Foundation Tier - Grades 3-5

Foundation Core B

Foundation fluency with graphs, sequences, compound measures and shape.

22 questions - 60 marks - calculator allowed

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Questions

Question 1 [1 marks]

Angles and Geometrical Reasoning

Which of these gives the sum of the interior angles, in degrees, of a polygon with n sides?

Question 2 [1 marks]

Area, Volume and Measures

Convert 3.5 m to cm.

Question 3 [2 marks]

Graphs and Coordinates

For each equation, write down the gradient and the y-intercept of the line.

y = 5x - 2

y = -3x + 7

Question 4 [2 marks]

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

Aisha says that 1/3 is bigger than 3/10. Decide whether Aisha is correct. You must show working to support your decision.

Question 5 [2 marks]

Ratio and Proportion

Write the ratio 9:36 in the form 1:n.

Question 6 [2 marks]

Linear Algebra

Solve x / (-3) = 6

Question 7 [2 marks]

Number and Calculation

Two numbers are each given correct to the nearest whole number: p = 14 and q = 9. Work out the lower bound of p + q.

Question 8 [3 marks]

Sequences

Three sequences are shown below. Sequence A: 7, 11, 15, 19 Sequence B: 4, 12, 36, 108 Sequence C: 3, 6, 11, 18

State whether Sequence A is arithmetic, geometric, or neither of these. Give a reason for your answer.

State whether Sequence B is arithmetic, geometric, or neither of these. Give a reason for your answer.

State whether Sequence C is arithmetic, geometric, or neither of these. Give a reason for your answer.

Question 9 [5 marks]

Statistics and Probability

A pictogram shows the number of pupils who chose each activity for a school trip day, using the key 1 symbol = 1 pupil. Alton Towers: 5 symbols. London Zoo: 3 symbols. Warwick Castle: 2 symbols. Chessington: 6 symbols.

Write down the number of pupils who chose Warwick Castle.

List the four activities in order of popularity, starting with the most popular.

Work out the total number of pupils who took part in the survey.

Question 10 [1 marks]

Number and Calculation

Work out (-3) x 4.

Question 11 [1 marks]

Angles and Geometrical Reasoning

A solid has stacks on a 2 by 2 grid with heights (in unit cubes) Front-left 2, Front-right 1, Back-left 1, Back-right 1. How many unit cubes make up the solid in total?

Question 12 [1 marks]

Graphs and Coordinates

Which quadrant contains the point C with coordinates (-6, 2)?

Question 13 [2 marks]

Area, Volume and Measures

Trapezium 1 has parallel sides of length 8 cm and 15 cm. Trapezium 2 is mathematically similar to trapezium 1. The side in trapezium 2 corresponding to the 8 cm side has length 5.6 cm.

Question 14 [2 marks]

Number and Calculation

Estimate 246 × 78 by rounding each number to 1 significant figure before multiplying.

Question 15 [3 marks]

Angles and Geometrical Reasoning

Triangle ABC has side lengths AB = 7 cm, BC = 8 cm and AC = 9 cm. Construct the perpendicular bisectors of two sides to find the circumcentre. Calculate the circumradius (to 3 significant figures).

Question 16 [3 marks]

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

The population of a small town is 1200. It falls by 5% one year and then rises by 10% the next year. Work out the population after these two changes. Give your answer to the nearest whole person.

Question 17 [4 marks]

Ratio and Proportion

A lorry travels 240 km in 3 hours. Part (a): Work out its average speed in km/h. Part (b): The lorry then continues at the same speed for 2 hours. Work out the extra distance it covers.

Work out the average speed.

Work out the extra distance covered in 2 hours at the same speed.

Question 18 [4 marks]

Number and Calculation

A photographer charges a base fee of £45 plus £12 per hour. Noah hires the photographer for 3.5 hours. (a) Work out the total cost. (b) Work out the average cost per hour, correct to the nearest penny.

Question 19 [4 marks]

Area, Volume and Measures

A vertical stick of height 1.2 m casts a shadow 2 m long. At the same time, a nearby vertical flagpole casts a shadow 12 m long. The stick and its shadow, and the flagpole and its shadow, can be modelled as two similar right-angled triangles.

Explain why the two triangles are similar.

Work out the height of the flagpole. Give your answer in metres.

Question 20 [6 marks]

Ratio and Proportion

A car being driven at a constant average speed takes 3 hours to complete a journey when its average speed is 60 mph. The time taken, T hours, for the journey is inversely proportional to the average speed, S mph.

Find a formula for T in terms of S.

Work out the time taken for the same journey if the average speed is 40 mph. Give your answer in hours and minutes.

Question 21 [7 marks]

Statistics and Probability

A library shelf holds 8 fiction books and 12 non-fiction books only. Sophie picks two books from the shelf at random, one after another, without replacement.

Complete the probability tree diagram, writing each missing probability as a fraction.

Calculate the probability that both books are fiction.

Calculate the probability that exactly one of the two books is fiction.

Question 22 [2 marks]

Number and Calculation

Work out (-8) + 15 - 6.

Model solutions

Mark scheme for Question 1 [1 mark]
Question 1[1 mark]
Answer or workingMarks
BB1cao
Final answer: B) (n - 2) x 180
Mark scheme for Question 2 [1 mark]
Question 2[1 mark]
Answer or workingMarks
350B1cao
Final answer: 350 cm
Mark scheme for Question 3 [2 marks]
Question 3[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
gradient = 5 and y-intercept = (0, -2), both correctB1
gradient = -3 and y-intercept = (0, 7), both correctB1
Final answer: Gradient = 5, y-intercept = (0, -2) | Gradient = -3, y-intercept = (0, 7)
Mark scheme for Question 4 [2 marks]
Question 4[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
correct working, e.g. converting to a common denominator: 1/3 = 10/30 and 3/10 = 9/30B1
correct conclusion that Aisha is correct, since 10/30 > 9/30B1
Final answer: Aisha is correct, since 1/3 = 10/30 and 3/10 = 9/30, and 10/30 > 9/30.
Mark scheme for Question 5 [2 marks]
Question 5[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
divide both parts by 9M1oe
1:4A1cao
Mark scheme for Question 6 [2 marks]
Question 6[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
both sides multiplied by -3M1oe
x = -18A1cao
Mark scheme for Question 7 [2 marks]
Question 7[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
lower bound of p = 13.5 and lower bound of q = 8.5M1oe
22A1cao
Mark scheme for Question 8 [3 marks]
Question 8[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
arithmetic, since the terms have a common difference of 4B1oe
geometric, since the terms have a common ratio of 3B1oe
neither, since the differences (3, 5, 7) are not constant and the ratios are not constantB1oe
Final answer: Arithmetic (common difference of 4) | Geometric (common ratio of 3) | Neither (it is a quadratic sequence)
Mark scheme for Question 9 [5 marks]
Question 9[5 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
2B1cao
at least three activities correctly placed relative to each otherM1oe
Chessington, Alton Towers, London Zoo, Warwick CastleA1cao
5 + 3 + 2 + 6M1oe
16A1cao
Final answer: 2 | Chessington, Alton Towers, London Zoo, Warwick Castle | 16
Mark scheme for Question 10 [1 mark]
Question 10[1 mark]
Answer or workingMarks
-12B1cao
Mark scheme for Question 11 [1 mark]
Question 11[1 mark]
Answer or workingMarks
5B1cao
Final answer: 5 (2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5 unit cubes).
Mark scheme for Question 12 [1 mark]
Question 12[1 mark]
Answer or workingMarks
Quadrant II or Q2B1oe
Final answer: Quadrant II
Mark scheme for Question 13 [2 marks]
Question 13[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
scale factor = 5.6/8 oe (= 0.7)M1
10.5 (cm)A1cao
Final answer: 10.5 cm
Mark scheme for Question 14 [2 marks]
Question 14[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
round 246->200 and 78->80 to 1 s.f. and multiplyM1oe
16000A1cao
Mark scheme for Question 15 [3 marks]
Question 15[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
use Heron to find area: s = 12, area = sqrt(12(12-7)(12-8)(12-9)) = sqrt(720)M1
use circumradius formula R = abc/(4*area) with a=8, b=9, c=7M1
R = 7*8*9/(4*sqrt(720)) approx 4.70 cmA1awrt
Final answer: Circumradius R approx 4.70 cm (to 3 s.f.). Computation: s = 12, area = sqrt(720) approx 26.8328, R = 504/(4*26.8328) approx 4.698 -> 4.70.
Mark scheme for Question 16 [3 marks]
Question 16[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
apply decrease: 1200 x 0.95 = 1140M1
apply increase: 1140 x 1.10 = 1254M1
1254 peopleA1cao
Mark scheme for Question 17 [4 marks]
Question 17[4 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
use speed = distance/time, 240/3M1
80 km/hA1cao
distance = speed x time, 80 x 2M1
160 kmA1cao
Final answer: 80 km/h | 160 km
Mark scheme for Question 18 [4 marks]
Question 18[4 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
calculates 45 + 12 × 3.5M1
£87.00A1cao
divides total cost by 3.5 correctlyM1
£24.86 cao (rounded to nearest penny)A1
Final answer: £87.00 | £24.86 per hour (to nearest penny).
Mark scheme for Question 19 [4 marks]
Question 19[4 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
both triangles have a right angle (object vertical to horizontal ground) and the same angle of elevation of the sun (parallel light rays), so they are similar (AA)B1
scale factor = 12/2 oe (= 6)M1
1.2 x their scale factorM1
7.2 (m)A1cao
Final answer: a) AA similarity (right angle and equal angle of elevation) b) 7.2 m
Mark scheme for Question 20 [6 marks]
Question 20[6 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
T = k/S oe seenM1
3 = k/60 solved (dependent on previous M1)dM1
T = 180/SA1oe
180/40 (ft their formula)M1
4.5 hoursA1oe
4 hours 30 minutesB1ft
Final answer: T = 180/S | 4 hours 30 minutes
Mark scheme for Question 21 [7 marks]
Question 21[7 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
7/19 and 12/19 on the branches after FictionB1
8/19 and 11/19 on the branches after Non-fictionB1
8/20 x 7/19M1
14/95 oe (e.g. 56/380, awrt 0.147)A1
8/20 x 12/19 (or 12/20 x 8/19) for one correct routeM1
8/20 x 12/19 + 12/20 x 8/19 (both routes added)M1
48/95 oe (e.g. 192/380, awrt 0.505)A1
Final answer: After Fiction: Fiction 7/19, Non-fiction 12/19. After Non-fiction: Fiction 8/19, Non-fiction 11/19 | 14/95 | 48/95
Mark scheme for Question 22 [2 marks]
Question 22[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
-8 + 15 (= 7) (oe), or equivalent complete methodM1
1A1cao