South Africa Grade 8 Mathematics Syllabus

This syllabus outlines the key topics covered in the Grade 8 Mathematics curriculum in South Africa.

1. Whole Numbers:

This topic revises properties of whole numbers from previous grades and introduces the division property of 0. Learners work with operations on whole numbers, including estimation and the use of calculators.

2. Integers:

This topic introduces integers, which include positive and negative whole numbers and zero. Learners explore operations with integers and the concept of order of operations (BEDMAS/BODMAS).

3. Exponents:

This topic builds on previous knowledge of squares, cubes, square roots, and cube roots. Learners are introduced to the laws of exponents and how to apply them in calculations.

4. Algebraic Expressions:

This topic introduces algebraic language, including variables, constants, coefficients, and exponents. Learners simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms and applying the distributive property.

5. Equations:

This topic focuses on setting up and solving algebraic equations. Learners solve equations involving one variable and apply their knowledge to solve word problems.

Additional Topics:

The Grade 8 Mathematics syllabus also covers other topics such as patterns, functions and relationships, geometry (including straight lines and 2D shapes), measurement (including area, perimeter, and volume), and data handling. More information on these topics can be found in the CAPS document.

Passing Requirements:

To be promoted to Grade 9, learners generally need to achieve a minimum of 40% in Mathematics and meet certain requirements in other subjects.