Download Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy past papers and memos
Newest first. The memo sits on the same row as the paper it belongs to, so you do not have to go looking for it.
2026
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
2025
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2North West
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2North West
2024
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2North West
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2North West
2023
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
2022
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
2021
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
2020
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
2019
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2National
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2National
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
2018
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- SeptemberTerm 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Eastern Cape
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Eastern Cape
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2National
- May/June · Paper 1Term 2Gauteng
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2National
- May/June · Paper 2Term 2Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1Gauteng
2017
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1Gauteng
2016
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1Gauteng
2015
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- September · Paper 1Term 3Gauteng
- September · Paper 2Term 3Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1National
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1Gauteng
2014
- November · Paper 1Term 4National
- November · Paper 1Term 4Gauteng
- November · Paper 2Term 4National
- November · Paper 2Term 4Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 1Term 1Gauteng
- Feb/March · Paper 2Term 1Gauteng
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Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy exam guidelines
What is in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and what each topic is worth.
The topics, the marks and the time you get, from the Department of Basic Education's examination guidelines for Mathematical Literacy. Know this before you sit down with a paper and you will know what a good mark should feel like.
A ± means it is the weighting the examiners work towards rather than a fixed part of the paper, so a sitting lands a few marks either side of it.
Paper 1
150 marks, 3 hours
- Finance
- ±90 marks
- Data handling
- ±53 marks
- Probability
- ±7 marks
Paper 2
150 marks, 3 hours
- Measurement
- ±83 marks
- Maps and plans
- ±60 marks
- Probability
- ±7 marks
How hard is Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy?
Out of every 10 learners who wrote Mathematical Literacy, about 6 got 40% or more.
477 160 learners wrote Mathematical Literacy in 2025. 5 of the 9 subjects on this site are passed more often than this one.
Use that when you mark your own paper. Under 30% is a fail. 30% to 39% is a pass, but it shuts you out of most courses after school. 40% and up means you did better than about half the country.
| Year | Wrote the exam | Got 30% or more | Got 40% or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 477 160 | 86.2% | 61.4% |
| 2024 | 442 741 | 86.1% | 62.1% |
| 2023 | 421 835 | 82.3% | 56.7% |
| 2022 | 450 005 | 85.7% | 60.4% |
| 2021 | 441 067 | 74.5% | 49.1% |
National results for the October and November papers, from the Department of Basic Education's 2025 NSC Diagnostic Report.
Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy past paper questions
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