SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS/
NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS
ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE P3
MAY/JUNE 2024
MARKING GUIDELINES
MARKS: 100
These marking guidelines consist of 12 pages.
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English FAL Grade 12 Paper 3 NSC June 2025 Memo
Grade 12 English FAL Paper 3 memorandum from the NSC June Exam 2025, 12 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, question paper linked when available.
English Fal · Grade 12 · NSC June Exam · 2025 · English. Memorandum, 12 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- English FAL
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Language
- English
- Document type
- Memorandum
- Year
- 2025
- Exam period
- NSC June Exam
- Paper
- 3
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 12
- File size
- 353.1 KB
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English First Additional Language/P3 2 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
These marking guidelines must be used together with the attached English FAL
assessment rubrics for SECTIONS A, B and C.
SECTION A: ESSAY
QUESTION 1
Instructions to Markers:
• Candidates are required to write on ONE topic only.
• The ideas listed below the topics are only some ways in which the topic could be
interpreted.
• Full credit must be given for the candidates’ own interpretation.
• Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
• Use the 50-mark assessment rubric to mark the essays. The texts produced by
candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria as set out in the
assessment rubric:
o Content and planning (30 marks)
o Language, style and editing (15 marks)
o Structure (5 marks)
NOTE:
• Adhere to the length of between 250 and 300 words as prescribed in the CAPS
document. However, should the maximum word count be exceeded, refer to the
First Additional Language Examination Guidelines Grade 12, 2021.
• No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.
1.1 I cannot survive without my ...
Descriptive/Narrative/Reflective/Discursive/Argumentative
• If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, using as
many senses as possible to make the description clear.
• If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting
ending.
• If reflective, the essay should convey the writer’s/candidate’s reactions
and feelings.
• If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and
clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting
evidence for his/her arguments. The candidate may come to a particular
conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include
recommendations.
• If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint
for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments
to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a
strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more
than one type of essay/any other essay type, relevant to the topic. [50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
English First Additional Language/P3 3 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
1.2 Anger is the thief of joy.
Reflective/Descriptive/Narrative/Discursive/Argumentative
• If reflective, the essay should convey the writer’s/candidate’s reactions
and feelings.
• If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, using as
many senses as possible to make the description clear.
• If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting
ending.
• If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and
clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting
evidence for his/her arguments. The candidate may come to a particular
conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include
recommendations.
• If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint
for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments
to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a
strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more
than one type of essay/any other essay type, relevant to the topic. [50]
1.3 I did not know what to say.
Narrative/Reflective/Descriptive/Discursive/Argumentative
• If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting
ending.
• If reflective, the essay should convey the writer’s/candidate’s reactions
and feelings.
• If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, using as
many senses as possible to make the description clear.
• If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and
clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting
evidence for his/her arguments. The candidate may come to a particular
conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include
recommendations.
• If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint
for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments
to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a
strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more
than one type of essay/any other essay type, relevant to the topic. [50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
English First Additional Language/P3 4 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
1.4 If artificial intelligence replaces humans …
Reflective/Discursive/Argumentative/Descriptive/Narrative
• If reflective, the essay should convey the writer’s/candidate’s reactions
and feelings.
• If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and
clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting
evidence for his/her arguments. The candidate may come to a particular
conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include
recommendations.
• If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint
for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments
to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a
strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
• If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, using as
many senses as possible to make the description clear.
• If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting
ending.
NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more
than one type of essay/any other essay type, relevant to the topic. [50]
1.5 'There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.' – Beverly Stills
Argumentative/Discursive/Reflective/Narrative/Descriptive
• If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint
for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments
to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a
strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
• If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and
clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting
evidence for his/her arguments. The candidate may come to a particular
conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include
recommendations.
• If reflective, the essay should convey the writer’s/candidate’s reactions
and feelings.
• If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting
ending.
• If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, using as
many senses as possible to make the description clear.
NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more
than one type of essay/any other essay type, relevant to the topic. [50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
English First Additional Language/P3 5 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
Interpretation of pictures
The candidate:
• must give the essay a suitable title.
• may interpret the pictures in any way.
• may choose to write any type of essay.
• must link the interpretation to the picture.
• may write in any appropriate tense.
1.6 Picture: Person holding a parcel.
Narrative/Descriptive/Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive
• Literal interpretations: giving, delivery, a gift
• Figurative interpretations: generosity, gratitude, deception [50]
1.7 Picture: Flower
Narrative/Descriptive/Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive
• Literal interpretations: flowers, happiness, handcrafts
• Figurative interpretations: dreams, new beginnings, fake versus real [50]
1.8 Picture: Mouse with mousetrap
Narrative/Descriptive/Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive
• Literal interpretations: pests, precautionary measures, a trap
• Figurative interpretations: bravery, innovations, learning from experience [50]
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
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English First Additional Language/P3 6 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
SECTION B: LONGER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT
QUESTION 2
Instructions to Markers:
• Candidates are required to answer ONE question.
• Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
• Use the 30-mark assessment rubric to mark the responses in this section. The
texts produced by candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria
as set out in the assessment rubric:
o Content, planning and format (18 marks)
o Language, style and editing (12 marks)
NOTE:
• Adhere to the length of between 120 and 150 words as prescribed in the CAPS
document. However, should the maximum word count be reached mid-sentence,
read to the end of that sentence.
• No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.
2.1 LETTER TO THE PRESS
Letter to the editor.
• The letter should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
• The tone and register of the letter should be formal.
• The following aspects of format must be included:
o Address of sender
o Date
o Name of newspaper and address of the recipient
o Greeting/Salutation (The Editor/Sir/Madam)
o Subject line
o Suitable ending
o Signature and name of sender
• The candidate must express concerns about the health hazards of
dumping and provide possible solutions to the problem. [30]
2.2 OBITUARY
Obituary paying tribute to a cleaner who has passed away.
• The tone must be formal.
• The following aspects of format must be included:
o Full name of the deceased
o Date of birth
o Date of death
o Birthplace
o Where the person was living at the time of death
o Key survivors (e.g. spouse, children) and their names
o Date, time and place of funeral
o A tribute to the deceased
• The following information may be included:
o Biographical information
o Cause of death.
[30]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
English First Additional Language/P3 7 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
2.3 SPEECH
A speech thanking the management team.
• The speech should start with a suitable salutation/greeting.
• The tone and register should be appropriate for the audience.
• The speech must include the following:
o An introduction that captures the audience’s attention
o Well-developed points
o A suitable conclusion thanking the management team of the
company. [30]
2.4 DIALOGUE
A conversation between a child and a parent/guardian.
• A brief context must be provided at the beginning of the dialogue.
The dialogue must be between a parent/guardian and a child.
• The tone should be informal.
• The following aspects of the dialogue format must be included:
o The names of the speakers or references to the speakers written on
the left side of the page.
o A colon after the name of the character who is speaking.
o A new line to indicate each new speaker.
o Advice to characters on how to speak or present the action must be
given in brackets before the words are spoken. [30]
TOTAL SECTION B: 30
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English First Additional Language/P3 8 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
SECTION C: SHORTER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT
QUESTION 3
Instructions to Markers:
• Candidates are required to answer ONE question.
• Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
• Use the 20-mark assessment rubric to mark the responses in this section. The
texts produced by candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria
as set out in the assessment rubric:
o Content, planning and format (12 marks)
o Language, style and editing (8 marks)
NOTE:
• Adhere to the length of between 80 and 100 words as prescribed in the CAPS
document. However, should the maximum word count be reached mid-sentence,
read to the end of that sentence.
• No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.
3.1 INVITATION
Invitation to a farewell party.
• The response may be in the form of a note, a personal letter or an
invitation card.
• The following aspects of format must be included:
o Name of invitee
o Date
o Venue
o Time
• Type of function should be clear.
• Language should be suited to the context.
• Full sentences are not necessary.
• The following details may be included, among others:
o Dress code
o RSVP
NOTE: Do NOT award marks for illustrations or drawings. [20]
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English First Additional Language/P3 9 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC Marking Guidelines
3.2 DIARY ENTRY
A diary entry about moving into a new house.
• There must be ONE diary entry.
• The date/time must be reflected.
• The entry must express the candidate’s feelings before/during/after
moving into a new house.
• The diary entry must be written in the first person.
• The language must be simple and informal.
• The tone must reflect suitable emotions. [20]
3.3 INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions for ensuring safety.
The instructions:
• may be in point or paragraph form.
• must be in logical sequence.
• must be written in the imperative. [20]
TOTAL SECTION C: 20
GRAND TOTAL: 100
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English First Additional Language/P3 10 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE [50 MARKS]
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
CONTENT & 28–30 22–24 16–18 10-12 4-6
PLANNING -Outstanding/Striking response -Very well-crafted response -Satisfactory response -Inconsistently coherent -Totally irrelevant response
beyond normal expectations -Fully relevant and interesting -Ideas are reasonably coherent response -Confused and unfocused ideas
Upper level
(Response and ideas) -Intelligent, thought-provoking ideas with evidence of and convincing -Unclear ideas and unoriginal -Vague and repetitive
Organisation of ideas for and mature ideas maturity -Reasonably organised and -Little evidence of organisation -Unorganised and incoherent
planning; -Exceptionally well organised -Very well organised and coherent, including introduction, and coherence
Awareness of purpose, and coherent (connected), coherent (connected), body and conclusion/ending
audience and context including introduction, body and including
conclusion/ending introduction, body and
30 MARKS conclusion/ending
25–27 19–21 13–15 7–9 0–3
-Excellent response but lacks -Well-crafted response -Satisfactory response but some -Largely irrelevant response -No attempt to respond to the
the exceptionally striking -Relevant and interesting lapses in clarity -Ideas tend to be topic
Lower level
qualities of the outstanding ideas -Ideas are fairly coherent and disconnected and confusing -Completely irrelevant and
essay -Well organised and coherent convincing -Hardly any evidence of inappropriate
-Mature and intelligent ideas (connected), including -Some degree of organisation organisation and coherence -Unfocused and muddled
-Skilfully organised and coherent introduction, body and and coherence, including
(connected), including conclusion introduction, body and
introduction, body and conclusion
conclusion/ending
LANGUAGE, STYLE & 14–15 11-12 8- 9 5- 6 0–3
EDITING -Tone, register, style and -Tone, register, style and -Tone, register, style and -Tone, register, style and -Language incomprehensible
vocabulary highly appropriate to vocabulary very appropriate to vocabulary appropriate to vocabulary less appropriate to -Tone, register, style and
Tone, register, style,
Upper level
purpose, audience and context purpose, audience and purpose, audience and context purpose, audience and context vocabulary not appropriate to
vocabulary appropriate -Language confident, context -Appropriate use of language to -Very basic use of language purpose, audience and context
to purpose/effect and exceptionally impressive -Language is effective and a convey meaning -Tone and diction are -Vocabulary limitations so
context; -Compelling and rhetorically consistently appropriate tone -Tone is appropriate inappropriate extreme as to make
Word choice; effective in tone is used -Rhetorical devices used to -Very limited vocabulary comprehension impossible
Language use and -Virtually error-free in grammar -Largely error-free in grammar enhance content
conventions, and spelling and spelling
punctuation, grammar, -Very skilfully crafted -Very well crafted
spelling 13 10 7 4
-Language excellent and -Language engaging and -Adequate use of language with -Inadequate use of language
Lower level
15 MARKS rhetorically effective in tone generally effective some inconsistencies -Little or no variety in sentence
-Virtually error-free in grammar -Appropriate and effective -Tone generally appropriate and -Exceptionally limited
and spelling tone limited use of rhetorical devices vocabulary
-Skilfully crafted -Few errors in grammar and
spelling
-Well crafted
STRUCTURE 5 4 3 2 0–1
-Excellent development of topic -Logical development of -Relevant details developed -Some valid points -Necessary points lacking
Features of text; -Exceptional detail details -Sentences, paragraphs well- -Sentences and paragraphs -Sentences and paragraphs
Paragraph development -Sentences, paragraphs -Coherent constructed faulty faulty
and sentence exceptionally well-constructed -Sentences, paragraphs -Essay still makes sense -Essay still makes some sense -Essay lacks sense
construction logical, varied
5 MARKS
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English First Additional Language/P3 11 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR LONGER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE [30 MARKS]
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
CONTENT, PLANNING 15–18 11-14 8-10 5-7 0–4
& FORMAT -Outstanding response -Very good response -Adequate response -Basic response -Response reveals no
beyond normal demonstrating good demonstrating demonstrating some knowledge of features
Response and ideas; expectations knowledge of features knowledge of features knowledge of features of the type of text
Organisation of ideas -Intelligent and mature of the type of text of the type of text of the type of text -Meaning obscure with
for planning; ideas -Maintains focus – no -Not completely focused -Some focus but writing major digressions
Purpose, audience, -Extensive knowledge digressions – some digressions digresses -Not coherent in content
features/conventions of features of the type of -Coherent in content -Reasonably coherent -Not always coherent in and ideas
and context text and ideas, very well in content and ideas content and ideas -Very few details
-Writing maintains focus elaborated and details -Some details support -Few details support the support the topic
18 MARKS -Coherence in content support topic the topic topic -Necessary rules of
and ideas -Appropriate format with -Generally appropriate -Necessary rules of format not applied
-Highly elaborated and minor inaccuracies format but with some format vaguely applied
all details support the inaccuracies -Some critical
topic oversights
-Appropriate and
accurate format
LANGUAGE, STYLE & 10–12 8–9 6–7 4-5 0–3
EDITING -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style
and vocabulary highly and vocabulary very and vocabulary and vocabulary less and vocabulary do not
Tone, register, style, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, correspond to purpose,
purpose/effect, audience and context audience and context audience and context audience and context audience and context
audience and context; -Grammatically -Generally -Some grammatical -Inaccurate grammar -Error-ridden and
Language use and accurate and well- grammatically accurate errors with numerous errors confused
conventions; constructed and well-constructed -Adequate vocabulary -Limited vocabulary -Vocabulary not suitable
Word choice; -Virtually error-free -Very good vocabulary -Errors do not impede -Meaning obscured for purpose
Punctuation and -Mostly free of errors meaning -Meaning seriously
spelling impaired
12 MARKS
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English First Additional Language/P3 12 DBE/May/June 2024
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR SHORTER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE [20 MARKS]
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
CONTENT, PLANNING 10–12 8-9 6-7 4-5 0-3
& FORMAT -Outstanding response -Very good response -Adequate response, -Basic response, -Response reveals no
beyond normal demonstrating good demonstrating demonstrating some knowledge of features
Response and ideas; expectations knowledge of features knowledge of features knowledge of features of the type of text
Organisation of ideas; -Intelligent and mature of the type of text of the type of text of the type of text -Meaning obscure with
Features/conventions ideas -Maintains focus – no -Not completely focused -Some focus but writing major digressions
and context -Extensive knowledge digressions –some digressions digresses -Not coherent in content
of features of the type of -Coherent in content -Reasonably coherent -Not always coherent in and ideas
12 MARKS text and ideas, very well in content and ideas content and ideas -Very few details
-Writing maintains focus elaborated and details -Some details support -Few details support the support the topic
-Coherence in content support topic the topic topic -Necessary rules of
and ideas -Appropriate format with -Generally appropriate -Necessary rules of format not applied
-Highly elaborated and minor inaccuracies format but with some format vaguely applied
all details support the inaccuracies -Some critical
topic oversights
-Appropriate and
accurate format
LANGUAGE, STYLE & 7–8 5-6 4 3 0–2
EDITING -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style
and vocabulary highly and vocabulary very and vocabulary and vocabulary less and vocabulary do not
Tone, register, style, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, correspond to purpose,
vocabulary appropriate audience and context audience and context audience and context audience and context audience and context
to purpose and context; -Grammatically -Generally -Some grammatical -Inaccurate grammar -Error-ridden and
Language use and accurate and well- grammatically accurate errors with numerous errors confused
conventions; constructed and well-constructed -Adequate vocabulary -Limited vocabulary -Vocabulary not suitable
Word choice; -Virtually error-free -Very good vocabulary -Errors do not impede -Meaning obscured for purpose
Punctuation and -Mostly free of errors meaning -Meaning seriously
spelling impaired
8 MARKS
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