GRAAD 12
SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS/
NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE P3
MAY/JUNE 2025
MARKING GUIDELINES
MARKS: 100
These marking guidelines consist of 9 pages.
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English Hl Grade 12 Paper 3 NSC June 2025 Memo (English)
Grade 12 English Hl Paper 3 memorandum from the NSC June Exam 2025 (English), 9 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, question paper linked when available.
English Hl · Grade 12 · NSC June Exam · 2025 · English. Memorandum, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- English Hl
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Language
- English
- Document type
- Memorandum
- Year
- 2025
- Exam period
- NSC June Exam
- Paper
- 3
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 9
- File size
- 241.6 KB
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English Home Language/P3 2 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
INFORMATION FOR THE MARKER
In assessing a candidate's work, the following aspects, among others, drawn from the
assessment rubric, must be borne in mind:
• The overall effect of planning, drafting, proofreading and editing of the work on
the final text produced.
• Awareness of writing for a specific purpose, audience and context – as well as
register, style and tone – especially in SECTION B.
• Grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Language structures, including an awareness of critical language.
• Choice of words and idiomatic language.
• Sentence construction.
• Paragraphing.
• Interpretation of the topic that will be reflected in the overall content: the
introduction, the development of ideas and the conclusion.
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English Home Language/P3 3 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
SUGGESTED APPROACH TO MARKING
SECTION A: ESSAY
Refer to SECTION A: Rubric for Assessing an Essay found on pages 7 and 8 of these
marking guidelines.
CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT
CRITERIA MARKS
CONTENT AND PLANNING (60%) 30
LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING (30%) 15
STRUCTURE (10%) 5
TOTAL 50
1. Read the whole piece and decide on a category for CONTENT AND
PLANNING.
2. Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for LANGUAGE, STYLE
AND EDITING.
3. Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for STRUCTURE.
4. An essay cannot be without any indication that it has been read and awarded
marks accordingly. The final mark awarded on the essay must be justifiable.
Unlike the summary where there is a very strict word limit, an essay is creative
work. If an essay is flowing in terms of creativity and captivating to the reader,
it becomes unfair to focus only on the length at the expense of the content. The
rule of thumb is that no additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself
imposes penalties.
SECTION B: TRANSACTIONAL TEXTS
Refer to SECTION B: Rubric for Assessing Transactional Texts found on page 9 of these
marking guidelines.
CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT
CRITERIA MARKS
CONTENT, PLANNING AND FORMAT (60%) 15
LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING (40%) 10
TOTAL 25
1. Read the whole piece and decide on a category for CONTENT, PLANNING
AND FORMAT.
2. Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for LANGUAGE, STYLE
AND EDITING.
NOTE:
• Various formats of transactional/referential/informational texts have been taught/are
in current practice. This has to be considered when assessing the format.
• Give credit for appropriateness of format.
• Look for a logical approach in all writing.
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English Home Language/P3 4 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
NOTE:
• The points given below each topic in these marking guidelines serve only
as a guide to markers.
• Allowance must be made for a candidate's own interpretation of the topic,
even if it differs from the given points or a marker's own views or
interpretations.
SECTION A: ESSAY
QUESTION 1
Candidates are required to write ONE essay of 400–450 words (2–2½ pages) on ONE
of the given topics. Candidates may write in any genre: narrative, descriptive, reflective,
discursive, argumentative, or any combination of these.
1.1 A sentimental journey
• The description of the journey should include an emotional element/
experience.
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.2 'My face turned deadly pale;
My legs refused to walk away;
My life and all seemed turned to clay.'
– John Clare
• The candidate should respond to the central message of the quotation.
Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.3 An equal society is an impossible dream.
• Candidates should explore the possibility and/or the impossibility of having
an equal society. [50]
1.4 Sounds from within these walls
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.5 'Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.'
– Zig Ziglar
• Candidates could agree or disagree with the topic.
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
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English Home Language/P3 5 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
NOTE: There must be a clear link between the essay and the picture chosen.
1.6 Person holding onto roots of a tree
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.7 The locked chest
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.8 Passing of time
• Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
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English Home Language/P3 6 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
SECTION B: TRANSACTIONAL TEXTS
QUESTION 2
Candidates are required to respond to TWO of the topics set. The body of each response
should be 180–200 words (20–25 lines) in length. The language, register, style and tone
must be appropriate to the context.
2.1 LETTER TO THE PRESS
• Candidates should express their views regarding the monitoring of
children’s online activities.
• Format: own address, date, addressee, salutation, subject line and signing
off [25]
2.2 FORMAL SPEECH
• The speech should address parents on the societal pressures experienced
by young people and the need to address them. [25]
2.3 E-MAIL
• The e-mail should provide motivation for the creation of 'relaxation zones'.
• Format: recipient's e-mail address, subject line, salutation, sign-off [25]
2.4 FORMAL REPORT
• Candidates should have investigated the viability of creating more
amenities for the youth in the area.
• Format: Title, terms of reference, procedure, findings, conclusion, and
recommendations, sign-off, date [25]
2.5 DIALOGUE
• The dialogue should focus on the conversation between the adult and the
child.
• The issue being discussed should be serious in nature.
• Valid dialogue format should be used. [25]
2.6 OBITUARY
• The candidate should provide the politician’s biographical details.
• Reference should be made to the suspicious circumstances under which
the politician died. [25]
TOTAL SECTION B: 50
GRAND TOTAL: 100
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English Home Language/P3 7 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
NOTE:
• Always use the rubric when marking the creative essay (Paper 3, SECTION A).
• Marks from 0–50 have been divided into FIVE major level descriptors.
• In the Content, Language and Style criteria, each of the five level descriptors is divided into an upper-level and a lower-level subcategory
with the applicable mark range and descriptors.
• Structure is not affected by the upper-level and lower-level division.
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – HOME LANGUAGE [50 MARKS]
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
CONTENT AND 28–30 22–24 16–18 10–12 4–6
PLANNING -Outstanding/Striking -Very well-crafted -Satisfactory response - -Inconsistently -Totally irrelevant
response beyond normal response Ideas are reasonably coherent response response
(Response and expectations -Fully relevant and coherent and convincing -Unclear ideas and -Confused and
Upper level
ideas) -Intelligent, thought- interesting ideas with -Reasonably organised unoriginal unfocused ideas
Organisation of provoking and mature evidence of maturity and coherent, including -Little evidence of -Vague and repetitive
ideas for planning; ideas -Very well organised introduction, body and organisation and -Unorganised and
Awareness of -Exceptionally well and coherent, including conclusion/ending coherence incoherent
purpose, audience organised and coherent, introduction, body and
and context including introduction, conclusion/ending
body and
30 MARKS conclusion/ending
25–27 19–21 13–15 7–9 0–3
-Excellent response but -Well-crafted response -Satisfactory response -Largely irrelevant -No attempt to respond
lacks the exceptionally -Relevant and but some lapses in response to the topic
striking qualities of the interesting ideas clarity -Ideas tend to be -Completely irrelevant
Lower level
outstanding essay -Well organised and -Ideas are fairly disconnected and and inappropriate
-Mature and intelligent coherent, including coherent and convincing confusing -Unfocused and
ideas introduction, body and -Some degree of -Hardly any evidence muddled
-Skilfully organised and conclusion organisation and of organisation and
coherent, including coherence, including coherence
introduction, body and introduction, body and
conclusion/ending conclusion
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English Home Language/P3 8 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – HOME LANGUAGE [50 MARKS] (continued)
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
LANGUAGE, 14–15 11–12 8–9 5–6 0-3
STYLE AND -Tone, register, style and -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Tone, register, style -Language
EDITING vocabulary highly and vocabulary very and vocabulary and vocabulary less incomprehensible
appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, appropriate to purpose, -Tone, register, style and
Tone, register, audience and context audience and context audience and context audience and context vocabulary not
Upper level
style, vocabulary -Exceptionally -Language is effective -Appropriate use of -Very basic use of appropriate to purpose,
appropriate to impressive use of and a consistently language to convey language audience and context
purpose/effect and language appropriate tone is meaning -Tone and diction are -Vocabulary limitations
context; -Compelling and used -Tone is appropriate inappropriate so extreme as to make
Word choice; rhetorically effective in -Largely error-free in -Rhetorical devices -Very limited comprehension
Language use and tone grammar and spelling used to enhance vocabulary impossible
conventions, -Virtually error-free in -Very well crafted content
punctuation, grammar and spelling
grammar, spelling - Very skilfully crafted
13 10 7 4
15 MARKS -Language excellent and -Language engaging -Adequate use of -Inadequate use of
Lower level
rhetorically effective in and generally effective language with some language
tone -Appropriate and inconsistencies -Little or no variety in
-Virtually error-free in effective tone -Tone generally sentences
grammar and spelling -Few errors in appropriate and limited -Exceptionally limited
-Skilfully crafted grammar and spelling use of rhetorical devices vocabulary
-Well-crafted
STRUCTURE 5 4 3 2 0–1
-Excellent development -Logical development -Relevant details -Some valid points -Necessary points
Features of text; of topic of details developed -Sentences and lacking
Paragraph -Exceptional detail -Coherent -Sentences, paragraphs paragraphs faulty -Sentences and
development and -Sentences, paragraphs -Sentences, well-constructed -Essay still makes paragraphs faulty
sentence exceptionally well- paragraphs logical, -Essay still makes some sense -Essay lacks sense
construction constructed varied sense
5 MARKS
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English Home Language/P3 9 DBE/May/June 2025
SC/NSC – Marking guidelines
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – HOME LANGUAGE [25 MARKS]
Criteria Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
CONTENT, PLANNING 13–15 10–12 7–9 4–6 0–3
AND 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 is obscure
for planning; ideas -Maintains focus – no -Not completely focused -Some focus but writing with 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
15 MARKS -Coherence in content support topic the topic topic -Has not applied
and ideas -Appropriate format with -Generally appropriate -Has vaguely applied necessary rules of
-Highly elaborated and minor inaccuracies format but with some necessary rules of format
all details support the inaccuracies format
topic -Some critical
-Appropriate and oversights
accurate format
LANGUAGE, STYLE 9–10 7–8 5–6 3–4 0–2
AND 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
10 MARKS
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