Free Practice Questions for WJEC GCSE Numeracy
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Key Facts: WJEC GCSE Numeracy Exam
2 units
Unit 1 non-calculator and Unit 2 calculator-allowed, each worth 50%
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy specification
3 tiers
Foundation (C-G), Intermediate (B-E) and Higher (A*-C)
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy specification
1h 30m
Length of each unit at Foundation and Intermediate tiers
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy specification
1h 45m
Length of each unit at Higher tier
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy specification
A*-G
GCSE grading scale used by WJEC in Wales
WJEC GCSE grade points
Summer 2026
Final series for the standalone GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy
Qualifications Wales / WJEC
From 2025
New GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award) first taught, first awarded November 2026
WJEC GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award)
100
Free original applied-numeracy practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy is a Welsh GCSE that tests applying maths to real-life, financial and everyday contexts. It is assessed by two written units, Unit 1 (non-calculator) and Unit 2 (calculator-allowed), each worth 50%; each unit is 1 hour 30 minutes at Foundation and Intermediate tiers and 1 hour 45 minutes at Higher. It is tiered with grade ranges Foundation C-G, Intermediate B-E and Higher A*-C, and there is no single pass mark. Summer 2026 is the last series before the new GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award) is awarded from November 2026. This 100-question bank gives original applied-numeracy practice in pounds-sterling and UK contexts across all six content areas.
Sample WJEC GCSE Numeracy Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the WJEC GCSE Numeracy exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Megan earns £9.60 per hour and works 35 hours in a week. What is her gross weekly pay?
2A jacket costs £80. In a sale it is reduced by 15%. What is the sale price?
3A supermarket sells a 500 g bag of rice for £1.40 and a 2 kg bag for £5.20. Which is better value, and what is the price per kilogram of the cheaper option?
4Dafydd invests £2,000 in a savings account paying 3% simple interest per year. How much interest does he earn after 4 years?
5£500 is invested at 4% compound interest per year. What is the value of the investment after 2 years?
6Sioned's annual salary is £24,000. She pays income tax at 20% on her earnings above the £12,570 tax-free personal allowance. How much income tax does she pay in the year?
7A holidaymaker exchanges £300 into euros at a rate of £1 = €1.16. How many euros does she receive?
8A meal in a restaurant costs £40 before VAT. VAT is charged at 20%. What is the total bill including VAT?
9A phone is priced at £210 after a 30% reduction in a sale. What was its original price?
10Rhys buys a bike for £150 and later sells it for £180. What is his percentage profit?
About the WJEC GCSE Numeracy Exam
WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy is one of two GCSE maths qualifications taken in Wales, usually alongside the separate GCSE Mathematics. It assesses learners' ability to apply mathematics and numeracy to real-life, financial and workplace situations rather than abstract technique. The qualification is tiered (Foundation, Intermediate and Higher) and assessed by two written units: Unit 1 sat without a calculator and Unit 2 with a calculator allowed, each carrying 50% of the marks. Content spans number and calculation, money and financial mathematics, ratio, proportion and percentages, measures and geometry in context, handling data and probability. Summer 2026 is the final series for the standalone qualification before Wales moves to the new GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award).
Exam sponsor: WJEC (CBAC Ltd). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Two written units. Unit 1 is non-calculator and Unit 2 allows a calculator; each unit is worth 50% of the qualification. Papers use short-answer and structured, multi-step real-world problems rather than a fixed multiple-choice count.
Time Limit
Two units. Foundation and Intermediate tiers: each unit 1 hour 30 minutes. Higher tier: each unit 1 hour 45 minutes.
Passing Score
No single pass mark. Graded A*-G with tier-dependent ranges: Foundation C-G, Intermediate B-E, Higher A*-C. Grade boundaries are set per unit and series.
Exam / Certification Fees
Entry fees are paid by the learner's school or college; an individual Welsh school learner does not pay a separate fee to sit the examination.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Money and financial mathematics
Applied financial numeracy: wages, salaries, overtime and deductions, income tax and National Insurance, simple and compound interest, savings, currency conversion, best-buy and unit pricing, budgeting, profit and loss, discount and VAT in pounds sterling.
Number and calculation
Place value, the four operations with and without a calculator, fractions, decimals and percentages of amounts, rounding, estimation and checking, factors, multiples and primes, powers, roots and standard form used to model real quantities.
Ratio, proportion and percentages
Sharing quantities in a given ratio, direct and inverse proportion, scaling recipes and maps, unit conversion by proportion, percentage increase and decrease, reverse percentages and percentage change in everyday and financial settings.
Measures and geometry in context
Metric and imperial measures and conversions, perimeter, area and volume of common shapes, time, timetables and elapsed time, average speed and distance-time relationships, scale drawings and compound measures such as density and flow rate.
Handling data and statistics
Reading and interpreting tables, bar charts, pictograms, pie charts and line graphs; calculating and comparing mean, median, mode and range; and drawing sensible conclusions from data presented in context.
Probability
The 0-1 probability scale, theoretical and experimental (relative-frequency) probability, expected frequency, mutually exclusive events and simple combined events, with answers given as fractions, decimals or percentages.
Preparing for the WJEC GCSE Numeracy Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single pass mark. Graded A*-G with tier-dependent ranges: Foundation C-G, Intermediate B-E, Higher A*-C. Grade boundaries are set per unit and series.
- Assessment: Two written units. Unit 1 is non-calculator and Unit 2 allows a calculator; each unit is worth 50% of the qualification. Papers use short-answer and structured, multi-step real-world problems rather than a fixed multiple-choice count.
- Time limit: Two units. Foundation and Intermediate tiers: each unit 1 hour 30 minutes. Higher tier: each unit 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Exam / certification fees: Entry fees are paid by the learner's school or college; an individual Welsh school learner does not pay a separate fee to sit the examination. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
WJEC GCSE Numeracy: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy and GCSE Mathematics in Wales?
Learners in Wales typically sit two GCSEs: GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy focuses on applying maths to real-life, financial and everyday contexts, while GCSE Mathematics also covers more abstract techniques. Together they recognise the full range of mathematical skills.
How is WJEC GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy assessed?
By two written units. Unit 1 is sat without a calculator and Unit 2 allows a calculator, with each unit worth 50% of the qualification. Papers use short-answer and multi-step real-world problems, and a formula list is provided.
What tiers are available and what grades can I get?
Three tiers: Foundation (grades C-G), Intermediate (B-E) and Higher (A*-C). The school chooses the entry tier based on a learner's expected attainment. There is no single pass mark; grade boundaries are set per unit and series.
Can I use a calculator in the exam?
Only in Unit 2. Unit 1 is a non-calculator paper, so you should practise mental and written methods for arithmetic, percentages, fractions and money calculations as well as calculator techniques for Unit 2.
Is GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy changing?
Yes. Summer 2026 is the last series for the standalone GCSE Mathematics - Numeracy. From September 2025 Wales introduced a new combined GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award), first awarded in November 2026.
Are these official WJEC practice questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the WJEC numeracy style. WJEC provides official specifications, past papers and mark schemes separately on its website.