Grade 12 · Mathematics · Paper 1 · CAPS
Counting Principle and Probability – Grade 12 Mathematics (Paper 1)
What Probability & Counting covers, how it is examined in Mathematics Paper 1, the 4 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 4
- Exam-style questions
- 13
- Marks of practice
- 127
- Study time
- ≈ 4 h 45 min
What it covers
This topic brings together Grade 11 probability – Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, contingency tables, and mutually exclusive, complementary and independent events – with the Grade 12 fundamental counting principle. You count arrangements of letters, digits or people when repeats are or are not allowed, using factorial notation and handling items that must stay together or apart, and then turn those counts into probabilities. Most of the difficulty lies in setting up the count, not in the arithmetic.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Mathematics Paper 1 – Friday 23 October 2026, 09:00 (3 hours, 150 marks)
- Weighting
- Probability ≈ 15/150 in Paper 1 (Gr 11 probability + Gr 12 counting)
- Questions
- In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 10–11 of Mathematics Paper 1.
Question numbers and mark splits are typical, not fixed – they vary a little from year to year.
Sections to study
- Grade 11 revision: probability rules, Venn diagrams, trees and tables30 min
- The fundamental counting principle35 min
- Arrangements with restrictions30 min
- Probability with the counting principle30 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples4 sections | 2 h 05 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions13 questions · 127 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 2 h 30 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 4 h 45 min |
Mathematics Paper 1 is written on Friday 23 October 2026 at 09:00.
What you get in the portal
- 13 exam-style questions on Probability & Counting (127 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked examples with diagrams and step-by-step calculations for each of the 4 sections
- Tutor notes added to sections and questions – for the whole class or just for you
- A topic quiz, mock papers and a study plan that counts down to Mathematics Paper 1
Notes, worked examples, questions and memos open once the tutor approves your account – usually with your first confirmed lesson.
Stuck on Probability & Counting? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick Probability & Counting as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Maths P1 topics
Questions about Probability & Counting
How many marks is Probability & Counting worth in the matric exam?
In Mathematics Paper 1 (3 hours, 150 marks) the usual weighting is: Probability ≈ 15/150 in Paper 1 (Gr 11 probability + Gr 12 counting). In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 10–11 of Mathematics Paper 1. The exact marks change a little from year to year.
How long does it take to study Probability & Counting?
About 4 h 45 min: 2 h 05 min for the notes and worked examples in its 4 sections, 2 h 30 min for the 13 exam-style questions (127 marks) at exam pace of 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
When is the Mathematics Paper 1 exam in 2026?
Mathematics Paper 1 is written on Friday 23 October 2026 at 09:00 and lasts 3 hours (150 marks), according to the DBE’s 2026 NSC timetable. Confirm the date with your school, because the DBE can amend the timetable.
Can I get online lessons for Probability & Counting?
Yes. Create a free account in the Adventuity portal, request a one-on-one online lesson of 60, 90 or 120 minutes (or a seat in a group class) and choose Probability & Counting as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.