Free Practice Questions for NSC Maths Literacy
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Key Facts: NSC Maths Literacy Exam
NSC Mathematical Literacy is examined in two papers of 150 marks each, totalling 300 marks (Department of Basic Education).
The final external examination counts for 75% of the subject mark and School-Based Assessment for 25% (CAPS).
Each Mathematical Literacy paper is written over 3 hours under CAPS examination guidelines.
Finance is the largest topic, weighted around 60% of Paper 1 alongside data handling at about 35% (DBE Examination Guidelines).
Measurement (about 55%) and maps/plans (about 40%) dominate Paper 2 (DBE Examination Guidelines).
Results are reported on 7 NSC achievement levels, from Level 1 (0-29%) to Level 7 (80-100%).
Candidates on the academic pathway may take either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, but not both (NSC subject rules).
The NSC is a National Qualifications Framework Level 4 qualification quality-assured by Umalusi (SAQA ID 49647).
NSC Mathematical Literacy is a CAPS matric subject assessed via two 3-hour papers of 150 marks each (300 total, 75% of the final mark) plus 25% School-Based Assessment, covering finance, measurement, maps/plans, data handling and probability in real-life contexts.
Sample NSC Maths Literacy Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NSC Maths Literacy exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A grocery till slip shows a subtotal of R350,00 before VAT. South Africa's standard VAT rate is 15%. How much VAT is added to the slip?
2Thandi earns R12 000 per month. Her medical aid deduction is R1 800. What percentage of her monthly salary is deducted for medical aid (rounded to one decimal place)?
3A water tariff charges R8,50 per kilolitre. A household uses 24 kilolitres in a month. What is the cost of the water used, before any fixed charges?
4An item is marked R250,00 and offered at a 20% discount. What is the sale price?
5A recipe needs 750 ml of milk. How many litres of milk is this?
6A map has a bar scale where 2 cm represents 5 km. A road measures 6 cm on the map. What is the actual distance of the road?
7The following marks were scored by 5 learners: 12, 15, 18, 20, 25. What is the mean (average) of these marks?
8A die (numbered 1 to 6) is rolled once. What is the probability of rolling an even number?
9A rectangular room is 5 m long and 4 m wide. What is the area of the floor?
10R5 000 is invested at 8% simple interest per year. How much interest is earned after 3 years?
About the NSC Maths Literacy Exam
Mathematical Literacy is a Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (matric) subject set under the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) by the Department of Basic Education and quality-assured by Umalusi. It is the applied, everyday-mathematics alternative to Mathematics, and a candidate following the academic pathway may take only one of the two. The final external examination has two papers of 150 marks each (300 total) written over 3 hours each, contributing 75% of the final mark, with School-Based Assessment making up the other 25%. Paper 1 emphasises finance and data handling at cognitive Levels 1-2 (knowing and routine procedures), while Paper 2 emphasises measurement and maps/plans at Levels 3-4 (multi-step procedures and reasoning). All questions are set in authentic contexts such as bills, packaging, maps, recipes and statistics, and a calculator is permitted.
Exam sponsor: Department of Basic Education (DBE), quality-assured by Umalusi. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 questions
Time Limit
3 hours per paper (two papers)
Passing Score
Graded on 7 NSC achievement levels; a subject pass is typically 30-40% depending on the candidate's subject combination.
Exam / Certification Fees
No separate subject fee for full-time public-school candidates; part-time and supplementary candidates pay provincial registration fees (around R100-R250+ per subject).
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.
Finance
Financial documents, tariff systems, budgets, interest, banking, taxation, inflation and currency exchange.
Measurement
Conversions, perimeter, area, volume, surface area, time, speed and rates.
Data handling
Representing and interpreting data, mean/median/mode and measures of spread.
Maps, plans and representations
Scale, maps, floor plans, models and directions.
Numbers and calculations
Percentages, ratio, proportion and calculations in everyday contexts.
Probability
Theoretical and relative-frequency probability and interpreting likelihood.
Patterns and relationships
Number patterns, linear relationships and interpreting graphs.
Preparing for the NSC Maths Literacy Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Graded on 7 NSC achievement levels; a subject pass is typically 30-40% depending on the candidate's subject combination.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours per paper (two papers)
- Exam / certification fees: No separate subject fee for full-time public-school candidates; part-time and supplementary candidates pay provincial registration fees (around R100-R250+ per subject). 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
NSC Maths Literacy: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Mathematical Literacy and Mathematics in the NSC?
Mathematical Literacy applies maths to real-life, workplace and financial contexts, while Mathematics covers abstract topics like algebra, calculus and trigonometry. A candidate on the academic pathway may take only one of the two, not both.
How is NSC Mathematical Literacy assessed?
The final external examination has two papers of 150 marks each, written over 3 hours each (300 marks total), which count for 75% of the final mark. School-Based Assessment, including an assignment, an investigation, tests and an internal exam, makes up the remaining 25%.
What does each Mathematical Literacy paper focus on?
Paper 1 concentrates on finance and data handling at lower cognitive levels (knowing and routine procedures), while Paper 2 concentrates on measurement and maps/plans at higher levels (multi-step procedures, reasoning and reflecting). Both integrate numbers, patterns and basic skills.
Can I use a calculator in the Mathematical Literacy exam?
Yes. An approved non-programmable calculator is permitted, and candidates are expected to show all calculations and round answers appropriately as instructed in each question.
What is the pass mark for Mathematical Literacy?
Results are reported on the 7 NSC achievement levels (1 to 7). For the National Senior Certificate, a subject is generally passed at 30-40% depending on the candidate's overall combination of seven subjects.
Who sets and quality-assures the NSC Mathematical Literacy exam?
The Department of Basic Education sets the CAPS curriculum and the DBE exam, while Umalusi is the quality-assurance body that standardises and approves the results. Many independent schools write the IEB version of the qualification.