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100+ Free NCEA Numeracy Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NCEA Numeracy Exam

US 32406

The numeracy co-requisite is unit standard 32406, applying maths and statistics in everyday situations

NCEA Education - Numeracy unit standard

10 credits

Achieving the numeracy co-requisite awards 10 credits toward NCEA

NZQA - Literacy and Numeracy

Achieved / Not Achieved

The numeracy CAA is graded pass or fail with no merit or excellence grades

NCEA Education - Numeracy unit standard

Minimum 60 minutes

Students have at least 60 minutes and may take as long as needed in one sitting

NZQA - Literacy and Numeracy assessment information

Digital-first

The numeracy assessment is completed online on a computer

NZQA - Literacy and Numeracy assessment information

Compulsory from 2024

The 32406 numeracy co-requisite became the required NCEA standard in 2024 after a pilot

Ministry of Education - NCEA literacy and numeracy co-requisites

Three outcomes

Candidates must formulate an approach, meet numeracy demands and explain reasonableness

NCEA Education - Numeracy unit standard

100

Free original practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

The NCEA Numeracy Co-requisite Assessment (unit standard 32406) is a compulsory Level 1 requirement every student must achieve to be awarded NCEA. It is a digital-first online Common Assessment Activity using mostly multiple-choice and selected-response items in everyday contexts. Students have a minimum of 60 minutes and may take as long as they need in a single sitting. It samples number, measurement and geometry, statistics and probability, and algebra, and is graded Achieved or Not Achieved for 10 credits. This 100-question bank gives original everyday-maths practice modelled on the three numeracy outcomes.

Sample NCEA Numeracy Practice Questions

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

1A jacket costs $80. In a sale it is reduced by 25%. What is the sale price?
A.$55
B.$60
C.$65
D.$75
Explanation: 25% of $80 is 0.25 x 80 = $20. The sale price is $80 - $20 = $60. You can also find 75% of $80 directly: 0.75 x 80 = $60.
2A recipe for 4 people needs 600 g of flour. How much flour is needed for 6 people?
A.750 g
B.800 g
C.900 g
D.1000 g
Explanation: Flour per person is 600 / 4 = 150 g. For 6 people you need 150 x 6 = 900 g. This is proportional (ratio) reasoning.
3What is 3/5 written as a percentage?
A.35%
B.53%
C.60%
D.65%
Explanation: To turn a fraction into a percentage, divide and multiply by 100: 3 / 5 = 0.6, and 0.6 x 100 = 60%.
4A phone plan costs $35 each month. How much does it cost for a full year?
A.$350
B.$420
C.$385
D.$455
Explanation: There are 12 months in a year, so the yearly cost is 35 x 12 = $420.
5Three friends share a $96 dinner bill equally. How much does each person pay?
A.$28
B.$30
C.$32
D.$36
Explanation: Dividing the bill equally between 3 people gives 96 / 3 = $32 each.
6A shirt is priced at $40. GST of 15% is added at the till. What is the total price including GST?
A.$46
B.$55
C.$60
D.$44
Explanation: GST of 15% on $40 is 0.15 x 40 = $6. The total price is $40 + $6 = $46.
7A car travels 240 km using 20 litres of petrol. How many kilometres does it travel per litre?
A.10 km
B.12 km
C.14 km
D.20 km
Explanation: Kilometres per litre is total distance divided by litres used: 240 / 20 = 12 km per litre.
8What is 0.25 written as a fraction in its simplest form?
A.1/2
B.1/3
C.1/4
D.1/5
Explanation: 0.25 means 25 hundredths, which is 25/100. Dividing top and bottom by 25 gives 1/4.
9A worker earns $22 per hour and works 38 hours in a week. What is the weekly pay before tax?
A.$760
B.$836
C.$880
D.$912
Explanation: Weekly pay is the hourly rate times the hours: 22 x 38 = $836.
10A 1.5 litre bottle of juice costs $3.60. What is the cost per litre?
A.$2.20
B.$2.40
C.$2.50
D.$2.70
Explanation: Cost per litre is total cost divided by litres: 3.60 / 1.5 = $2.40 per litre.

About the NCEA Numeracy Exam

The NCEA Numeracy Co-requisite Assessment is unit standard 32406, 'Apply mathematics and statistics in a range of everyday situations', a compulsory Level 1 requirement that every student must achieve (alongside the literacy co-requisite) to be awarded NCEA. It is delivered as a digital-first Common Assessment Activity (CAA) that students complete on a computer, using mostly multiple-choice and selected-response items set in real-life contexts. The standard assesses three outcomes: formulating a mathematical or statistical approach, using mathematics and statistics to meet numeracy demands, and explaining the reasonableness of responses. Items sample foundational numeracy from the Mathematics and Statistics strands - number, algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. The co-requisite is graded Achieved or Not Achieved, is worth 10 credits, and became the compulsory NCEA numeracy requirement in 2024 after a national pilot.

Assessment

A single digital Common Assessment Activity (CAA) for unit standard 32406, made up mostly of multiple-choice and selected-response items set in everyday contexts that sample number, measurement and geometry, statistics and probability, and algebra. Awarded Achieved or Not Achieved only.

Time Limit

Minimum of 60 minutes, with students able to take as long as they need provided the assessment is completed in a single sitting.

Passing Score

Achieved or Not Achieved. Candidates must meet the standard across all three outcomes to be awarded US 32406 and its 10 credits; there are no merit or excellence grades.

Exam Fee

There is no fee for domestic students at state and state-integrated schools; NZQA assessment fees for the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites are covered, so it is effectively free to sit. (New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA))

NCEA Numeracy Exam Content Outline

35%

Number

Whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, rates and proportional reasoning applied to money, shopping, discounts, recipes, fuel and scaling problems set in everyday contexts.

30%

Measurement and Geometry

Length, perimeter, area and volume, capacity, mass, time and timetables, temperature, speed and unit conversions, plus simple shape and space reasoning in practical situations.

20%

Statistics and Probability

Reading and interpreting tables, bar graphs, line graphs and pictographs, finding mean, median, mode and range, and working out simple probabilities and expected outcomes from everyday data.

15%

Algebra and Patterns

Continuing and describing number patterns, applying simple rules and formulas, and forming and solving simple equations to model real-life relationships.

How to Pass the NCEA Numeracy Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Achieved or Not Achieved. Candidates must meet the standard across all three outcomes to be awarded US 32406 and its 10 credits; there are no merit or excellence grades.
  • Assessment: A single digital Common Assessment Activity (CAA) for unit standard 32406, made up mostly of multiple-choice and selected-response items set in everyday contexts that sample number, measurement and geometry, statistics and probability, and algebra. Awarded Achieved or Not Achieved only.
  • Time limit: Minimum of 60 minutes, with students able to take as long as they need provided the assessment is completed in a single sitting.
  • Exam fee: There is no fee for domestic students at state and state-integrated schools; NZQA assessment fees for the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites are covered, so it is effectively free to sit.

Keys to Passing

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

NCEA Numeracy Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise pulling numbers out of word problems and deciding which operation to use; most numeracy items hide the maths inside an everyday story.
2Get fast and accurate with percentages, fractions and unit conversions - these appear across number and measurement questions in money, shopping and recipe contexts.
3Read graphs and tables carefully: check the title, axis labels and units before reading off a value, because distractors often use the wrong row or unit.
4Estimate first, then calculate. A quick sensible estimate helps you spot answer choices that are far too big or too small.
5Work through NZQA's published 32406 past assessments and exemplars so you recognise the on-screen tools, question styles and everyday contexts before test day.
6If you can re-sit, treat the first attempt as practice: note which outcome (number, measurement, statistics or algebra) tripped you up and drill that before the next event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCEA numeracy co-requisite?

It is unit standard 32406, 'Apply mathematics and statistics in a range of everyday situations'. Every student must achieve it (with the literacy co-requisite) to be awarded NCEA at any level.

Is the numeracy assessment multiple choice and online?

Yes. It is a digital-first Common Assessment Activity completed on a computer, using mostly multiple-choice and selected-response items set in everyday contexts. Text-to-speech support is available.

How long does the numeracy assessment take?

Students have a minimum of 60 minutes and can take as long as they need, as long as the assessment is completed in a single sitting. There is no maximum time limit.

How is the numeracy co-requisite graded?

It is graded Achieved or Not Achieved only - there are no merit or excellence grades. Students who achieve it earn 10 credits. Students who do not achieve can re-sit in a later event.

What maths topics are covered?

Items sample foundational numeracy from the Mathematics and Statistics strands: number, algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability, all set in real-life situations.

Are these official NZQA practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the US 32406 outcomes and everyday contexts. NZQA publishes its own past assessments and exemplars separately on its website.