Tips and advice for the numeracy test

Watch the video below for a great introduction and explanation about what to expect and how to prepare for and pass the numeracy test.

About the test

The test is 20 questions long. Some are calculations, and some are word problems. You are not allowed to use a calculator to help you, but you may use pen and paper.

The questions are about decimals, fractions and percentages. There are several reasons for this: the Teaching Council requires that the test be set at the University Entrance level, and these topics are key to numeracy credits at this level.

They are the key part of Level 4 in our mathematics curriculum, which is the level set for Years 7 and 8, and they are internationally recognised as essential for functional numeracy for adults. There are no questions about geometry, measurement, statistics, probability or algebra involving letters.

Online resources

The following resources provide you with explanations and the opportunity to practise. Each site has videos, explanations, examples, and materials to help you practice and revise.

Pathways Awarua

This is a wonderful resource developed in Aotearoa for adult learners. It is an interactive teaching and practice tool that you can sign up for. It has interactive material to teach you, lots of self-marking activities and word problems to try. Sign up here.

Follow the numeracy pathway.

For this test, you only need to look at the units on fractions, decimals and percentages. 

Khan Academy

This set of sites has animated video explanations and practice interactives. They are from the USA, so some things, like tax rates, are different, but the maths principles are the same.

Links to some of the resources:

Bitesize 

These sites are developed in the UK. As mentioned above, that means some things are different, but the principles still work.

Links to selected Bitesize resources:

This is an extra YouTube video on finding fractions of a quantity, in case you need extra practice: