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.Write 0.35 as a fraction in its lowest terms.
(a)7/25
(b)35/10
(c)3/10
(d)7/20
2.The mean of four numbers is 12.5. Three of the numbers are 8, 15 and 19. Form an equation using n for the fourth number, and solve it to find n.
(a)−4.5
(b)50
(c)29.5
(d)8
3.A mortar mix is made from sand and cement in the ratio 5 : 3. Write the ratio of sand to the total mix in its simplest form.
(a)8:5
(b)5:8
(c)3:8
(d)5:3
4.Point B is at (3, 5). It is reflected in the line y = 2. Work out the coordinates of the image of point B.
(a)(3, −4)
(b)(3, −1)
(c)(3, −5)
(d)(−3, 5)
5.An ordinary pack of 52 playing cards contains 13 hearts. One card is taken at random from the pack. Work out the probability that the card is not a heart. Give your answer as a percentage.
(a)39%
(b)50%
(c)25%
(d)75%
6.A pupil writes this question for a school survey: “Do you agree that learning matters and that we should be set more homework?” Write down what is wrong with the survey question.
(a)It uses long words that most pupils will not understand
(b)It is too short for the reader to see the point
(c)It is fine, as it can be answered yes or no
(d)It asks two things at once and invites agreement
7.The number 24 can be written as 2³ × 3, and the number 60 can be written as 2² × 3 × 5. Work out the lowest common multiple of 24 and 60.
(a)120
(b)12
(c)1440
(d)60
8.Work out the value of 5m² + 3m when m = −2.4
(a)36
(b)29.4
(c)21.6
(d)−36
9.Two numbers are in the ratio 5 : 8. The larger number is 40. Work out the smaller number.
(a)64
(b)45
(c)25
(d)35
10.Three angles lie on a straight line. They measure 38°, 95° and x°. Work out the value of x.
(a)133
(b)47
(c)227
(d)142
11.Ellie drops a bottle top and records whether it lands open end up. In her first 20 drops it lands open end up 13 times. She carries on, and after 200 drops in total it has landed open end up 84 times. Work out the best estimate of the probability that the bottle top lands open end up.
(a)0.650
(b)0.580
(c)0.535
(d)0.420
12.Work out 1/2 of 1/4 of 80.
(a)20
(b)10
(c)60
(d)40
13.Solve 2x + 7 = x + 13
(a)x = 2
(b)x = 20
(c)x = −6
(d)x = 6
14.A recipe for 4 people needs 300 g of rice. Work out how much rice is needed for 6 people, assuming the amount is in direct proportion to the number of people.
(a)180 g
(b)400 g
(c)200 g
(d)450 g
15.Point A and point B are 5 cm apart. How many points are exactly 4 cm from A and exactly 3 cm from B?
(a)4
(b)0
(c)2
(d)1
16.Work out √49
(a)9
(b)24.5
(c)7
(d)2401
17.The formula for converting a temperature in Fahrenheit, F, to Celsius, C, is C = 5(F − 32) ÷ 9. Work out C, to 1 decimal place, when F = 98.6.
(a)119.9
(b)54.8
(c)66.6
(d)37.0
18.The number of calories burned, E, by a runner is plotted against the time, m minutes, on a straight-line graph. The line passes through the origin and the point (10, 80). Work out the gradient of the line.
(a)90
(b)8
(c)70
(d)0.125
19.A bus leaves the station at 09:47 and arrives at its destination at 11:23. Work out the journey time.
(a)1 hour 24 minutes
(b)2 hours 24 minutes
(c)2 hours 36 minutes
(d)1 hour 36 minutes
20.The number of members of a running club increases from 45 to 54. Work out the percentage increase.
(a)9%
(b)120%
(c)20%
(d)16.7%

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.