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100+ Free NGSA Mathematics Practice Questions

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Key Facts: NGSA Mathematics Exam

40

Multiple-Choice Questions (Paper 1)

Ministry of Education, Guyana

70 mins

Paper 1 Duration

Ministry of Education, Guyana

Free

Exam Registration Fee

Ministry of Education, Guyana

4 strands

Curriculum Strands Tested

Guyana primary curriculum

Grade 6

Candidate Grade Level

Guyana school system

The Guyana NGSA Mathematics exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions on Paper 1 (70 minutes) and structured questions on Paper 2. Administered by the Ministry of Education, it is free for public school candidates and serves as the placement test for secondary education. The exam tests place value, arithmetic, geometry, measurement, and data handling, with a benchmark scoring goal of 50% or higher.

Sample NGSA Mathematics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NGSA Mathematics exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the place value of the digit 7 in the number 47,205?
A.Hundreds
B.Thousands
C.Ten thousands
D.Tens
Explanation: In the number 47,205, the digit 7 is in the thousands place. The place values from right to left are: 5 (ones), 0 (tens), 2 (hundreds), 7 (thousands), and 4 (ten thousands). Therefore, the value of the digit 7 is 7,000.
2Which of the following is a composite number?
A.13
B.17
C.21
D.29
Explanation: A composite number is a whole number that has more than two factors. The number 21 is a composite number because its factors are 1, 3, 7, and 21. The numbers 13, 17, and 29 are prime numbers as they only have two factors: 1 and themselves.
3What is the value of 5 squared (5²)?
A.10
B.25
C.50
D.125
Explanation: Squaring a number means multiplying the number by itself. So, 5 squared is calculated as 5 × 5 = 25. Squaring is different from multiplying by 2 (which gives 10) or cubing (which gives 125).
4What is the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12?
A.4
B.24
C.48
D.96
Explanation: To find the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM), we list the multiples of each number. Multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24, 32... and multiples of 12 are 12, 24, 36... The smallest multiple they share in common is 24. Thus, the LCM of 8 and 12 is 24.
5What is the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 18 and 24?
A.2
B.3
C.6
D.72
Explanation: The factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18 and the factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24. The common factors are 1, 2, 3, and 6. The largest of these common factors is 6, making 6 the Highest Common Factor (HCF).
6What are the odd prime factors of 30?
A.2 and 3
B.3 and 5
C.1, 3 and 5
D.2, 3 and 5
Explanation: First, find the prime factors of 30. The prime factorization of 30 is 2 × 3 × 5. So, the prime factors are 2, 3, and 5. Out of these, 3 and 5 are odd, while 2 is even. Thus, the odd prime factors are 3 and 5.
7What is the value of the square root of 144 plus the square of 3?
A.15
B.21
C.33
D.153
Explanation: First, find the square root of 144, which is 12 (since 12 × 12 = 144). Next, find the square of 3, which is 9 (since 3² = 3 × 3 = 9). Adding these values together gives 12 + 9 = 21.
8In a division problem, the divisor is 12, the quotient is 15, and the remainder is 4. What is the dividend?
A.64
B.180
C.184
D.192
Explanation: To find the dividend, we use the formula: Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder. Substituting the given values gives: Dividend = (12 × 15) + 4. Since 12 × 15 = 180, adding the remainder of 4 gives 180 + 4 = 184.
9What is the next term in the number pattern: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ...?
A.35
B.37
C.39
D.41
Explanation: The terms in the pattern increase by consecutive odd numbers: 2 (+3) = 5, 5 (+5) = 10, 10 (+7) = 17, 17 (+9) = 26. The next odd number to add is 11. Therefore, the next term is 26 + 11 = 37. Alternatively, the terms are n² + 1: 1²+1, 2²+1, 3²+1, 4²+1, 5²+1, so the next term is 6² + 1 = 36 + 1 = 37.
10What is the sum of the prime factors of 42?
A.12
B.14
C.21
D.42
Explanation: First, find the prime factors of 42. The prime factorization of 42 is 2 × 3 × 7. The prime factors are 2, 3, and 7. The sum of these prime factors is 2 + 3 + 7 = 12.

About the NGSA Mathematics Exam

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Mathematics exam is a national placement examination taken by Grade 6 primary school students in Guyana. It determines entry and placement into the country's secondary schools, including top-tier national schools like Queen's College and The Bishops' High School. The exam covers four primary mathematical strands: Number Theory & Operations, Measurement, Geometry, and Data Handling. Paper 1 consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and Paper 2 features structured problem-solving tasks.

Assessment

40 multiple-choice questions (Paper 1) + 6 structured questions (Paper 2)

Time Limit

1 hour and 10 minutes for Paper 1

Passing Score

No official pass/fail mark (used for secondary school placement)

Exam Fee

$0 (Free) (Ministry of Education, Guyana)

NGSA Mathematics Exam Content Outline

45%

Number Theory and Operations

Covers place value, prime and composite numbers, arithmetic operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, sets, ratio and proportion, and financial math.

25%

Measurement

Covers units of length, perimeter of 2D shapes, area of squares, rectangles and right-angled triangles, volume of cuboids, mass, capacity, and time/calendar.

15%

Geometry

Covers parallel/perpendicular lines, acute/obtuse/reflex/straight angles, properties of 2D/3D shapes, and line symmetry.

15%

Data Handling

Covers pictographs, tally charts, bar/line/pie graphs, calculating the mean, and simple probability.

How to Pass the NGSA Mathematics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No official pass/fail mark (used for secondary school placement)
  • Assessment: 40 multiple-choice questions (Paper 1) + 6 structured questions (Paper 2)
  • Time limit: 1 hour and 10 minutes for Paper 1
  • Exam fee: $0 (Free)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NGSA Mathematics Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practice basic place value, fraction operations, and percentage calculations, as these form the bulk of the Number strand.
2Understand the difference between perimeter (boundary length) and area (space inside) of rectangles, squares, and right-angled triangles.
3Memorize the properties of common 3D solids, specifically the count of faces, edges, and vertices for cubes, cuboids, and prisms.
4Master conversions between units, such as meters to centimeters, kilograms to grams, and liters to milliliters.
5Learn to interpret pictographs with keys (e.g. 1 symbol = 5 items) and make sure to read the axis labels on bar charts carefully.
6Study how to solve word problems involving time intervals and elapsed time, which appear regularly in the Measurement section.
7Make sure you can calculate the mean (average) of a set of numbers by adding them together and dividing by the total count.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Guyana NGSA Mathematics Exam?

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Mathematics exam is a national standardized test administered by the Ministry of Education in Guyana to all primary school pupils at the end of Grade 6. It assesses proficiency in key mathematical areas and is used to rank and place students into secondary schools across Guyana.

How is the NGSA Mathematics exam structured?

The assessment consists of two papers. Paper 1 contains 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 1 hour and 10 minutes (70 minutes). Paper 2 contains 6 structured or free-response questions, from which candidates must choose and answer 4 questions (usually with 10 minutes reading time and 60 minutes writing time).

What are the main topics covered on the exam?

The exam is based on the primary school mathematics curriculum and is divided into four main strands: Number Theory and Operations (including subsets, place value, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion, and money), Measurement (perimeter, area, volume, mass, capacity, and time), Geometry (lines, angles, shapes, solids, and symmetry), and Data Handling (interpreting charts, graphs, averages, and basic probability).

What is the passing score for the NGSA Mathematics exam?

There is no single 'passing' or 'failing' score. The NGSA is a competitive placement exam. Students are awarded marks that are standardized, and placement in secondary schools (including elite national schools like Queen's College) is determined by the ranking of their total score in that year.

How much does it cost to take the NGSA?

The assessment is completely free for all public school students in Guyana. Registration and administration are managed directly by the schools and the Ministry of Education.