# How to study Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy (CAPS): papers, topics and a revision plan > Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy is examined in two 3-hour papers of 150 marks each: Paper 1 tests finance and data handling, Paper 2 tests measurement and maps and plans, and probability appears in both. - Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/guides/grade-12-mathematical-literacy - Updated: 2026-10-28 - Subject: Mathematical Literacy - Grade: Grade 12 - Curriculum: CAPS (National Senior Certificate) - Published: 2026-10-28 - Publisher: Hlayiso Breadcrumbs: [Home](https://www.hlayiso.com/) › [Study guides](https://www.hlayiso.com/guides) › [Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy](https://www.hlayiso.com/guides/grade-12-mathematical-literacy) ## How is the Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy exam set out? You write two papers of 3 hours and 150 marks each, with 4 or 5 questions per paper. | Paper | What it covers | Marks | Time | 2026 NSC date | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Paper 1 | Finance, data handling and probability. Question 1 (about 30 marks) is short, level 1 questions only | 150 | 3 hours | Friday 23 October 2026, 09:00 | | Paper 2 | Measurement, maps and plans, and probability. Question 1 (about 30 marks) is short, level 1 questions only | 150 | 3 hours | Monday 26 October 2026, 09:00 | - Taxonomy levels in each paper: knowing 30%, routine procedures 30%, multi-step procedures 20%, and reasoning and reflecting 20% (each ±5%). - Unfamiliar contexts only appear in Questions 4 and 5. The earlier questions use contexts listed in CAPS. - Basic skills such as number calculations, patterns and relationships carry no separate weighting; they are tested inside every topic. Full 2026 timetable: [2026 matric exam timetable](https://www.hlayiso.com/matric-exam-timetable-2026) ## What does each Mathematical Literacy paper cover? Finance is the biggest topic in Paper 1 (about 90 of 150 marks) and measurement the biggest in Paper 2 (about 83 of 150 marks). | Paper | Topic | Marks | Share of paper | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Paper 1 | Finance | 90 | 60% (±5%) | | Paper 1 | Data handling | 53 | 35% (±5%) | | Paper 1 | Probability | 7 | 5% | | Paper 2 | Measurement | 83 | 55% (±5%) | | Paper 2 | Maps, plans and other representations of the physical world | 60 | 40% (±5%) | | Paper 2 | Probability | 7 | 5% | - Paper 2 can include income, expenditure, budgets, and cost and selling price where they link to measurement or maps and plans. - Growth charts can be examined in Paper 1 data handling. - Probability is built into one or more of the other questions rather than set on its own. ## How do I revise each Mathematical Literacy topic on Hlayiso? Revise with real documents and tables: read the notes for a topic, then practise questions by topic that use bills, payslips, maps and plans. As of October 2026, Hlayiso has 708 Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy past papers and memos (257 of them memos), 364 past exam questions sorted by topic and 21 note sections, all free to read. - [Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes) - [Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy questions by topic](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/questions-by-topic) - [Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy past papers and memos](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/past-papers) | Topic | How to revise | Notes | Questions by topic | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Finance | Practise tariffs, payslips, income tax with the tax tables, interest, inflation and exchange rates. | [Notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes/finance) | [145 questions](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/questions-by-topic/finance) | | Data handling | Order data before finding the median and quartiles, and read stacked bar graphs carefully. | [Notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes/data-handling) | [86 questions](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/questions-by-topic/data-handling) | | Probability | Write every probability as a fraction, decimal or percentage, as the question asks. | [Notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes/probability) | — | | Measurement | Convert units before substituting, and treat time as a duration in speed calculations. | [Notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes/measurement) | [67 questions](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/questions-by-topic/measurement) | | Maps and plans | Measure bar scales with a ruler and practise directions and floor and elevation plans. | [Notes](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/notes/maps-plans-and-other-representations-of-the-physical-world) | [66 questions](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-12/mathematical-literacy/questions-by-topic/maps-plans-and-other-representations-of-the-physical-world) | ## What is a good six-week Mathematical Literacy revision plan? Give finance and measurement the most time, because together they carry more than half the marks of the two papers. | Week | Focus | | --- | --- | | Week 1 | Write a recent Paper 1 and Paper 2, mark them with the memo and note which skills (units, graphs, tax) cost marks. | | Week 2 | Finance: bills, tariffs, payslips, income tax, budgets, interest and exchange rates. | | Week 3 | Data handling and probability: averages, quartiles, graphs and probability statements. | | Week 4 | Measurement: conversions, perimeter, area, volume, time and speed. | | Week 5 | Maps and plans: scales, directions, floor and elevation plans, and routes. | | Week 6 | Full timed papers, starting with November 2025, and every Question 1 you can find for quick level 1 marks. | ## What should I do the night before each Mathematical Literacy paper? The night before a Mathematical Literacy paper, practise reading tables and graphs rather than learning anything new. - Check whether it is Paper 1 or Paper 2, and the date and 09:00 start time. - Pack your calculator, pens, pencil, ruler and eraser. - Revise unit conversions (mm, cm, m, km; ml, l; minutes and hours) and the units of millions. - Do one Question 1 from a past paper and check it with the memo. - Remind yourself to read each question’s rounding and answer-format instructions. - Go to bed at your usual time. ## What mistakes do Mathematical Literacy examiners report? Examiners reported that candidates in November 2025 again struggled to read information from graphs, tables and maps, the same weakness flagged in 2023 and 2024. - Reading the wrong column or row of a table, or misreading a stacked bar graph. Instead: Put a ruler under the row and say the heading out loud before you copy a value. - Dropping zeros when working in millions, such as writing 750 for 750 million. Instead: Write the full number or the word "million" in the final answer. - Confusing a time of day with a duration, for example in speed and finishing-time questions. Instead: Write start time, duration and end time separately before calculating. - Unit conversions done the wrong way round, or not done before substituting into a formula. Instead: Convert first, and check that bigger units give smaller numbers. - Income tax calculations that do not annualise monthly income, use the wrong bracket or add the rebate. Instead: Work in annual amounts and subtract the rebate. - Ignoring phrases such as "or part thereof" and rounding instructions. Instead: Underline instructions about rounding and charges before you answer. - Finding the mean when the question asks for the median, or finding the median without ordering the data. Instead: Arrange the data first and check which average the question asks for. ## Sources - [DBE Mathematical Literacy Examination Guidelines, Grade 12 (2021)](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/mathematical-literacy-gr-12-exam-guidelines-2021-eng/68aa46c0-0dc9-4a14-86ab-05c4dc6a4eaf) - [DBE 2025 NSC Diagnostic Report, Part 1 (November 2025 papers)](https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Reports/Diagnostic%20Reports%202026/2025%20Diagnostic%20Report%20-%20Book%201.pdf) - [DBE October/November 2026 NSC examinations timetable](https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Publications/2026/2026%20Nov%20NSC%20Timetable.pdf) ## Frequently asked questions ### When are the 2026 Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy papers written? The DBE timetable sets Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 for Friday 23 October 2026 and Paper 2 for Monday 26 October 2026. Both start at 09:00 and last 3 hours. ### How many marks is each Mathematical Literacy paper? Each paper is worth 150 marks and lasts 3 hours. Question 1 of each paper, about 30 marks, has only level 1 questions. ### What is in Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 and Paper 2? Paper 1 is about 60% finance, 35% data handling and 5% probability. Paper 2 is about 55% measurement, 40% maps and plans and 5% probability. ### What was the Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy pass rate in 2025? Of the 477 160 candidates who wrote Mathematical Literacy in November 2025, 86.2% achieved 30% or more and 61.4% achieved 40% or more (DBE 2025 Diagnostic Report). ### Which Mathematical Literacy questions use unfamiliar contexts? Only Questions 4 and 5, or only Question 5. The earlier questions use contexts listed in the CAPS document, and Question 1 is short contexts at level 1. --- Hlayiso: free CAPS and IEB past papers, memos, notes and study guides for South African learners. When citing, link the page URL above, not a PDF or /api/ URL.