MSCE Mathematics case studies
MSCE Mathematics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The MSCE Mathematics examination is the mathematics component of the Malawi School Certificate of Education, the school-leaving qualification taken at the end of secondary schooling in Malawi and used for selection into tertiary study and many training programmes. It is aimed at Form 4 candidates and, more broadly, at anyone who needs a recognised school-level mathematics credential for further education, teacher training, nursing, technical colleges or employment. The syllabus is built around seven strands: Number, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Statistics and Probability, and Functions and Graphs. Papers test routine fluency (arithmetic, manipulation, standard formulae) alongside multi-step problems that require you to choose a method, show working and interpret a result. The MSCE Mathematics case studies are 5 cases and about 2,112 words.
1Maize trading at Chinsapo Market: true cost and pricing judgement
A vegetable and maize trader at Chinsapo Market in Lilongwe buys 8 bags of maize. Each bag is labelled 50 kg and costs MWK 30,000.
464 words, about 2 min2Minibus trips, fares and break-even on the Blantyre–Zomba route
A minibus owner operates a 14-seater minibus on the Blantyre–Zomba route. The fare is MWK 2,500 per passenger.
435 words, about 2 min3Grain silo: volume, paint coverage and storage capacity
A secondary school is installing a grain silo made from a metal cylinder with a cone on top. The cylinder has radius 1.4 m and height 3.5 m.
423 words, about 2 min4River width by sine rule and bridge costing
A surveyor needs the width of a river. She stands at point A on one bank.
380 words, about 2 min5Mock test scores: mean, median and claims
A Form 4 mathematics teacher records the marks of 40 learners in a mock test marked out of 60. The marks are grouped as follows: 0–9, 3 learners; 10–19, 6 learners; 20–29, 10 learners; 30–39, 11 learners; 40–49, 7 learners; 50–59, 3 learners.
410 words, about 2 min