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 standard form, 2,000 is written as 2 × 10ⁿ. Write down the value of n.
- 2.A sequence starts at 2. Each term after that is found using the rule "double the previous term, then add 1". Work out the 4th term of the sequence.
- 3.A spring's extension is directly proportional to the force applied to it. A force of 5 N produces an extension of 12 mm. Work out the extension produced by a force of 20 N.
- 4.A sector of a circle has radius 8 cm and takes up three-quarters of the full circle. Work out the perimeter of the sector, in terms of π.
- 5.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled and the two scores are multiplied together. Work out the probability that the product is odd.
- 6.Harry counted the coins he found on each of six days: 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 30. Write down the outlier.
- 7.Work out (−6) + (−4) × 3
- 8.Make x the subject of the formula y = 3(x + 2).
- 9.In a recipe the mass of chocolate to the mass of milk is in the ratio 1:4. Amelia uses 200 g of milk. Work out the mass of chocolate she needs.
- 10.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 8 cm, and one of its shorter sides is 4 cm. Work out the size of the angle between that 4 cm side and the hypotenuse.
- 11.A bag contains 3 red beads and 7 blue beads. A bead is taken out at random and not put back. A second bead is then taken out at random. Work out the probability that the first bead is red and the second bead is also red.
- 12.Write these three numbers in order, starting with the smallest: 7/20, 0.3, 32%
- 13.A school trip costs a £15 deposit plus £9 per student for the coach. The total cost for a class is £186. Work out how many students went on the trip.
- 14.Two mathematically similar rectangles have widths 5 cm and 10 cm. The perimeter of the smaller rectangle is 18 cm. Work out the perimeter of the larger rectangle.
- 15.A sector of a circle has an angle of 150°. Work out what fraction of the circle's area the sector is.
- 16.In a youth club the number of girls is 2/3 of the number of boys. What fraction of the members of the club are girls?
- 17.Expand 4(2x − 3).
- 18.Freya buys three items whose prices are in the ratio 2:3:5. Altogether she pays £400. Work out the price of the most expensive item.
- 19.The thickness of a sheet of card is 0.02384 cm. Write this thickness correct to 2 significant figures.
- 20.A jar contains 24 green sweets and 16 orange sweets. Write the ratio of green sweets to orange sweets in its simplest form.
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.