What Will Be in the Grade 12 Maths Prelim Exam 2026 — Full Topic Breakdown
Every topic that comes out in the Grade 12 Maths prelim, how many marks each one carries, what the DBE-aligned scope looks like for Paper 1 and Paper 2, and exactly how to use the weeks before your trial exam.
The Grade 12 Maths prelim — also called the trial exam or September exam — is the closest thing you get to the real NSC before you actually write it. The scope is almost identical to the final NSC. Both papers are full-length, full-mark, and timed. The only real difference is that the prelim is set by your school or province while the NSC is set by the DBE. Everything that comes out in the prelim will come out in the NSC final too.
If you are wondering what to study, what is included, and how to prioritise your time before the trial exam — this is the page you need.
- The exact scope for Grade 12 Maths prelim Paper 1 and Paper 2
- How many marks each topic carries and which ones to prioritise
- What is different about the prelim scope vs the final NSC scope
- The specific question types that come up every year in prelims
- How to structure your preparation in the weeks before the trial exam
- What your prelim result means and how to use it before the NSC final
The Prelim Exam Structure — Paper 1 and Paper 2
The Grade 12 Maths prelim follows the same two-paper structure as the NSC final. Both papers are 3 hours and 150 marks each. The trial exam is held in August or September — your school will confirm the exact dates. Most Gauteng schools write trials in August. Most Western Cape schools write in September.
Algebra, Calculus and Patterns
- Algebra, equations and inequalities
- Patterns, sequences and series
- Functions and graphs
- Finance, growth and decay
- Differential calculus
- Probability and counting principle
Geometry, Trig and Stats
- Statistics and regression
- Analytical geometry
- Trigonometry
- Euclidean geometry and proofs
Is the prelim scope the same as the NSC final? Yes — almost completely. By the time you write your prelim in August or September, you will have covered the full CAPS curriculum. The prelim covers all Grade 12 topics across both papers. There is no reduced scope for prelims. Some schools include selected Grade 11 content in earlier tests, but the August/September trial exam is full-scope.
Paper 1 — What Comes Out and How Many Marks
| Topic | Approx. Marks | Priority | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functions and Graphs | ~35 | Must master | Functions guide |
| Differential Calculus | ~35 | Must master | Calculus guide |
| Sequences and Series | ~25 | High | Sequences guide |
| Algebra, Equations and Inequalities | ~25 | High | Algebra guide |
| Finance, Growth and Decay | ~15 | High | Finance guide |
| Probability and Counting Principle | ~15 | High | Probability guide |
Functions and Graphs — ~35 marks
- Sketching parabolas, hyperbolas, exponentials and logarithmic functions from equations
- Finding equations of functions given graphs or key points (turning point, intercepts, asymptotes)
- Determining domain and range
- Finding the inverse function and sketching it
- Interpreting graphs — reading off values, finding where functions intersect
- Transformations — effect of a, p, q on the shape and position of the graph
- Exponential and logarithmic equations linked to graph reading
Differential Calculus — ~35 marks
- First principles — the definition of the derivative (when the question explicitly asks for it)
- Differentiation using the power rule — including negative and fractional exponents
- Finding the equation of a tangent to a curve at a given point
- Stationary points — finding local maximum and minimum using f'(x) = 0
- Sketching cubic graphs — x-intercepts, y-intercept, stationary points, end behaviour
- Optimisation problems — maximising volume, area, or profit using calculus
- Rates of change in context — distance, velocity, acceleration problems
Sequences and Series — ~25 marks
- Arithmetic sequences — finding the nth term, finding n, finding d or a
- Arithmetic series — sum of n terms, sum to a given value
- Geometric sequences — finding T_n, finding r, convergence conditions
- Geometric series — sum of n terms, sum to infinity when |r| < 1
- Mixed questions involving both arithmetic and geometric sequences in the same problem
- Sigma notation — interpreting and calculating sums written with Σ
- Quadratic sequences — identifying the pattern and writing the general term
Algebra, Equations and Inequalities — ~25 marks
- Solving quadratic equations — factorisation and quadratic formula
- Nature of roots using the discriminant — Δ = b² − 4ac
- Simultaneous equations — one linear and one quadratic (substitution method)
- Cubic expressions — factor theorem and synthetic division to factorise
- Exponential equations — getting the same base, then equating exponents
- Inequalities — quadratic inequalities solved using a number line
- Surds — simplifying, rationalising denominators
Finance, Growth and Decay — ~15 marks
- Simple and compound interest/growth/decay — choosing the right formula
- Effective annual interest rate vs nominal rate
- Present value and future value annuity calculations
- Loan repayments and outstanding balance
- Sinking fund problems
Probability and Counting Principle — ~15 marks
- Venn diagrams — two and three events, finding probabilities from given information
- Addition rule — P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A and B)
- Mutually exclusive and independent events — identifying and applying
- Fundamental counting principle — arrangements with and without restrictions
- Factorial notation — n! and its applications
- Arrangements with repeated letters or identical objects
Paper 2 — What Comes Out and How Many Marks
| Topic | Approx. Marks | Priority | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euclidean Geometry and Proofs | ~40 | Must master | Geometry guide |
| Trigonometry | ~40 | Must master | Trigonometry guide |
| Analytical Geometry | ~40 | Must master | Analytical geometry guide |
| Statistics and Regression | ~20 | High | Statistics guide |
Euclidean Geometry — ~40 marks
- Circle theorems — proving angles at centre, angles in same segment, cyclic quadrilaterals
- Tangent-radius theorem and tan-chord (tangent-chord angle = angle in alternate segment)
- Two tangents from external point
- Proportionality theorem — line parallel to one side divides others proportionally
- Similar triangles — proving similarity and using ratios to find unknown lengths
- Riders — multi-step geometry proofs that require several theorems in sequence
Trigonometry — ~40 marks
- Compound angle identities — proving and simplifying expressions
- Double angle formulas — choosing the correct version of cos2A
- General solutions of trig equations — sin θ = k, cos θ = k, tan θ = k
- Trig equations within a given interval — restricting the general solution
- Solving triangles using sine rule, cosine rule, and area rule
- 2D and 3D trig problems involving angles of elevation and depression
- Trig graphs — sketching, finding period, amplitude, and horizontal shift
Analytical Geometry — ~40 marks
- Equations of lines — gradient, y-intercept, point-slope form
- Parallel and perpendicular lines — using m₁ × m₂ = −1
- Circle equations — writing in standard form, finding centre and radius
- Completing the square to convert circle equations to standard form
- Tangent to a circle at a given point
- Chord of a circle — midpoint, perpendicular bisector, finding chord length
- Coordinate geometry proofs — proving shapes are specific quadrilaterals
How to Prepare in the Weeks Before the Prelim
The prelim is typically six to eight weeks before the NSC final. That means the preparation you do now does double duty — it builds your prelim result and your NSC result at the same time. Here is the approach that works:
Six weeks out — diagnose first
Do one full timed Paper 1 and one full timed Paper 2 from a recent past paper under real conditions. Mark both using the official memo. List every question where you lost marks and categorise the loss: content gap, method error, or careless mistake. This list tells you exactly where to spend your time. For past papers, read our guide on where to download Grade 12 Maths past papers free.
Four weeks out — close the gaps topic by topic
Pull questions from multiple past papers on each of your weak topics and work through them back to back. Calculus, functions, geometry, and trig are where most marks are won or lost — spend the most time here. For the full topic breakdown, read our Grade 12 Maths exam guidelines.
Two weeks out — full timed papers daily
One full paper per day, alternating Paper 1 and Paper 2. Real conditions. Mark the same evening. Identify the three biggest sources of lost marks per paper and fix them before the next paper. Do not keep discovering the same errors — fix them actively.
Final week — sharpen and maintain
No new content. Review your formula sheet, key theorems, and your personal error list. Sleep properly from Wednesday night. For the full prelim strategy read our guide on how to get 90% in Grade 12 Maths prelims.
What to do after the prelim: Your prelim result is not your final mark — it is a diagnostic. Every mark you lost in the prelim is a mark you can protect in the NSC final if you address the specific cause in the six weeks between the two exams. The students who improve most from prelim to final are the ones who treat the trial result as data, not judgment. See the final NSC topic breakdown in our companion post on what comes out in the Grade 12 Maths NSC final exam 2026.
Prelims are weeks away. The right preparation starts now.
A-Game Academy teaches Grade 12 Pure Maths live via Zoom. Mr Sawaya — 30 years NSC experience, SACE registered, CAPS specialist. Every prelim topic covered, every past paper question type practised. Max 15 students per class so you actually get answers when you are stuck.
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