NCEE Maths & English Practice Questions — Free Sample Paper
Get Ready With Real Exam Practice
The National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) tests much more than memory. It challenges pupils to apply logic, reasoning, and clear English communication — under time pressure.
The best way to prepare? Practise real exam-style questions in both Maths and English.
This guide from The Exam Coach includes:
Free sample NCEE Maths and English questions,
Step-by-step worked answers and marking guidance,
Tips on how to score full marks, and
A free downloadable paper to print and use at home.
Let’s dive in and see how to help your child prepare confidently for 2025.
Maths
The NCEE Maths paper focuses on problem-solving, arithmetic accuracy, and reasoning. Each question is designed to test how well pupils understand key primary school maths concepts, not just how quickly they can calculate. Below are realistic sample questions in the same format as the official exam.
Sample NCEE Maths Questions (2025 Practice Set)
1️⃣ Basic Arithmetic
1. What is the value of 15 × 8 − 24 ÷ 3?
2. Simplify: 84 ÷ 6 + (9 × 2).
3. Find the sum of 345, 278, and 192.
2️⃣ Fractions and Decimals
4. Add ¾ and ⅖. Give your answer as a simplified fraction.
5. Convert 2.45 into a mixed number.
6. If ⅖ of a number is 18, what is the number?
3️⃣ Percentages and Ratios
7. A student scores 36 marks out of 45. What percentage is this?
8. Share ₦1,200 between Aisha and Bode in the ratio 3 : 5.
9. If the price of a bag increases by 10%, what will be the new price of a ₦4,000 bag?
4️⃣ Word Problems
10. A school has 480 pupils. If ⅜ of them are boys, how many are girls?
11. A train travels 75 km in 3 hours. What is its average speed?
12. Musa buys 5 pencils at ₦120 each and a pen for ₦250. How much does he spend altogether?
5️⃣ Quantitative Reasoning
13. What number is missing in the sequence: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___, 96?
14. Find the next number: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ___
15. A shape has 8 sides. What is its name?
English
The NCEE English paper combines comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. Pupils must demonstrate not only understanding but also clarity, accuracy, and fluency in written English. Here are sample question types that mirror the official structure.
Sample NCEE English Questions (2025 Practice Set)
1️⃣ Comprehension Passage
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
It was a bright Saturday morning. Bola and her friends decided to clean their school compound as part of the sanitation exercise. They swept the classrooms, arranged the chairs neatly, and planted flowers around the school gate. The head teacher praised them for their hard work and promised to take them on an excursion to the zoo the next weekend.
Questions:
1. What activity were Bola and her friends taking part in?
2. What did they plant around the school gate?
3. Who praised them for their hard work?
4. Where were they going the following weekend?
5. Find one word in the passage that means “trip.”
2️⃣ Grammar and Vocabulary
6. Choose the correct word: The boy ________ a song.
(A) sing (B) sang (C) sung (D) singing
7. Rewrite in plural form: The child is eating an orange.
8. Which of these words is an adjective?
(A) Quickly (B) Beautiful (C) Dance (D) Slowly
9. Fill in the blank: The bag belongs ________ Mary.
(A) in (B) with (C) to (D) for
10. Form a sentence with the word “education.”
3️⃣ Composition (Short Writing)
Write a short paragraph (about 5–7 sentences) on the topic: “My Favourite School Subject.”
Encourage your child to include:
A clear introduction,
Two reasons they like the subject, and
A closing line about how it helps them learn.
Answers
Below are worked solutions and marking notes for each question set.
Maths Answers (Worked Examples)
15 × 8 − 24 ÷ 3 = 120 − 8 = 112
84 ÷ 6 + (9 × 2) = 14 + 18 = 32
345 + 278 + 192 = 815
¾ + ⅖ = (15 + 8)/20 = 23/20 = 1⅕
2.45 = 2 9/20
⅖ × N = 18 → N = 18 × 5 ÷ 2 = 45
(36 ÷ 45) × 100 = 80%
₦1,200 ÷ 8 = ₦150 → Aisha = 3×150 = ₦450, Bode = 5×150 = ₦750
10% of ₦4,000 = ₦400 → new price = ₦4,400
⅜ of 480 = 180 boys → girls = 480 − 180 = 300
75 ÷ 3 = 25 km/h
5×120 = 600 + 250 = ₦850
Pattern ×2 → next = 48 → 48
Pattern +3, +5, +7, +9 → next = 37
Shape with 8 sides = Octagon
English Answers (Suggested Responses)
They were taking part in a sanitation exercise.
They planted flowers.
The head teacher.
They were going to the zoo.
“Excursion.”
(B) sang
The children are eating oranges.
(B) Beautiful
(C) to
Education helps me learn new things and become a better student.
For composition marking:
Award 5 marks for structure (beginning, middle, end).
5 marks for grammar and spelling.
5 marks for originality and detail.
Total: 15 marks
How to Mark Your Child’s Work
To make practice productive, follow a simple marking and review routine.
Time each paper.
Give your child 30 minutes for Maths and 30 minutes for English.
Mark objectively.
Use the worked answers above.
Award 1 mark per correct multiple-choice question.
Identify weak areas.
Focus on sections with below 70% accuracy.
Review with reasoning.
Discuss why an answer was wrong, not just what the correct one is.
Re-test after one week.
Repeating a similar question helps retention and confidence.
Next Steps
After completing these practice questions, guide your child to the next stage of preparation:
Download more full-length NCEE papers from our NCEE Past Questions & Answers page.
Join weekly online workshops to practise live with experienced tutors.
Real success in the NCEE comes from consistent practice. The questions in this free sample are designed to help your child understand the exam’s rhythm, improve accuracy, and build speed under pressure. By mixing structured book learning with timed practice like this, you’ll ensure your child enters the 2025 NCEE fully confident and exam-ready. Remember, it’s not about doing every question, but mastering the right ones.
Ready to boost your child’s score?
