Life Sciences Grade 10 P1 November Mock Exam 2 2026 Memo

Mock hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 10 Exam Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 10 LIFE SCIENCES P1 NOVEMBER EXAMINATION 2026 (MOCK) MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 150 These marking guidelines consist of 12 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 2 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES 1. If more information than marks allocated is given Stop marking when the maximum marks are reached; draw a wavy line and write ‘max’ in the right-hand margin. 2. If, for example, three reasons are required and five are given Mark the first three only, irrespective of whether they are correct or incorrect. 3. If a whole process is given when only a part of it is required Read all of it and credit the relevant part. 4. If comparisons are asked for but descriptions are given Accept if the differences/similarities are clear. 5. If tabulation is required but paragraphs are given Candidates lose the mark for the table. 6. If diagrams with annotations are given when descriptions are required Candidates lose marks. 7. If flow charts are given instead of descriptions Candidates lose marks. 8. If the sequence is muddled and links do not make sense Credit where the sequence and links are correct. Where they are incorrect, do not credit. If they become correct again, resume crediting. 9. Non-recognised abbreviations Accept if first defined in the answer; otherwise do not credit the abbreviation but credit the rest of the answer if correct. 10. Wrong numbering If the answer fits into the correct sequence of questions but the wrong number is given, it is acceptable. 11. If the language used changes the intended meaning Do not accept. 12. Spelling errors Accept if recognisable, provided it does not mean something else in Life Sciences and is not out of context. 13. If only the letter is asked for but only the name is given (and vice versa) Do not credit. 14. If units are not given in measurements Candidates lose marks; the marking guidelines allocate marks for units separately. 15. Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different way. 16. Caption All illustrations (diagrams, graphs, tables, etc.) must have a caption. 17. Code-switching of official languages (terms and concepts) A single word or two in another official language should be credited if it is correct. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 3 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 18. Symbols used in these marking guidelines ✓ = one mark; / = alternative answer; * = compulsory mark; (Mark first … only) = mark only the stated number of answers in the order given. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 1.1.1 C✓✓ 1.1.2 B✓✓ 1.1.3 A✓✓ 1.1.4 D✓✓ 1.1.5 C✓✓ 1.1.6 C✓✓ 1.1.7 B✓✓ 1.1.8 D✓✓ 1.1.9 B✓✓ 1.1.10 A✓✓ (10 x 2) (20) 1.2 1.2.1 Magnesium✓/Mg 1.2.2 Peptide bond✓ 1.2.3 Lysosome✓ 1.2.4 Radiotherapy✓/radiation therapy 1.2.5 Lenticels✓ 1.2.6 Cuticle✓ (6 x 1) (6) 1.3 1.3.1 Both A and B✓✓ 1.3.2 None✓✓ 1.3.3 A only✓✓ (3 x 2) (6) 1.4 1.4.1 Nerve tissue✓/nervous tissue (1) 1.4.2 (a) Dendrite(s)✓ (1) (b) Myelin sheath✓ (1) (c) Node of Ranvier✓/axon (1) 1.4.3 (a) A✓ (1) (b) C✓ (1) 1.4.4 From X to Y✓ (1) 1.4.5 - It insulates the axon✓ - and speeds up the transmission of the impulse✓ - It protects the axon✓ Any 2 (2) (9) 1.5 1.5.1 Femur✓ (1) 1.5.2 (a) Articular cartilage✓/cartilage (1) (b) Compact bone✓ (1) (c) Medullary cavity✓/marrow cavity/yellow bone marrow (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 1.5.3 (a) B✓ (1) (b) A✓ (1) 1.5.4 Calcium✓ (Accept phosphorus/phosphate) (1) 1.5.5 - A hollow tube is lighter✓(so less energy is needed for movement) - but is still strong✓/resists bending - The cavity provides space for (yellow) bone marrow✓/fat storage Any 2 (2) (9) TOTAL SECTION A: 50 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 2.1.1 (a) pH✓ (1) (b) Time taken until iodine no longer turned blue-black✓/time taken for starch to be broken down/activity of amylase (1) 2.1.2 - Volume of starch solution/5 mℓ✓ - Concentration of starch solution/1%✓ - Volume of amylase solution/1 mℓ✓ - Concentration of amylase✓ - Volume of buffer solution/2 mℓ✓ - Temperature/37 °C✓ - Time intervals between tests/30 seconds✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) 2.1.3 - 37 °C is (close to) the optimum temperature for amylase✓/human body temperature - To keep the temperature constant/the same in all test tubes✓ - so that only the pH affects the activity of the enzyme✓/to make the investigation valid Any 2 (2) 2.1.4 pH 7✓ (1) 2.1.5 - The acidic pH changed the shape of the active site✓/denatured the enzyme/the enzyme is far from its optimum pH - so fewer starch molecules (substrate) could fit into the active site✓/the enzyme worked very slowly (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.1.6 The effect of pH on the time taken by amylase to break down starch 20 18 Time taken (minutes) 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 3 5 7 9 11 pH Criteria Mark Correct type of graph: bar graph (T) 1 Caption includes both variables (C) 1 Correct label and unit for X-axis and 1 Y-axis (L) Appropriate scale for Y-axis and bars of 1 equal width (S) Plotting of bars (P): 1–4 bars drawn correctly 1 All 5 bars drawn correctly 2 If a line graph or histogram is drawn: marks will be lost for type of graph (T) and scale (S). If the axes are transposed: marks will be lost for labels (L) and scale (S). (6) (15) 2.2 2.2.1 Glucose✓and fructose✓ (2) 2.2.2 Oxygen✓/O (1) 2.2.3 - Tooth decay✓/dental caries - (Type 2) diabetes✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) 2.2.4 - The levy makes sugary drinks more expensive✓ - so people buy/drink fewer sugary drinks✓ - and take in less sugar✓ - which reduces the risk of obesity/diabetes/tooth decay✓ Any 2 (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.2.5 - Drink water instead of sugary drinks✓ - Exercise regularly✓/be physically active - Eat a balanced diet✓/eat more fruit and vegetables - Eat fewer fatty/fried/fast foods✓ - Eat smaller portions✓/do not eat more energy than the body uses Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) (8) 2.3 2.3.1 - There is no cell wall✓ - There are no chloroplasts✓ - Centrioles are present✓ - There is no large central vacuole✓/vacuoles are small - The cell has an irregular shape✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) 2.3.2 (a) Rough endoplasmic reticulum✓/RER/ER (1) (b) Golgi body✓/Golgi apparatus/Golgi complex (1) 2.3.3 A✓ (1) 2.3.4 - Enzymes are proteins✓ - which are made on the ribosomes of the rough ER and transported by the ER (C)✓ - The Golgi body (D) modifies and packages the enzymes into vesicles✓ - for secretion out of the cell✓ Any 2 (2) 2.3.5 90 mm = 90 000 µm✓ Actual size = drawing size ÷ magnification = 90 000 ÷ 5 000✓ = 18 µm✓ OR: 90 ÷ 5 000 = 0,018 mm✓✓ × 1 000 = 18 µm✓ (3) (10) 2.4 2.4.1 Plasmolysed✓/plasmolysis (Do not accept flaccid) (1) 2.4.2 - The salt solution has a lower water potential than the cell sap✓/is hypertonic to the cell - Water moved out of the vacuole/cell✓by osmosis - The vacuole shrank✓ - and the cytoplasm/cell membrane pulled away from the cell wall✓ Any 3 (3) 2.4.3 Salt solution✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.4.4 - Water enters both cells by osmosis - A red blood cell has no cell wall✓so its membrane stretches until it bursts - The (rigid) cell wall of cell 1 resists further expansion✓/exerts wall pressure, so the cell becomes turgid but does not burst Mark the two ticked points (2) (7) 2.5 2.5.1 Meristematic tissue✓/apical meristem (1) 2.5.2 18 ÷ 200 × 100✓ = 9%✓ (2) 2.5.3 164 ÷ 200✓ × 24✓ = 19,68 hours✓ (3) 2.5.4 - The chromosomes line up on the equator✓of the cell - Each chromosome is attached to a spindle fibre at its centromere✓ (2) 2.5.5 - In onion (plant) cells a cell plate forms across the middle of the cell✓ - whereas in animal cells the cell membrane furrows/constricts inwards✓to divide the cytoplasm Answer must show a comparison (2) (10) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 3 3.1 3.1.1 (a) Epidermis✓ (1) (b) Cambium✓/vascular cambium (1) (c) Pith✓ (1) 3.1.2 (a) E✓ (1) (b) C✓ (1) 3.1.3 - The vascular bundles are arranged in a ring✓ - Cambium is present✓(between the xylem and phloem) - There is a pith in the centre✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) 3.1.4 - The cambium cells divide by mitosis✓ - to form new/secondary xylem on the inside and new/secondary phloem on the outside✓ (2) 3.1.5 - Stores food✓/starch - Stores water✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) (9) 3.2 3.2.1 Mass lost (%)✓/percentage mass lost by the leaves/amount of water lost (1) 3.2.2 (2,48 – 1,93)✓÷ 2,48 × 100✓ = 22,18%✓ (Accept 22,2%) (3) 3.2.3 - Most of the stomata are on the lower surface of the leaf✓ - In leaf R the petroleum jelly blocked these stomata✓ - so less water vapour diffused out✓/less transpiration took place - In leaf Q the stomata on the lower surface were open✓so more water was lost Any 3 (3) 3.2.4 - Water was lost through the cut end of the petiole/stalk✓ - The petroleum jelly did not cover the surfaces completely, so some water was lost through uncovered stomata/cuticle✓ - Mass was lost due to cellular respiration✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) 3.2.5 - Repeat the investigation✓and calculate an average - Use more leaves for each treatment✓/a larger sample Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 11 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 3.2.6 - Leaf P would lose less mass✓ - because the humid air reduces the water vapour concentration gradient between the leaf and the air✓/less water vapour diffuses out (2) (12) 3.3 3.3.1 (a) Xylem✓/xylem vessel (1) (b) Phloem✓ (1) 3.3.2 (a) Sieve plate✓ (1) (b) Companion cell✓ (1) 3.3.3 - The cells are dead and have no cytoplasm✓so there is little resistance to the flow of water✓ - The cross walls have broken down/are absent✓forming a continuous tube✓ - The walls are thickened with lignin✓so the vessels do not collapse/are strong✓ - The vessels are narrow✓which helps water to rise by capillarity✓ - There are pits in the walls✓which allow lateral/sideways movement of water✓ Any 2 x 2 (4) (8) 3.4 3.4.1 (a) Squamous epithelium✓/pavement epithelium (1) (b) Ciliated columnar epithelium✓ (1) 3.4.2 - Walls of the alveoli✓ - Walls of blood capillaries✓ - Bowman’s capsule✓ - Lining of the mouth/cheek✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) 3.4.3 - The cells are thin and flat✓/one cell layer thick - so the diffusion distance is short✓ (2) 3.4.4 - The goblet cells (Y) secrete mucus that traps dust and germs✓ - The cilia (Z) beat/sweep the mucus upwards towards the throat✓(away from the lungs) (2) 3.4.5 - Protection✓ - Secretion✓ - Absorption✓ - Lines/covers organs and surfaces✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) (8) 3.5 3.5.1 Mass of the school bag as a percentage of body mass✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 12 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 3.5.2 As the mass of the school bag (as a percentage of body mass) increases✓, the percentage of learners who report back pain increases✓ (2) 3.5.3 11 ÷ 60 × 100✓ = 18,33%✓ (2) 3.5.4 - The weight is carried unevenly on one side of the body✓ - so the vertebral column bends sideways to balance the load✓/muscles on one side are strained more - which over time may lead to scoliosis✓ Any 2 (2) (7) 3.6 - The biceps and triceps are an antagonistic pair of muscles✓ - Muscles can only pull, they cannot push✓ - Bending: the biceps contracts✓ - and the triceps relaxes✓ - The biceps pulls on the radius through its tendon✓ - so the forearm is raised/the arm bends at the elbow✓ - Straightening: the triceps contracts✓ - and the biceps relaxes✓ - The triceps pulls on the ulna✓ - so the forearm is lowered/the arm straightens✓ - The elbow is a hinge joint✓that acts as the pivot/fulcrum Any 6 (at least 2 marks for bending and 2 for straightening) (6) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved