This study investigated senior secondary students' level of understanding of the basic concepts of analytical geometry, identified as; plotting and reading coordinates; midpoint; distance; and gradient. Through the investigation, four research themes and questions were developed to answer the main research question. The first research theme was concerned with senior school students' level of understanding of the basic concepts of analytical geometry, since these students have had additional exposure to the basic concepts. The second research theme related to the format of the research instrument and whether this had any effect on the level of understanding of the basic concepts by senior secondary students. The third research theme investigated the different strategies students used to solve basic concepts of analytical geometry problems, in particular, their misconceptions and explanations for strategies used. The fourth theme relates to why the mathematically less able students experienced difficulty with the basic concept of plotting and reading coordinates. The conclusion answers and addresses the four research themes and questions and establishes the level of understanding of the basic concepts of analytical geometry by these students. Finally, consideration is given to some of the implications of the results for further research in this area of study.