A numerical solution of the transient free convection MHD flow of an incompressible viscous fluid past a semi-infinite inclined plate with variable surface heat and mass flux is presented here. The non-dimensional governing equations of the flow are unsteady, coupled and non-linear integro partial differential equations. The governing equations are solved by an efficient, more accurate and unconditionally stable implicit finite difference scheme. Velocity, temperature and concentration of the flow have been presented for various parameters such as Prandtl number, Schmidt number, the buoyancy ratio parameter, Grashof number, inclination angle phi and the magnetic parameter. The local and average skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also presented graphically. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.