Free vs. Paid MPT Practice: What's Actually Worth It
Preparing for the Ontario MPT doesn't have to cost anything. Here's an honest comparison of free vs. paid resources, plus a $0 study plan that's enough for most candidates.
The thing most candidates don't realize
The MPT tests Grade 9 math from publicly available Ontario curriculum materials. You don't need an expensive prep course. You don't need private tutoring. The content is online, free, and well-documented.
The test covers number sense (fractions, decimals, percentages), linear relationships in the form y = mx + b, basic geometry, data management, and pedagogy from Ontario teaching documents (Growing Success, Learning for All). All of it is freely available — you just need to know where to look.
The free resources that actually work
The OCT MPT portal at mathproficiencytest.ca gives you the official practice test, the test framework, and sample questions after registration. This is the closest thing to the actual test you'll get. Start here.
EQAO Grade 9 assessments are released tests from previous years with answer keys, available free from the EQAO site. The MPT pulls from the same question banks, so this is the best math practice you can find.
Numera is Ontario-aligned daily practice with step-by-step solutions on every problem and full offline mode. Free, no signup. Built for the MPT specifically — not a generic math tool. Works on commutes when you have no wifi.
Khan Academy's Grade 9 math track is free video lessons and practice problems. Best for refreshing concepts you haven't touched since high school.
The Growing Success PDF from the Ontario Ministry of Education is a free download, and the pedagogy section of the MPT references it heavily. Required reading. Learning for All is the companion document on differentiated instruction — also free, also worth reading.
That's the entire toolkit. Total cost: $0.
The paid resources, ranked by whether they're worth it
Teachers Pay Teachers MPT bundles ($10–$50) usually repackage free content with prettier formatting. Skip them — use the originals.
MPT prep courses ($100–$300) offer structured curriculum, accountability, and scheduled practice. They're generally overkill for Grade 9 math. The only candidates who really benefit are those who genuinely cannot self-study (which is rare; you got into a teaching program, you can study).
Private tutoring ($50–$100/hour) is genuinely valuable for one specific situation: you've identified a specific weak area through practice, and you need targeted help that videos and explanations haven't fixed. Buy 2–3 sessions on a specific topic, not an open-ended package.
For most candidates — meaning roughly 90% of you — none of the paid options are worth it.
When to consider paying
Spend money only if you've failed the MPT once and want structured help to fix specific gaps, you have severe math anxiety that meaningfully blocks self-study (in which case a few hours with a tutor is more useful than a course), or you specifically need accountability to actually do the work (in which case the structure of a course buys you that, even if the content is overpriced).
If none of those apply, the free resources are sufficient.
A $0 two-week study plan
Week 1 builds foundation. Day 1: take the official OCT practice test, untimed, no calculator, and grade yourself by strand. Days 2–3: hit your weakest strand on Khan Academy. Days 4–7: drill that strand using EQAO practice questions, with daily evening sessions on Numera for variety.
Week 2 is pedagogy and mocks. Days 8–10: read Growing Success and Learning for All; make flashcards for the terminology. Days 11–12: take a full timed practice test and review every wrong answer. Days 13–14: mixed practice plus a calm formula review. Test day arrives with your work already done.
Total cost: $0. Total time: roughly 20 focused hours.
The bottom line
The MPT is a Grade 9 math test with a pedagogy section. The content is freely available through official Ontario sources. Save your money for things that actually matter (like, say, the costs of teaching itself).
Start with the free resources. If you're still struggling after two weeks of consistent practice, then consider paid options — and even then, target the spend at your specific weakness, don't buy a generic package.
Free Ontario-aligned MPT practice with step-by-step solutions at app.numeracode.com. No signup, works offline.
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