12 short questions across all six content areas, designed as a lesson starter or a daily warm-up.

⏱️ Ten-minute starters — Foundation

Maths · GCSE Foundation · 12 questions · ~10 min

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

Twelve short questions, two from each of the six content areas: number, algebra, ratio, geometry, probability and statistics. Nothing here needs more than a minute, and nothing needs a calculator. It is built as a lesson starter — print it, hand it out, take ten minutes, mark it together — and it works just as well as a daily warm-up at home in the fortnight before a mock. The value is in the spread rather than the depth: a student who has spent a week on algebra can find out in ten minutes what a week away from statistics has cost. Generate a new sheet whenever you want a fresh twelve on the same pattern.

1.In a right-angled triangle, θ is one of the acute angles. Write down the trigonometric ratio, in terms of the opposite and adjacent sides, that is used to find θ.
(a)tan θ = adjacent/opposite
(b)cos θ = opposite/adjacent
(c)tan θ = opposite/adjacent
(d)sin θ = opposite/adjacent
2.Isla says that the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = −2x + 3 are parallel. Write down the statement that gives the correct answer for the correct reason.
y = 2x + 1y = -2x + 3
(a)Yes, because the gradients 2 and −2 add to 0
(b)No, because their gradients are 2 and −2
(c)Yes, because both gradients have size 2
(d)No, because their y-intercepts are 1 and 3
3.Work out √144
(a)72
(b)36
(c)12
(d)14
4.On a number line, point A is at −1. Point B is 4 units from point A. Write down the two possible positions of point B.
(a)5 or −3
(b)4 or −4
(c)3 or −5
(d)3 only
5.Write 0.0038 in standard form.
(a)3.8 × 10⁻³
(b)38 × 10⁻⁴
(c)3.8 × 10⁻⁴
(d)3.8 × 10³
6.The simultaneous equations y = 3 and 4x − y = 9 are given. Work out the value of x.
(a)1.5
(b)8
(c)3
(d)12
7.Work out how many factors 36 has.
(a)5
(b)10
(c)8
(d)9
8.Two ordinary fair dice are rolled and the two scores are multiplied together. Work out the probability that the product is odd.
(a)3/4
(b)1/2
(c)1/12
(d)1/4
9.A bus company runs two routes into the centre of Exeter. On ten weekdays the journey time on Route 1 was, in minutes: 22, 23, 24, 24, 25, 25, 26, 26, 27 and 28. On Route 2 it was: 18, 19, 20, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 36 and 38. A commuter must reach the centre on time every day. Work out the mean and the range for each route, and write down which route she should take.
(a)Route 2, as its mean time is lower than Route 1's mean
(b)Route 2, as its fastest journey took only 18 minutes
(c)Either route, as both have a mean time of 25 minutes
(d)Route 1, as its times vary by 6 minutes rather than 20
10.A straight line passes through the points (1, 20) and (5, 8). Work out the gradient of the line.
(a)−1/3
(b)−3
(c)−12
(d)3
11.Triangle ABC is right-angled at B. Triangle DEF is right-angled at E. AB = DE = 6 cm and AC = DF = 10 cm (AC and DF are the hypotenuses of their triangles). A student says this is not enough information to prove the triangles are congruent, because only two sides are given. Which reason shows the student is wrong?
(a)AAA applies, because both triangles have a right angle
(b)The triangles cannot be proved congruent from this information
(c)RHS applies: the right angle, hypotenuse and one matching side are all equal
(d)SSS applies, because all three sides must be equal in any right-angled triangle
12.Write the ratio 4x : 6x in its simplest form, where x is a positive number.
(a)2x:3x
(b)4:6
(c)2:3
(d)3:2

What is on this worksheet?

The sheet holds 12 questions drawn from the MathsUK bank — the content areas covered: Number, Algebra, Ratio, proportion and rates of change, Geometry and measures, Probability, Statistics. It is pitched at GCSE Foundation and takes about 10 minutes to work through in full. It works as a class handout, a homework, or a warm-up before a test.

How to use the sheet well

Print it or open it on screen — both work. Printing is A4; the screen view fits phones and tablets.
Do all 12 questions before checking — about 10 minutes is the guide, but there is no time pressure.
Check the answers — press “Show answers” or print the answer page separately.
Redo the questions you got wrong — twice as effective as doing 12 fresh ones.
“New questions” — builds a fresh sheet on the same statements, so you can practise again without repeats.

Why this sheet helps

MathsUK worksheets use questions graded by difficulty and a fair spread of correct-answer positions (the answer is not always (a)) — so the student really has to think about each question rather than guess a pattern. Every question is tagged to a DfE content statement and checked before it enters the bank. The answers come with a step-by-step explanation, not just a value — so a wrong answer becomes a lesson.

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