Top 3 Self-Study Resources for the NCEA Numeracy Assessment
Updated for Term 3, 2025
The Numeracy CAA, also known as the NCEA Numeracy Co-requisite, is the 10-credit assessment based on Level 4 of the NZ Math curriculum. It's usually taken by Year 10 or 11 students. Only 57% of students passed it in the most recent round (May 2025).
We're not affiliated with any of the resources we're about to recommend. These are just the resources we consistently use with our students at Trajectory Education, and we know they work.
We’ve also created a free Numeracy Self-Evaluation Checklist, designed to help students figure out exactly which skills they need to work on. You’ll find more on that below.
But first, here’s our top three.
Past Exam Papers
📍 Find them here on NZQA’s website →
If your child is only going to use one resource, let it be this. Past exam papers are the best representation of what they’ll actually face on test day. Real questions, real format, real pressure.
Pros:
Free and easily accessible.
The most accurate preview of what the test looks like.
Excellent for building exam confidence and stamina.
Cons:
Some questions have been redacted due to copyright, which can be a pain.
They’re a mixed bag — not ideal for targeting specific skills.
Can be challenging if you don’t know what you’re doing yet.
How to get the most out of them:
It is daunting, and usually not wise, to dive right into past exam papers. We built our free Numeracy Checklist to get students used to past exam questions, piece by piece. It breaks the assessment down into all the required skills, and includes direct links to relevant past exam questions. Students can self-evaluate, track what they know, and highlight what still needs work. It’s a more strategic way to revise.
🟢 Download our free Numeracy Self-Evaluation Checklist here →
Walkermaths: Numeracy Practice Workbook
💸 ~$10–15 from major booksellers
This workbook is built specifically to help students prepare for the CAA Numeracy test. It includes plenty of practice sets and uses question styles similar to what students will see in the assessment. It’s not topic-based, but great for general exposure.
Pros:
Skill-based practice sets.
Solid for early prep — especially Year 9's and 10's just getting started.
Great for building confidence and routine.
Cons:
Doesn’t include the more complex “explain your thinking”-style questions (which do show up in the real test).
Slightly easier than the real deal. Good for warm-up, but not the final stop.
Can’t target specific areas. Questions are shuffled across topics.
Best for:
Students who are just getting started, or those wanting a solid bank of questions to keep skills sharp. This is one of the most accessible resources, but won’t take you all the way on its own.
Learnwell Numeracy Matters Workbook
💸 ~$25–30 from major booksellers
What sets this workbook apart is how it’s structured. It’s grouped by topic — so if your child knows they need to work particularly on time calculations, or on metric units, they can go straight to that section and drill it.
Pros:
Perfect for targeting specific skills.
Clear topic breakdown makes it easy to focus revision.
Includes full-length practice sets at the back.
Cons:
The practice sets are a bit outdated — based on older exams.
Slightly more expensive than other workbooks.
The real test format has evolved a little since this was released, so not all questions reflect the latest style.
Best for:
Students who already know what they need to work on and want focused, targeted revision. Combine this with past papers for best results.
The Wrap-Up: Where to Begin
Start with our free Numeracy Checklist. It connects the dots by:
Listing every required skill
Linking to relevant past exam questions
Helping students figure out what they actually need to study
📥 Download the Numeracy Checklist here →
If you’d rather not go it alone, we're here to help. We've been helping Christchurch students smash these assessments since 2022. Our 1:1 tutoring is led by tutors who understand these assessments inside and out.