Time Strategy: 150 Marks in 180 Minutes
Each paper is 150 marks in 3 hours. That gives you 1.2 minutes per mark. A 5-mark question gets 6 minutes. A 10-mark question gets 12 minutes. If you are on a question longer than that, you are stealing time from easier marks later.
Paper 1: Question-by-Question Game Plan
Starts with basic factorisation, then simultaneous equations, then harder quadratics, inequalities, or surds. Do parts (a) and (b) quickly and accurately. Parts (c) onward get harder. If a surd equation stumps you, move on and come back. Always check solutions for surds by substituting back.
Always identify: is it arithmetic or geometric? Am I finding a term (Tn) or a sum (Sn)? Those two answers tell you which formula to use. The sigma notation question is always worth 3 to 4 marks. The "show that" question requires you to prove a common difference or ratio is constant. Sum to infinity only applies when |r| < 1.
Expect a parabola combined with a straight line or hyperbola. You will sketch graphs, find equations from graphs, determine domain and range, and answer inequality questions. The inverse function (log) appears every year. For sketches: find intercepts, turning point, asymptotes, and plot at least 4 points before drawing.
Compound growth/decay, nominal vs effective interest rates, annuities (future and present value). The formulas are provided. Your job is to identify which formula, convert i to the correct compounding period, and bracket your bases before raising to the power. Always check: is n in years, months, or quarters?
Differentiation, finding turning points, sketching cubic graphs, optimisation or rate of change. For cubic graph sketches: find f'(x) = 0 for turning points, f(0) for y-intercept, f(x) = 0 for x-intercepts, and f''(x) for concavity. Show every step. The optimisation question is usually the last sub-part and carries 5 to 6 marks. Read it carefully and set up the equation before differentiating.
Counting principle (factorials, arrangements) and probability (Venn diagrams, contingency tables, independence). Start with the counting question since it is usually more straightforward. For Venn diagrams, fill in the overlap first. For testing independence, check if P(A and B) = P(A) x P(B). These 15 marks are there for the taking.
Paper 2: Question-by-Question Game Plan
Mean, standard deviation (calculator gives you σ, not s), scatter plot, regression line, correlation coefficient. Clear your calculator's stat memory before entering data. Plot the mean point (x̄, ȳ) and make sure your regression line passes through it. Know the difference between interpolation (reliable) and extrapolation (unreliable).
Circle equation, completing the square, tangent to a circle, chords. The golden rule: tangent is perpendicular to radius (m₁ x m₂ = -1). If the equation is in general form, complete the square first. Always verify a point is on the circle before finding a tangent at that point.
For identity proofs: pick the more complicated side, expand using compound/double angle formulas, factorise. For general solutions: isolate the trig ratio, find the reference angle, write both solutions with k.360° or k.180° (tan). For restricted ranges, test k = -1, 0, 1 at minimum. The 2D/3D trig problem is usually the last question in this section and carries 8 to 10 marks.
Q8 usually starts with a bookwork proof (proportionality theorem or tan-chord). Memorise it. Write it from memory for 6 to 8 marks. The riders that follow require you to mark equal angles on the diagram first, identify cyclic quads and tangents, then write statements with reasons. Never leave a rider blank. Even 2 correct statements with reasons earns partial marks.
The 5 Mistakes That Cost 20+ Marks
That is 20 minutes that could have earned you 15+ marks on easier questions. Star the hard question. Move on. Come back later.
15 marks gone. Even knowing the basic addition rule and the complement rule gets you 8 to 10 of those marks.
A 6-mark question needs 5 to 6 lines of working. Jump to the answer and you get 1 out of 6. Show every step.
-(x - 3)² is not -x² - 6x - 9. It is -(x² - 6x + 9) = -x² + 6x - 9. One wrong sign ruins every line after it.
Silly mistakes cost 10 to 15 marks per paper. A quick check catches most of them. Recalculate your first line of substitution for each question. That is where most errors hide.
For the full list, read 10 Most Common Mistakes in Grade 12 Maths Paper 1.
The Night Before and Morning Of
For the full prelim breakdown, read Everything You Need to Know About Grade 12 Prelims 2026.
For the full exam format, read NSC Maths Exam Format - Paper 1 vs Paper 2.
For past paper practice, read Grade 12 Maths Past Papers - How to Use Them to Study.
Your prelim is a dress rehearsal. Make sure you are rehearsed.
A-Game Academy teaches Grade 12 Pure Maths live via Zoom. Mr Sawaya, 30 years NSC experience. Small classes, max 15 students. Weekly past paper practice under exam conditions.
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