.
- 18.Cheng is paid an hourly rate that is proportional to the number of hours she works. She earns £52.50 for 7 hours. Work out how much she earns for 11 hours, assuming the same rate.
- 19.Work out 3 × (−2)² − 5
- 20.The value of a rare coin increases by 12% each year. The coin is currently worth £270. Work out the value of the coin after 2 years, giving your answer to the nearest penny.
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.