Grade 10 is the first year of the FET Phase, and the maths you learn now carries straight through to Matric. Functions, trigonometry, analytical geometry and finance all start here and get harder in Grades 11 and 12. Learners who build strong habits in Grade 10 usually find the next two years far less stressful.
How Grade 10 maths is examined
The November exam has two papers of 100 marks each, and each paper is 2 hours long. According to the CAPS examination guidelines, the marks are spread roughly like this:
- Paper 1: algebra, equations and inequalities (about 30), number patterns (15), functions and graphs (30), finance and growth (10) and probability (15)
- Paper 2: statistics (about 15), analytical geometry (15), trigonometry (40), and Euclidean geometry and measurement (30)
The habits that matter most
Three habits make the biggest difference in Grade 10.
- Factorise fluently. Trinomials such as 6x² + x − 2, the difference of squares and the sum and difference of cubes appear in equations, functions and algebraic fractions.
- Know the special angles without a calculator. Trigonometry is 40% of Paper 2, and sin 30°, cos 45° and tan 60° come up constantly.
- Sketch graphs from equations. For every function family, practise finding intercepts, asymptotes and turning points, and finding the equation from a sketch.
A term-by-term plan
Term 1: algebraic expressions, exponents, number patterns and equations. Practise a few factorising and equation questions every day. Term 2: functions and trigonometry, the two biggest sections; sketch at least one graph a day. Term 3: analytical geometry, Euclidean geometry, finance and statistics. Term 4: probability and measurement, then full timed papers.
From the start of Term 4, write one full paper a week under exam conditions: 2 hours, 100 marks, with a calculator. Mark it with the memo, list the topics where you lost marks, and revise those first.
Use past papers well
Official November common papers from the Department of Basic Education are still excellent practice, because the CAPS Grade 10 syllabus hasn't changed. Snap&Learn's Grade 10 page links them, together with practice papers that have a full worked answer to every question.
When you get stuck
Set your grade to Grade 10 in Snap&Learn and snap the question. The explanation sticks to Grade 10 methods, such as factorising instead of the quadratic formula, so you learn the approach your teacher wants to see.