Mathematical Literacy (Maths Lit) Grade 12 NSC Paper 1 and Paper 2 Exam Topics and Structure Guide Syllabus The Grade 12 NSC Maths Lit examination comprises two papers, each designed to assess different aspects of mathematical literacy.

Paper 1:

1. Duration: 2 hours
2. Marks: 150
3. Format: This paper consists of three sections, each focusing on specific skills and concepts.
   • Section A: Short questions covering a range of topics such as finance, maps, and plans, data handling, and measurement.
   • Section B: Longer, more comprehensive questions that require critical thinking and application of mathematical concepts to real-world scenarios.
   • Section C: Investigative task or case study, where students are required to analyze and interpret data, draw conclusions, and communicate their findings effectively.

Paper 2:

1. Duration: 2 hours
2. Marks: 150
3. Format: Similar to Paper 1, Paper 2 also comprises three sections.
   • Section A: Multiple-choice questions covering various topics from the curriculum.
   • Section B: Short questions, often requiring calculations and problem-solving skills.
   • Section C: Application-based questions, where students must apply mathematical concepts to practical situations and justify their solutions.

Key Topics Covered: While the specific content may vary slightly from year to year, the Grade 12 Maths Lit curriculum generally covers the following key topics:

1. Financial Mathematics: Including interest, inflation, investments, loans, and budgeting.
2. Measurement: Converting units, area, perimeter, volume, and scale.
3. Data Handling: Collecting, organizing, representing, and analyzing data using graphs, tables, and charts.
4. Maps and Plans: Scale drawings, reading and interpreting maps, and calculating distances.
5. Probability: Basic concepts of probability, including events, sample spaces, and calculations of probabilities.
6. Growth and Decay: Understanding exponential growth and decay, and their applications in various contexts.
7. Socio-Economic Issues: Analyzing data related to socio-economic phenomena and making informed decisions based on mathematical analysis.

Preparation Strategies:

1. Understand the Exam Format: Familiarize yourself with the structure of the exam papers and the types of questions you can expect in each section.
2. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to mastering mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills. Work through past exam papers and additional practice exercises to build confidence.
3. Focus on Understanding: Instead of rote memorization, focus on understanding the underlying concepts and how they apply to real-life situations.
4. Seek Help When Needed: Don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or peers for help if you encounter difficulties with any topic.
5. Time Management: Practice time management during your exam preparation to ensure you can complete each paper within the allocated time.

Paper 1 Topics:

This examination paper assesses basic mathematical skills and competency, and primarily contains questions at the knowing (Level 1) and routine procedures (Level 2) levels. The examination also contains a small number of multi-step procedures (Level 3) questions, which will allow for more in-depth analysis of contexts and/or problems. The contexts included in this paper are limited to those specified in the curriculum outline section of this CAPS document.

Intention:

The intention of this paper is to assess understanding of the core content and/or skills outlined in the CAPS document in the context of authentic real-life problems. Although questions will be contextualised, the focus is primarily on assessing proficiency in a range of content topics, techniques and/or skills.

Structure and scope of content:

A Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 examination will typically consist of five questions:

• Each question will be contextualised and may focus on more than one context.
• Each question will contain sub-questions.
• The first four questions will be focused on each of the topics: – Finance
  • Measurement
  • Maps, plans and other representations of the physical world
  • Data handling with the content and/or skills outlined in the following topics integrated throughout each question:
  • Interpreting and communicating answers and calculations
  • Numbers and operations with numbers
  • Patterns, relationships and representations.

• The fifth question will integrate concepts and/or skills from across all the topics in the curriculum.
• The topic of Probability will be assessed in the context of one or more of these questions rather than as a question on its own. Scope of contexts: Contexts used in the Paper 1 examination will be limited to those specified in the Curriculum Outline section of the CAPS document thus the contexts used in this examination will be familiar to the learners. Distribution of marks according to the taxonomy levels:

A Paper 1 examination should include questions at the different levels of the taxonomy according to the following mark distribution:

• 60% (±5%) of the marks at Level 1 (knowing);
• 35% (±5%) of the marks at Level 2 (applying routine procedures in familiar contexts);
• 5% (minimum) of the marks at Level 3 (applying multi-step procedures in a variety of contexts). Comments on mark allocation: Given the nature of this subject where there is very little recall and/or emphasis on the memorisation of facts, it is not anticipated that one-mark questions will be included in the examination. Even in situations where all that is required is for information to be read straight from a table, the information in the table has to be interpreted and the appropriate information located and identified. This process involves two steps and should be awarded two marks. It is also envisioned that a mark will be allocated for each step of working required in a calculation.

Paper 2 Topics

An “applications” paper, using both familiar and unfamiliar contexts This examination paper is an “applications” paper and primarily contains multi-step procedures (Level 3) and reasoning and reflecting (Level 4) questions, and a small number of routine procedures (Level 2) questions. The purpose of the Level 2 questions in this paper is to provide learners with greater access to the contexts in which problems are situated.

Structure and scope of content:

A Mathematical Literacy Paper 2 examination will typically consist of four or five questions:

• Each question will contain sub-questions.
• Each question will explore one or more contexts, drawing on content and/skills from two or more of the following topics:
  • –  Finance
  • –  Measurement
  • –  Maps, plans and other representations of the physical world
  • –  Data handling with the content and/or skills outlined in the following topics integrated throughout each question:
    • –  Interpreting and communicating answers and calculations
    • –  Numbers and operations with numbers
    • –  Patterns, relationships and representations.
  • The topic of Probability will be assessed in the context of one or more of these questions and not as a question on its own.
  • Each question will include sub-questions consisting of a small number of questions at the routine procedures (Level 2) levels, and a greater number at the multi-step procedures (Level 3) and reasoning and reflecting (Level 4) levels.
  • The focus of each question will be on assessing the ability to explore and understand a context(s) rather than on mathematical proficiency. Scope of contexts: Contexts used in a Paper 2 examination will include both familiar and unfamiliar contexts and are not limited to those specified in the Curriculum Outline section of the CAPS document. Distribution of marks according to the taxonomy levels: A Paper 2 examination should include questions at the different levels of the taxonomy according to the following mark distribution:

• 25% of the marks at Level 2 (applying routine procedures in familiar contexts);

• 35% of the marks at Level 3 (applying multi-step procedures in a variety of contexts);
• 40% of the marks at Level 4 (reasoning and reflecting).