Mark Scheme
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCSE
In Mathematics
Foundation (Calculator) Paper 3F
,Mark Scheme for Edexcel GCSE Mathematics Foundation Paper 3
Five Year Past Paper Question Analysis by topic and frequency
1. Arithmetic
• Percentage: 25%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Practical problems like percentages, ratios, and scaling dominate.
o Financial and proportional reasoning frequently tested.
2. Algebra
• Percentage: 32%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Most tested topic, focusing on equations, sequences, and substitutions.
o Often integrated with graphs and geometry.
3. Geometry
• Percentage: 25%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Tasks emphasize area, volume, and trigonometric applications.
o Common use of diagrams for visualization and problem-solving.
4. Probability and Statistics
• Percentage: 11%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Standard probability tasks and statistical interpretation dominate.
o Regular inclusion of data representation like bar charts and pie charts.
5. Graphs
• Percentage: 7%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Limited focus, mainly involving plotting and analyzing linear relationships.
Page | 2
,Key Insights
1. Most Tested Topic: Algebra dominates across all papers, reflecting its importance in
foundational reasoning.
2. Least Tested Topic: Graphs are the least emphasized, focusing on basic plotting and
interpretation.
3. Recurring Trends Across Papers:
o Real-Life Contexts: Practical scenarios like financial modeling and scaling
are common.
o Progressive Difficulty: Tasks range from simple calculations to multi-step
reasoning.
Page | 3
, Question 1: Write 45% as a fraction
1. Strategies to answer the question
To convert a percentage to a fraction, divide the percentage by 100 and simplify the fraction
if possible.
1. Convert 45% to a fraction:
45
100
2. Simplify the fraction:
o Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 45 and 100, which is 5.
45 ÷ 5 9
=
100 ÷ 5 20
2. Mark Scheme
• Convert to fraction (1 mark).
• Simplify the fraction (1 mark).
3. Background Theory
• Percentage to fraction conversion: A percentage represents parts out of 100, so to
convert a percentage to a fraction, we place the percentage number over 100.
• Simplifying fractions: To simplify a fraction, divide both the numerator and
denominator by their GCD.
Page | 4
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCSE
In Mathematics
Foundation (Calculator) Paper 3F
,Mark Scheme for Edexcel GCSE Mathematics Foundation Paper 3
Five Year Past Paper Question Analysis by topic and frequency
1. Arithmetic
• Percentage: 25%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Practical problems like percentages, ratios, and scaling dominate.
o Financial and proportional reasoning frequently tested.
2. Algebra
• Percentage: 32%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Most tested topic, focusing on equations, sequences, and substitutions.
o Often integrated with graphs and geometry.
3. Geometry
• Percentage: 25%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Tasks emphasize area, volume, and trigonometric applications.
o Common use of diagrams for visualization and problem-solving.
4. Probability and Statistics
• Percentage: 11%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Standard probability tasks and statistical interpretation dominate.
o Regular inclusion of data representation like bar charts and pie charts.
5. Graphs
• Percentage: 7%
• Recurring Patterns:
o Limited focus, mainly involving plotting and analyzing linear relationships.
Page | 2
,Key Insights
1. Most Tested Topic: Algebra dominates across all papers, reflecting its importance in
foundational reasoning.
2. Least Tested Topic: Graphs are the least emphasized, focusing on basic plotting and
interpretation.
3. Recurring Trends Across Papers:
o Real-Life Contexts: Practical scenarios like financial modeling and scaling
are common.
o Progressive Difficulty: Tasks range from simple calculations to multi-step
reasoning.
Page | 3
, Question 1: Write 45% as a fraction
1. Strategies to answer the question
To convert a percentage to a fraction, divide the percentage by 100 and simplify the fraction
if possible.
1. Convert 45% to a fraction:
45
100
2. Simplify the fraction:
o Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 45 and 100, which is 5.
45 ÷ 5 9
=
100 ÷ 5 20
2. Mark Scheme
• Convert to fraction (1 mark).
• Simplify the fraction (1 mark).
3. Background Theory
• Percentage to fraction conversion: A percentage represents parts out of 100, so to
convert a percentage to a fraction, we place the percentage number over 100.
• Simplifying fractions: To simplify a fraction, divide both the numerator and
denominator by their GCD.
Page | 4
