English HL Grade 12 P1 NSC November Prediction 2026 Memo

hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE P1 PREDICTION EXAMINATION 2026 MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 70 These marking guidelines consist of 10 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 2 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines NOTE: • These marking guidelines are intended as a guide for markers. • They are by no means prescriptive or exhaustive. • Candidates' responses should be considered on merit. • Answers should be assessed holistically and marks awarded where applicable in terms of decisions taken at the standardisation meeting. • The marking guidelines will be discussed before the commencement of marking. INSTRUCTIONS TO MARKERS Marking the comprehension: • Because the focus is on understanding, incorrect spelling and language errors in longer responses should not be penalised unless such errors change the meaning/ understanding. (Errors must still be indicated.) • If a candidate uses words from a language other than the one being examined, disregard those words, and if the answer still makes sense, do not penalise. However, if a word from another language is used in a text and required in an answer, this will be acceptable. • For open-ended questions, no marks should be awarded for YES/NO or I AGREE/I DISAGREE. The reason/substantiation/motivation is what should be considered. • No marks should be awarded for TRUE/FALSE or FACT/OPINION. The reason/ substantiation/motivation is what should be considered. • When one-word answers are required and the candidate gives a whole sentence, mark correct provided that the correct word is underlined/highlighted. • When two/three facts/points are required and a range is given, mark only the first two/ three. • Accept dialectal variations. • For multiple-choice questions, accept BOTH the letter corresponding to the correct answer AND/OR the answer written out in full. Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 3 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION A: COMPREHENSION QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING 1.1 In a queue where almost everyone is absorbed in a phone, he deliberately does nothing at all. Doing nothing/simply waiting without distraction has become so unusual that it goes against what almost everyone else does (it is rebellious/ revolutionary). [Credit valid alternative responses.] (1) 1.2 The anecdote describes a familiar, everyday situation that captures the reader's interest and makes the topic relatable. (1) It provides vivid evidence of how dependent people are on their phones ('twenty-nine' of 'thirty-two'), and the contrast with the elderly man introduces the central question of the article – that boredom has disappeared from modern life. (1) (2) 1.3 The single-sentence paragraph isolates and emphasises the writer's startling realisation that he/she cannot recall the last time he/she was bored. (1) It creates a dramatic pause which highlights how completely boredom has vanished from our lives and prepares the reader for the argument that follows. (1) (2) 1.4 The rhetorical questions challenge the reader to reconsider the common assumption that boredom is bad and must be eliminated. (1) They encourage the reader to reflect on what may have been lost and introduce the writer's defence of boredom/engage the reader in the argument. (1) (2) 1.5 The writer is making the point that people find being alone with their own thoughts so unpleasant/intolerable (1) that many would rather choose physical discomfort/pain than simply sit quietly and think – they struggle to cope with their own company. (1) [Award only 1 mark for lifting.] (2) 1.6 A paradox is a statement that appears to be contradictory but contains a truth. It seems contradictory that a generation with more entertainment than ever before should be more restless and more easily bored, since entertainment should cure boredom. (1) However, constant stimulation from our devices conditions the mind to need ever more excitement – like 'a sweet tooth that demands ever more sugar' (1) – so that ordinary experiences seem dull by comparison. The very thing meant to prevent boredom has therefore increased it. (1) [Award 3 marks only if both parts of the paradox are discussed.] (3) 1.7 B – appreciative (1) 1.8 The claim is valid. Phones offer constant, effortless distraction; whenever an uncomfortable thought begins to surface, we can reach for the phone and fill the silence. Because every gap in the day is filled by scrolling, there is no quiet time left for honest self-examination, and many people may use their phones precisely to escape difficult emotions. OR Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 4 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines The claim is only partly valid/is an exaggeration. Phones do not 'make sure' of anything – individuals choose how to use them. Many people still reflect on their lives through conversation, prayer, journaling or quiet time, and phones can even prompt reflection (e.g. podcasts, messages from loved ones). The writer offers no evidence for this sweeping generalisation. [Credit valid alternative/mixed responses. Award 3 marks only for a critical discussion. Award only 1 mark for a response that merely agrees or disagrees with a brief reason.] (3) 1.9 The diction presents boredom as restful, freeing and rewarding rather than threatening: • 'resist the twitch of your thumb' – 'twitch' suggests that reaching for the phone is an involuntary, almost addictive reflex which the reader can and should control. • 'stretch, sag and yawn' – the minutes are personified as relaxed and lazy, making empty time sound comfortable and inviting. • 'slip off its leash and wander' – the mind is compared to a dog set free, suggesting freedom and playful exploration. • 'sulk at first, like a child' – the writer admits that boredom is uncomfortable at first, but presents the discomfort as temporary and childish. • 'quietly waiting' – suggests that patience will be rewarded with 'an idea, a memory or a decision'. • The imperative verbs ('resist', 'Let', 'Stare', 'Count', 'Allow', 'Give') directly instruct and encourage the reader to try it. [Award 1 mark for each example of diction with a relevant comment (max. 2) and 1 mark for explaining how the diction, overall, encourages the reader to embrace boredom. Award only 1 mark for identification of diction without comment.] (3) 1.10 Yes. The conclusion returns to the elderly man in the queue from paragraph 1, creating a circular structure that gives the article a sense of unity and completeness. His nod 'as if he knew a secret' suggests that he has the wisdom that the rest of us have lost, and the reference to 'the phone in my hand' humbly includes the writer among those who are guilty. The final words, 'simply being', neatly sum up the writer's argument that we should be comfortable with unfilled time and our own thoughts, leaving the reader with something to reflect on. OR No. The conclusion relies on an anecdote and on the writer's assumption about what the man was thinking; it does not summarise the benefits of boredom (creativity, self-reflection) discussed in the article. [Credit valid alternative responses. Award 3 marks for a well-substantiated response.] (3) Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 5 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 1.11 FRAME 1: Thabo's raised arms, wide eyes and open, shouting mouth show that he is frustrated/panic-stricken/desperate without power, data and battery. (1) FRAME 2: His slumped posture, his head propped on his hand, his half-closed eyes and flat mouth (and the ticking clock) show that he is bored/listless and that time is dragging. (1) [Award 1 mark for each frame.] (2) 1.12 It is ironic that Thabo, who complained in FRAME 1 that he had nothing to do, now claims to be too 'BUSY' to respond. (1) It is even more ironic that he ignores the news that the power is back and he can charge his phone – the very thing he desperately wanted earlier. (1) The boredom that he hated has led him to discover creative activities (drawing, making a kite) which now absorb him more than his phone does; he has (re)discovered the pleasure of creating something himself. (1) [Award 3 marks only if the irony is critically discussed.] (3) 1.13 TEXT B illustrates the writer's view to a large extent. In paragraph 6 of TEXT A, the writer argues that boredom is 'a waiting room' in which the unoccupied mind 'begins to feed itself' and produces inventive ideas. In TEXT B, Thabo's boredom during the power failure (FRAMES 1 and 2) is at first uncomfortable, but after 'TWO HOURS' it leads to creativity: he produces drawings and a home-made kite (FRAME 3). This mirrors the research in TEXT A in which a dull task was followed by more inventive ideas, and shows that creativity needs time to 'clear its throat'. OR TEXT B illustrates the writer's view only partially. Thabo's boredom is forced on him by a power failure rather than chosen, as the writer recommends, and he would probably have returned to his phone had the power come back sooner. [Award 3 marks only if the candidate refers to BOTH TEXT B and paragraph 6 of TEXT A. Credit valid alternative/mixed responses.] (3) TOTAL SECTION A: 30 Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 6 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION B: SUMMARY QUESTION 2: SUMMARISING IN YOUR OWN WORDS Use the following main points that the candidate should include in the summary as a guideline. Any 7 valid points are to be credited in paragraph form. (Sentences and/or sentence fragments must be coherent.) NO. QUOTATIONS NO. POINTS 1 'put your phone away' 1 Remove distractions such as your phone. 2 'Turn towards the person, make comfortable eye 2 Give the speaker your full contact and give them your undivided attention.' attention/maintain eye contact. 3 'resist the urge to interrupt'/'Let the speaker finish 3 Do not interrupt; allow the speaker their thought' to finish. 4 'we spend the time while the other person is 4 Do not plan your response while talking rehearsing our own reply' the other person is speaking. 5 'Silence is not an emergency' 5 Be comfortable with pauses/ silence. 6 'ask open questions' 6 Ask questions that encourage the speaker to elaborate. 7 'Repeat what you have heard in your own words 7 Paraphrase to check that you have … give the speaker a chance to correct you.' understood. 8 'Pay attention to what is not said. A person's tone 8 Observe non-verbal cues/body of voice, facial expression and posture' language. 9 'keeping your opinions to yourself'/'our instinct is 9 Withhold judgement/advice until to offer advice or to pass judgement' asked. 10 'avoid steering the conversation towards your 10 Keep the focus on the speaker, not own experiences' on yourself. 11 'A nod, a smile or a brief "I see" encourages the 11 Show that you are engaged speaker to continue.' through encouraging gestures/ responses. PARAGRAPH FORM NOTE: What follows is merely an example. It is not prescriptive and must be used very carefully. To become a better listener, one should remove distractions such as one's phone and give the speaker full attention and eye contact. Avoid interrupting or planning a reply while the other person speaks, and accept pauses. Ask open-ended questions that encourage the speaker to elaborate, and paraphrase what has been said to confirm understanding. Observe non-verbal signals such as tone and posture. Withhold judgement and advice unless asked, keep the focus on the speaker and show engagement through nods and brief encouragement. [82 words] Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 7 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines Marking the summary: Marking is on the basis of the inclusion of valid material and the exclusion of invalid material. The summary should be marked as follows: • Mark allocation: – 7 marks for 7 points (1 mark per main point) – 3 marks for language – Total marks: 10 • Distribution of language marks when candidate has not quoted verbatim: – 1–3 points correct: award 1 mark – 4–5 points correct: award 2 marks – 6–7 points correct: award 3 marks • Distribution of language marks when candidate has quoted verbatim: – 6–7 quotations: award no language mark – 4–5 quotations: award 1 language mark – 2–3 quotations: award 2 language marks NOTE: • Word count: Markers are required to verify the number of words used. • Do not deduct any marks if the candidate fails to indicate the number of words used or if the number of words used is indicated incorrectly. If the word limit is exceeded, read up to the last sentence above the stipulated upper limit and ignore the rest of the summary. TOTAL SECTION B: 10 Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 8 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION C: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND CONVENTIONS Marking SECTION C: • Spelling: One-word answers must be marked correct even if the spelling is incorrect, unless the error changes the meaning of the word. In full-sentence answers, incorrect spelling should be penalised if the error is in the language structure being tested. Where an abbreviation is tested, the answer must be punctuated correctly. • Sentence structures must be grammatically correct and given in full sentences/as per instruction. • For multiple-choice questions, accept BOTH the letter corresponding to the correct answer AND/OR the answer written out in full as correct. QUESTION 3: ANALYSING ADVERTISING 3.1 A hero is usually imagined as a fictional superhero with a cape and superpowers. (1) The headline replaces the cape with a 'plaster', suggesting that ordinary people who donate blood are real heroes because their simple act saves lives – heroism is within everyone's reach. (1) [Award 2 marks only if the contrast between 'CAPES' and 'PLASTERS' is understood.] (2) 3.2 • Emotive language: 'a mother after a difficult birth, a child injured in a car accident, a gran fighting cancer' – the examples evoke sympathy and make the need personal, moving the reader to act. • Short sentences/sentence fragments: 'One donation. Less than an hour. One small pinch …' – these emphasise how quick, easy and painless donating is and reduce the reader's fear. • Direct address/personal pronoun 'you': 'You don't need superpowers. You just need to show up.' – the reader is personally involved and challenged. • Imperative mood/call to action: 'Give the unforgettable gift. Book your donation …' – urges the reader to act immediately. • Statistics/factual claim: 'up to three lives' – shows the great impact of one small act. • Understatement: 'One small pinch' – minimises the pain and fear associated with needles. • Contrast: the small effort ('Less than an hour') is contrasted with the huge reward ('save up to three lives'). [Award 1 mark for identifying a technique, 1 mark for a relevant example and 1 mark for discussing its persuasive effect.] (3) 3.3 forget (1) 3.4 adverb (1) 3.5 TEXT D: The image of an ordinary, smiling young man whose shadow is a caped superhero reinforces the headline. It is relatable to young people, shows that donating is easy and pleasant (cup of tea, smile) and flatters donors by making them feel heroic. Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 9 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines OR TEXT E: The hourglass symbolises the short time ('1 HOUR') that the donor gives, while the drops of blood that form a heart and the heartbeat line represent the life that is saved. The simple, striking symbolism conveys the idea that one hour of the donor's time can give someone else a lifetime. [Credit valid alternative responses. Award 3 marks for a well-substantiated choice; reference to the other visual may be used to support the choice.] (3) [10] QUESTION 4: UNDERSTANDING OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MEDIA 4.1 Unimpressed/sceptical/sarcastic/dismissive/condescending [Credit valid alternative responses, in context.] (1) 4.2 Dad holds his phone at arm's length and squints, which suggests that he struggles to read the message (poor eyesight/unfamiliarity with technology). (1) The flying drops of sweat and his wide-open mouth show that he is alarmed/ panicking and believes the message to be true. (1) (2) 4.3 The capital letters and multiple exclamation marks create a sense of urgency/ alarm/sensationalism. (1) They are typical of fake/chain messages that are designed to frighten readers into forwarding them without thinking – the exaggerated style itself should warn the reader that the message is not credible. (1) (2) 4.4 In FRAME 4, Naledi lectures her father, warning him not to believe everything he reads online and to check the source; she presents herself as the wiser, more tech-savvy one. Ironically, in FRAME 5 she falls for an equally absurd message ('CHOCOLATE WILL RUN OUT BY FRIDAY') and wants to share it immediately – exactly what she had criticised her father for. In FRAME 6 the roles are reversed: Dad, relaxed and smug, repeats her own advice from FRAME 4 back to her ('DID YOU CHECK THE SOURCE, MY CHILD?'), adding his patronising 'MY CHILD' from FRAME 2. Humour is created as the 'teacher' is caught out by her own lesson; her frozen pose shows her embarrassment, and Dad, reading a newspaper, appears to have the last laugh. [Award 3 marks only for a critical discussion of the irony.] (3) 4.5 Naledi told her father (that) he could not/couldn't believe everything (that) he read online. [Award 1 mark for the correct change of pronouns ('he' … 'he') and 1 mark for the correct change of tense ('could not' … 'read'). The answer must be a correctly punctuated statement without quotation marks. Accept 'cannot' if the statement is treated as a general truth. Do not award the pronoun mark if 'you' is retained.] (2) [10] QUESTION 5: USING LANGUAGE CORRECTLY 5.1 crowded/full/filled/jammed/crammed/busy/teeming/full to capacity (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

English Home Language/P1 10 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 5.2 obtain/acquire/get/buy/purchase/find/secure/pick up/land (1) 5.3 have – has (… the popularity of thrift shops has grown …) (1) 5.4 finds – found (1) 5.5 The dashes enclose/insert parenthetical/additional information (examples of garments). (1) 5.6 illicit – elicit (1) 5.7 Donated clothing is sold (by charity shops) at a fraction of the original price. (1) 5.8 Remove either 'also' or 'as well'. (… feel that they can make a small but real difference as well./… feel that they can also make a small but real difference.) (1) 5.9 C – complex sentence (1) 5.10 sustainability (1) [10] TOTAL SECTION C: 30 GRAND TOTAL: 70 Copyright reserved