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%.

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GCSE Foundation sample Paper 2 (calculator)

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Paper 2 · Calculator · 20 questions

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1.Which of these numbers lies between −4 and −1 on a number line?
(a)−5
(b)2
(c)0
(d)−2
2.To solve 5x − 4 = 2x + 8, Chloe's working is shown. Line 1: 5x − 4 = 2x + 8. Line 2: 3x − 4 = 8. Line 3: 3x = 4. Line 4: x = 4/3. Chloe has made a mistake in her working. Which line contains the mistake?
(a)Line 1
(b)Line 2
(c)Line 4
(d)Line 3
3.A coach travels the 54 miles from London to Brighton in 1 hour 30 minutes. Work out the average speed of the coach, in mph.
(a)1.8 mph
(b)41.54 mph
(c)81 mph
(d)36 mph
4.Write down the name given to a quadrilateral that has exactly one pair of parallel sides.
(a)Kite
(b)Rhombus
(c)Trapezium
(d)Parallelogram
5.A red fair dice and a blue fair dice are rolled together. Every outcome is listed as an ordered pair, red score then blue score. Work out the probability that the red score is less than the blue score.
(a)7/12
(b)5/12
(c)5/36
(d)1/2
6.Amelia's mean mark over four tests is 29. Her first three marks are 31, 26 and 26. Work out her fourth mark.
(a)116
(b)4
(c)33
(d)29
7.A photography studio offers 4 backdrops and 3 outfits for a portrait session. The plain grey backdrop, one of the 4 backdrops, cannot be used with the formal suit outfit, one of the 3 outfits. Work out how many different backdrop-and-outfit combinations are possible.
(a)10
(b)8
(c)11
(d)12
8.Which expression means the same as a × a × a?
(a)a²
(b)3a
(c)a³
(d)3 + a
9.Isla and her brother share £60 in the ratio 1:2. Work out Isla's share.
(a)£40
(b)£20
(c)£120
(d)£30
10.Triangle PQR has angle P = 90°. The side PQ = 9 cm and the hypotenuse QR = 15 cm. Work out the length of PR.
(a)17.5 cm
(b)24 cm
(c)12 cm
(d)6 cm
11.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled. Work out the probability that both dice show the same score.
(a)1/3
(b)1/6
(c)1/36
(d)1/2
12.Work out the value of 6² − 4³.
(a)100
(b)28
(c)−28
(d)0
13.The diagram shows the graph of a quadratic function. Which equation could it represent?
(a) $y = x^{2} - x - 6$
(b) $y = x^{2} - x - 2$
(c) $y = x^{2} + 2 x - 3$
(d) $y = x^{2} - 2 x - 3$
14.A rope of length A is 1.5 times as long as a rope of length B. Write the ratio A : B in its simplest form.
(a)2 : 3
(b)3 : 5
(c)3 : 2
(d)1.5 : 1
15.A robot on a grid moves by the vector $(- 2 3)$ , then by the vector $(5 - 7)$ , then by the vector $(1 4)$ . Write down the single column vector that has the same overall effect as these three moves.
(a) $(- 6 14)$
(b) $(0 4)$
(c) $(3 - 4)$
(d) $(4 0)$
16.A car travels 180 km using 6 litres of fuel. Work out the car's fuel consumption in kilometres per litre, then work out how many kilometres it can travel on a full tank of 12 litres at this rate.
(a)2160 km
(b)30 km
(c)90 km
(d)360 km
17.A car passes the 15 km marker on a road and passes the 195 km marker 3 hours later. Work out the gradient of the distance-time graph, that is the rate of change of distance with time.
(a)3 km/h
(b)60 km/h
(c)195 km/h
(d)180 km/h
18.Two mathematically similar flags are made in different sizes. The length scale factor from the smaller flag to the larger flag is 5. Work out the area scale factor from the smaller flag to the larger flag.
(a)25
(b)125
(c)10
(d)5
19.Round 4,685 to the nearest 100.
(a)5,000
(b)4,700
(c)4,600
(d)4,690
20.x × y is used to test whether two quantities are in inverse proportion. For the pairs x = 4, y = 15 and x = 6, y = 10, which statement is correct?
(a)They are not in inverse proportion, because y ÷ x is different for each pair (3.75 and 1.67).
(b)They are in inverse proportion, because x × y = 60 for both pairs.
(c)They are in inverse proportion, because x × y = 40 for both pairs.
(d)They are not in inverse proportion, because x + y is different for each pair (19 and 16).

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.