Geography Grade 12 Paper 1 NSC November 2026 Memo (English)

Unofficial memo hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 GEOGRAPHY P1 NOVEMBER 2026 — UNOFFICIAL MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 150 These marking guidelines consist of 13 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 2 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines IMPORTANT: These are unofficial marking guidelines prepared by Hlayiso for revision. They are not the DBE’s official memorandum; the official marking guidelines may differ in mark allocation and accepted alternatives. PRINCIPLES FOR MARKING GEOGRAPHY For the following action words, ONE-word answers are acceptable: list, name, state, identify. For the following action words, a FULL sentence must be written: describe, explain, evaluate, analyse, suggest, differentiate, distinguish, define, discuss, why, how. The following action words need to be read within their context to determine whether a ONE-word answer or a FULL sentence is required: provide, what, tabulate and give. NOTE THE FOLLOWING • (1) or (2) after a fact is the mark for that fact. (n x m) shows how many facts are required and the mark per fact. • If the numbering is incorrect or left out, candidates can be credited as long as the sequence of answers is followed. • Spelling errors: if recognisable, award the marks provided the meaning is correct. • Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different way. Accept other relevant answers. • In questions where a letter is the accepted response but the candidate writes the actual answer, award the mark. • [ANY TWO] means: mark only the number of facts asked for. [CONCEPT] means the definition must be correct. • INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING: a fact that is only partly correct (e.g. the factor without the explanation) earns 1 mark, up to the maximum shown. • Calculations: marks are given for the steps; the unit is required in the final answer. READING OF THE QUESTION PAPER • Drawn up from photographs of all 18 pages of the question paper, the 1:50 000 topographical map 2829AC HARRISMITH and the 1:10 000 orthophoto map 2829AC 3 HARRISMITH. • Answers that depend on our reading of a map or sketch carry a short Hlayiso note. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 3 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines SECTION A: CLIMATE AND WEATHER AND GEOMORPHOLOGY QUESTION 1: CLIMATE AND WEATHER 1.1 1.1.1 C (South Atlantic) (1) 1.1.2 B (anti-clockwise; descending) (1) 1.1.3 B (1) 1.1.4 A (summer) (1) 1.1.5 A (cold south-westerly; warm north-easterly) (1) 1.1.6 C (cumulonimbus; heavy) (1) 1.1.7 B (1) 1.1.8 C (drowning of wildlife; severe soil erosion) (1) (8 x 1) (8) Hlayiso note: 1.1.3: sketch B shows the moisture front running from north-west to south-east across the interior (DBE Nov 2018 and Nov 2020: “NW to SE”). 1.1.7: B shows a thunderstorm, overcast sky and a north-easterly wind. 1.2 1.2.1 Y (offshore) (1) 1.2.2 Y (coastal) (1) 1.2.3 Z (B) (1) 1.2.4 Y (adiabatic heating) (1) 1.2.5 Z (evaporation) (1) 1.2.6 Z (East London) (1) 1.2.7 Y (veld fires) (1) (7 x 1) (7) Hlayiso note: 1.2.3: in B the high circulates anti-clockwise and the coastal low clockwise. 1.2.5: DBE Nov 2025 1.5.3: “Moisture is evaporated as air descends”. 1.2.6: the coastal low is drawn at East London; Cape Town is behind the cold front. 1.2.6 is our least certain item. 1.3 1.3.1 ‘As the system moves eastwards’ (1) (1 x 1) (1) 1.3.2 Winter (1) (1 x 1) (1) 1.3.3 Highest rainfall in June/winter (accept 55 mm) (1) Lowest temperatures in June/July/winter (accept 5 °C–6 °C) (1) [ANY TWO] (2 x 1) (2) 1.3.4 Cumulonimbus (accept Cb) (1) (1 x 1) (1) 1.3.5 Cold front will undercut the warm air (ahead of it) (2) The steeper gradient will cause rapid uplift of the warm air (2) Cooling and condensation occurs (2) Latent heat released makes the air unstable, resulting in (towering) vertical cloud development (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 4 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING Cold front undercuts (1) Rapid uplift (1) Cooling and condensation (1) Latent heat released (1) [MAXIMUM TWO MARKS] 1.3.6 Water supply for natural vegetation (2) Replenishes soil moisture/soil fertility (2) Sufficient water for wildlife (2) Level of the water table will be higher (accept examples) (2) Rivers, dams and wetlands are replenished (accept examples) (2) Habitats are restored (accept examples) (2) Biodiversity increases (accept examples) (2) Ecosystems have sufficient water (2) Breaks the drought (2) Reduces the risk of veld fires (2) Purifies the air/washes out pollutants (2) [ANY THREE] (3 x 2) (6) 1.4 1.4.1 Air circulation around the cyclone is clockwise (1) It develops/is located near Madagascar (in the southern Indian Ocean) (1) [ANY ONE] (1 x 1) (1) 1.4.2 High temperatures/warm oceans promote a high evaporation rate (2) Large amounts of moisture (water vapour) are available (2) Latent heat is released during condensation, which provides energy (2) Warm air rises, which leads to intense low pressure (2) Unstable conditions are created (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING High evaporation rate (1) Moisture available (1) Latent heat (1) Intense low pressure (1) [MAXIMUM TWO MARKS] 1.4.3 It has made landfall/is moving over land (Madagascar) (2) Cut off from the warm ocean (source of moisture) (2) The cloud cover is less organised over land (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 5 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 1.4.4 HEAVY RAINFALL Flooding damaged water systems, resulting in no (clean) water supply (2) Flooding/landslides damaged roads and bridges, so medical services were not accessible (2) Flooded substations/power stations resulted in no electricity supply (2) STRONG WINDS Damage to power lines resulted in no electricity supply (2) Uprooted trees/debris blocked roads to hospitals and clinics (2) Damage to buildings (e.g. clinics, pump stations) disrupted services (2) STORM SURGES Flooded coastal water and sewerage systems (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING Weather condition only, e.g. heavy rainfall, strong winds (1) [MAXIMUM TWO MARKS] 1.4.5 Install early warning systems (accept examples) (2) Track the cyclone (accept examples, e.g. satellites) (2) Draw up evacuation plans and routes (2) Build emergency shelters (2) Enforce building codes for cyclone-resistant buildings (2) Prevent settlement in low-lying coastal/flood-prone areas (2) Educate communities/create awareness (accept examples) (2) Stockpile food, clean water and medical supplies (2) Improve drainage systems (2) Build sea walls/plant mangroves (2) Co-operate with SADC/disaster management agencies (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) 1.5 1.5.1 10 °C (1) (1 x 1) (1) Hlayiso note: rural thermometer about 20 °C, urban thermometer about 30 °C. 1.5.2 Temperatures are higher in the urban area (30 °C) than in the surrounding rural area (20 °C) (2) The urban area is an ‘island’ of heat surrounded by cooler rural areas (2) Heat radiates from the buildings in the urban area (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 6 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 1.5.3 Presence of vegetation results in evapotranspiration (cooling) (2) Presence of vegetation provides shade (2) Natural surfaces absorb less heat (higher albedo) (2) Infiltration (arrows) makes moisture available for evaporation, which cools the area (2) Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide (fewer greenhouse gases trap heat) (2) Less vegetation in urban areas results in less cooling (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING Presence of vegetation (1) Natural surfaces (1) Infiltration (1) [MAXIMUM TWO MARKS] 1.5.4 ROOFTOP GARDENS Increase evapotranspiration, which has a cooling effect (2) Prevent the roof from absorbing and retaining heat (2) Reduce carbon dioxide that absorbs heat in the city (2) Increase green spaces in the city (2) Reduce the demand for air conditioning/artificial cooling (2) Slow down the development of the urban heat island (2) Expensive to install and maintain (2) Need water, which is scarce (2) AIR CONDITIONERS Cool the inside of buildings but release waste heat outside (2) Increase the urban heat island (2) Use large amounts of electricity (generated by burning coal) (2) Increase greenhouse gas emissions (2) Release refrigerant gases (accept CFCs/HFCs) (2) More heat leads to more air conditioner use (a cycle of heating) (2) [ANY FOUR] [MUST REFER TO BOTH ROOFTOP GARDENS AND AIR CONDITIONERS] (4 x 2) (8) [60] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 7 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines QUESTION 2: GEOMORPHOLOGY 2.1 2.1.1 Z (run-off) (1) 2.1.2 Y (dense drainage network) (1) 2.1.3 Y (A) (1) 2.1.4 Z (low) (1) 2.1.5 Y (smaller) (1) 2.1.6 Z (increases) (1) 2.1.7 Z (3rd) (1) 2.1.8 Y (higher) (1) (8 x 1) (8) Hlayiso note: 2.1.7 (Strahler): the two top 1st-order streams join to form a 2nd-order stream; on the left, two 1st-order streams join to form a 2nd-order stream (the extra 1st-order tributary does not change it); 2nd + 2nd at C = 3rd order. 2.2 2.2.1 Upper course (1) 2.2.2 Middle course (1) 2.2.3 Upper course (1) 2.2.4 Middle course (1) 2.2.5 Lower course (1) 2.2.6 Upper course (1) 2.2.7 Lower course (1) (7 x 1) (7) Hlayiso note: 2.2.4: the channel becomes wider and deeper in the middle course (narrow and shallow in the upper course). The official guideline may accept the lower course here. 2.3 2.3.1 Deposition (1) (1 x 1) (1) 2.3.2 The gradient is gentle (2) Speed of the river decreases (2) Lower carrying capacity of the water (2) Large sediment load/bedload (2) Volume of water decreases (accept examples) (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) 2.3.3 Braided streams split into channels that rejoin, whereas the channels of a delta (distributaries) split and do not rejoin (2) Braided streams occur along the river channel, whereas delta channels flow into the sea/lake at the river mouth (2) [ANY ONE] [MUST REFER TO BOTH] (1 x 2) (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 8 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 2.3.4 The river enters the sea/lake and loses velocity, resulting in deposition (2) Fresh water mixes with salt water and clay particles coagulate and sink (flocculation) (2) Weak ocean currents/small tidal range do not remove the sediment (2) A shallow continental shelf allows sediment to accumulate (2) Deposits block the channel and the river splits into distributaries (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART MARKING Loses velocity (1) Flocculation (1) Weak ocean currents (1) Shallow continental shelf (1) Distributaries (1) [MAXIMUM TWO MARKS] 2.3.5 Fertile soil for crop farming (accept examples, e.g. rice) (2) Flat land allows the use of machinery (2) Access to water from the distributaries for irrigation (2) Distributaries create transport routes for products (2) Water available for fishing/aquaculture (2) Tourism (accept examples, e.g. bird watching) (2) Mining of oil, gas, sand and minerals (2) Flat land for settlements, ports and industries (2) [ANY THREE] (3 x 2) (6) 2.4 2.4.1 When a river with more erosive power (captor stream) captures/steals the headwaters of another river (2) The stream flowing at a lower level captures the water of a stream flowing at a higher level (2) [CONCEPT] (1 x 2) (2) 2.4.2 River X flows at a lower level (600 m) (1) River X has a steeper gradient (1) Headward erosion by river X (1) River X has more erosive power (1) [ANY ONE] (1 x 1) (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 9 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 2.4.3 Example of a plan view: captured headwaters of Y captor stream (X) elbow of capture wind gap misfit stream (Y) Marks will be allocated for: (a) Correct plan view (1) (b) Elbow of capture (1) (c) Captor stream (1) (d) Misfit stream (1) (4 x 1) (4) 2.4.4 The drainage basin of the captor stream increases (2) The headwaters (and tributaries) of the captured stream now drain into the captor stream (2) The watershed shifts into the drainage basin of the captured stream (2) More water/increase in stream discharge (volume) (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) 2.4.5 Less water flows in the misfit stream (2) The river may dry up/become non-perennial (2) Less erosive power/reduced carrying capacity (2) More deposition (river gravels) takes place (2) The valley is too large for the stream (2) Habitats are destroyed/biodiversity decreases (accept examples) (2) The water table drops/wetlands dry up (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) 2.5 2.5.1 Steve Tshwete (Local) Municipality (1) (1 x 1) (1) 2.5.2 Pollution increased (from 2022 to 2026) (1) (1 x 1) (1) 2.5.3 Raw sewage (1) Theft and vandalism at the sewage pump station (1) [ANY ONE] (1 x 1) (1) 2.5.4 Water-borne diseases (accept examples, e.g. cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea) (2) Skin/eye/stomach infections (2) Death of vulnerable people (accept examples) (2) Poor hygiene due to water shortages spreads diseases (2) Pressure on clinics/hospitals and higher medical costs (2) [ANY TWO] (2 x 2) (4) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 10 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 2.5.5 Place the sewage pipeline underground (2) Protect the pump station (accept examples, e.g. security, fencing, CCTV) (2) Replace corroded pipes (accept examples) (2) Maintain infrastructure (2) Continuous monitoring/testing of water quality (2) Trace the source of the sewage in the tributaries (2) Build/upgrade water treatment plants (2) Implement legislation/impose fines (2) Encourage community involvement (accept examples, e.g. reporting leaks) (2) Create awareness campaigns (accept examples) (2) Create buffer zones/conserve wetlands (2) Provide alternative water sources (accept examples, e.g. boreholes, water tankers) (2) Partnerships with the DWS (2) [ANY FOUR] (4 x 2) (8) [60] TOTAL SECTION A: 120 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 11 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines SECTION B QUESTION 3: GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES 3.1 3.1.1 A (80°) (1) (1 x 1) (1) Hlayiso note: F (bench mark 1619,0, C2) to G (B4) runs east-north-east; we measured about 78°–81°. 3.1.2 (a) Uphill (1) (1 x 1) (1) (b) Height increases from 1 619,0 m (F) to 1 638,7 m (I) (1) Spot heights/bench marks increase along the route (accept 1 629 m) (1) [ANY ONE] (1 x 1) (1) 3.1.3 Formula: Area = Length x Breadth Area = (4 cm x 100) x (2 (1) cm x 100) = 400 (1) m x 200 (1) m = 80 000 m² = 0,08 km² (1) Range: breadth 1,9 cm – 2,1 cm (190 m – 210 m); area 0,076 km² – 0,084 km² (4 x 1) (4) Hlayiso note: the breadth of area 6 is about half its 4 cm length on the orthophoto map; 1 cm = 100 m. 3.1.4 Example (not to scale): height (m) (a) steep slope (b) gentle slope J K (a) Steep slope (near K) (1) (b) Gentle slope (near J) (1) (2 x 1) (2) Hlayiso note: contours are far apart near J and crowded on the rocky Platberg slope at K. 3.1.5 Yes/There is intervisibility (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.2 3.2.1 529 mm (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.2.2 Non-perennial rivers (1) Dams/reservoirs (1) Erosion (dongas/gullies) (1) Dry water courses (1) [ANY TWO] (2 x 1) (2) 3.2.3 Firebreaks (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.2.4 Shadows fall in a south-easterly/easterly direction (2) The sun is in the west/north-west (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) Hlayiso note: the shadows are not clear on our photo; DBE Nov 2022 gives morning shadows as south-westerly, so afternoon shadows fall to the south-east/east. 3.2.5 Lower course (1) (1 x 1) (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 12 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines 3.2.6 Meanders (1) Oxbow lakes (1) Marshes/vleis (1) Wide floodplain (1) Gentle gradient (widely spaced contour lines) (1) [ANY TWO] (2 x 1) (2) 3.2.7 2 (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.2.8 No contour lines between L and M (flat valley floor) (2) Widely spaced contour lines indicate a wide, flat (gently sloping) valley (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) 3.3 3.3.1 A (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.3.2 It shows the location (position) of features (2) It shows the shape of features (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) 3.3.3 Attribute (1) (1 x 1) (1) 3.3.4 It gives additional information/describes the characteristics of the map (2) It does not show the location (position) of a feature (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) 3.3.5 The symbols used on topographical maps are standard/the same (2) All topographical maps use the same reference, so maps can be compared (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) [30] TOTAL SECTION B: 30 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Geography/P1 13 Hlayiso/November 2026 NSC – Unofficial Marking Guidelines HOW DID OUR PREDICTION DO? The real November 2026 P1 compared with the Hlayiso 2026 Geography P1 Prediction Q Part Real paper asked Our closest prediction item(s) Verdict Covered 1.1 Line MCQ: SA high, circulation, moisture front, 1.1 line-thunderstorm MCQ with all of 3 7/8 thunderstorms (8) season, winds, clouds/rain, station model, these except impacts impacts 1.2 Berg winds (7) Column A/B on berg winds 1.2 was valley climate; berg winds 7 0/7 rated “unlikely” 1.3 Mid-latitude Westerlies (1); winter (1); graph (2); 1.3.3 why winter; Cb in the drawing; 3/7 9/15 cyclone (15) cumulonimbus (1); formation (4); positive 1.3.5 cold-front uplift. No impact item impact of rain (6) 1.4 Tropical cyclone SH evidence (1); 26,5 °C (4); dissipating Madagascar TC: formation conditions, 3 10/15 (15) (2); basic services (4); measures (4) weakening over land, measures 1.5 Urban heat island Temperature difference (1); concept (2); 1.5.1–1.5.3 concept, difference, park 3 13/15 (15) vegetation (4); evaluate rooftop cooling; strategies paragraph with gardens/air conditioners (8) green roofs 2.1 Drainage density Column A/B on drainage density and 2.3.4 stream order; 2.3.8 density vs 3 6/8 (8) stream order rainfall and vegetation 2.2 River stages (7) Upper/middle/lower-course matching Waterfalls and rejuvenation MCQ; little 7 2/7 overlap 2.3 Braided streams Deposition (1); why (2); channels (2); delta Drainage patterns/density; braided 7 3/15 and deltas (15) formation (4); economic impact (6) stream only in mapwork 3.2.3–3.2.4 2.4 River capture (15) Define (2); factor (1); plan-view drawing 2.4.1–2.4.6: define, captor and reason, 3 11/15 (4); captor’s basin (4); misfit impact (4) labelled drawing, impact, more water 2.5 Catchment Municipality (1); trend (1); cause (1); Sewage among human activities; 3/7 10/15 management (15) health (4); strategies paragraph (8) strategies paragraph. No graph or health item 3.1 Map skills (10) Bearing (1); up/downhill (2); area (4); Area calculation; slope type and 3/7 6/10 cross-section (2); intervisibility (1) intervisibility 3.2 Map interpretation Rainfall (1); seasonal rain (2); firebreak Climate item and river-course item; no 3/7 6/12 (12) (1); shadows (2); river course (3); valley fire, shadow or valley item sketch (3) 3.3 GIS (8) Spatial (3); attribute (3); data Raster and attribute data; no 3 6/8 standardisation (2) standardisation Marks of the real paper covered by our prediction 89/150 A learner who had practised our prediction paper would have met about 89 of the 150 marks (59%) as familiar question types. Every 15-mark block we called “near-certain” or “likely” in Q1 appeared, including line thunderstorms in the Q1.1 objective block, but a berg-wind column (Q1.2) and a braided-stream/delta block (Q2.3) appeared that we did not prepare learners for. What we got right What we missed • Line thunderstorms in the Q1.1 MCQ, with the SA • Berg winds (7-mark column), which we rated high, moisture front, cumulonimbus and a station unlikely; valley climate did not appear. model. • A full block on braided streams and deltas (we put • Mid-latitude cyclone (Q1.3), tropical cyclone over drainage density there). Madagascar (Q1.4) and urban heat island as Q1.5, • River stages (upper/middle/lower course) instead our “toss-up” call. of waterfalls and rejuvenation. • River capture with a labelled drawing; drainage • The Q1.5 paragraph was “evaluate” (rooftop density and stream order (Q2.1). gardens vs air conditioners), not “suggest • Catchment management as Q2.5, with an 8-line strategies”. strategies paragraph on sewage pollution. • Mapwork: bearing, a rough cross-section, • Mapwork: area calculation, intervisibility, a climate shadows/time of day, firebreaks and data item, a river-course item and attribute/spatial data. standardisation; our magnetic-declination call did not appear. Rating: 6/10. The structure and the climate blocks were very well predicted, and river capture and catchment management landed. However, the berg-wind column and the braided-stream/delta block were not covered and several mapwork skills were missing, so 89/150 marks were covered. Copyright reserved