Life Sciences Grade 12 P1 NSC November Mock 2026 Memo (Eng)

hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 LIFE SCIENCES P1 MOCK EXAMINATION 2026 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 A✓✓ 1.1.3 D✓✓ 1.1.4 B✓✓ 1.1.5 C✓✓ 1.1.6 A✓✓ 1.1.7 D✓✓ 1.1.8 A✓✓ 1.1.9 C✓✓ 1.1.10 B✓✓ (10 x 2) (20) 1.2 1.2.1 Prolactin✓ 1.2.2 Organ of Corti✓ 1.2.3 Fertilisation✓ 1.2.4 Precocial (development)✓ 1.2.5 Meninges✓ 1.2.6 Phototropism✓ 1.2.7 Short-sightedness✓/myopia 1.2.8 Aldosterone✓ (8 x 1) (8) 1.3 1.3.1 Both A and B✓✓ 1.3.2 B only✓✓ 1.3.3 None✓✓ (3 x 2) (6) 1.4 1.4.1 (a) Suspensory ligament(s)✓ (1) (b) Ciliary body✓/ciliary muscle (1) (c) Vitreous humour✓ (1) 1.4.2 (a) D✓ (1) (b) E✓ (1) (c) G✓ (1) 1.4.3 - Part F/the blind spot has no photoreceptors/rods and cones✓ - therefore no impulses are generated/sent to the brain/cerebrum✓ (2) (8) 1.5 1.5.1 (a) Graafian follicle✓ (1) (b) Corpus luteum✓ (1) 1.5.2 Ovulation✓ (1) 1.5.3 LH✓/Luteinising hormone (1) 1.5.4 FSH✓/Follicle stimulating hormone (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 1.5.5 Progesterone✓ (1) 1.5.6 It degenerates✓ (1) 1.5.7 B✓ (1) (8) 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 External✓(fertilisation) (1) 2.1.2 The males release sperm over the eggs✓/outside the body of the female (1) 2.1.3 Ovipary✓ (1) 2.1.4 - The foam keeps the eggs moist✓/prevents dehydration - The hard crust protects the eggs✓from predators/the environment - The nest is above the water so the eggs are out of reach of aquatic predators✓ - The tadpoles drop directly into the water✓where they can develop further Any 2 (2) 2.1.5 - Fertilisation is external/there is little or no parental care✓ - so many eggs are not fertilised/many eggs and tadpoles are eaten or die✓ - A large number of eggs increases the chance that some offspring survive✓ Any 2 (2) (7) 2.2 2.2.1 (a) Acrosome✓ (1) (b) Nucleus✓ (1) 2.2.2 (a) - It contains enzymes✓ - that dissolve/digest a path through the membrane of the ovum✓so that the sperm can penetrate the ovum (2) (b) - It contains many mitochondria✓ - which release energy for the tail to move/for the sperm to swim✓ (2) 2.2.3 - From the seminiferous tubules✓ - to the epididymis✓ - through the vas deferens/sperm duct✓ - into the urethra✓and out through the penis (4) (10) 2.3 2.3.1 Day 14✓ (1) 2.3.2 (a) Oestrogen✓ (1) (b) Progesterone✓ (1) 2.3.3 - After ovulation the corpus luteum forms✓ - and secretes (large amounts of) progesterone✓ (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.3.4 - A high level of progesterone inhibits✓ - the secretion of FSH (by the pituitary gland)✓ - so that no new follicles develop✓/no further ovulation takes place (3) 2.3.5 - The level of progesterone/hormone Y decreases at the end of the cycle✓ - showing that the corpus luteum degenerated✓ - and the endometrium will not be maintained/menstruation will follow✓ Any 2 (2) (10) 2.4 2.4.1 (a) (Environmental) temperature✓ (1) (b) Volume of sweat lost/produced✓ (1) 2.4.2 - Gender/only males were used✓ - Age/all 18 years old✓ - Body mass✓ - Intensity of exercise✓ - Duration of exercise/30 minutes✓ - No liquids were taken in✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) 2.4.3 To improve the reliability✓of the results (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.4.4 Average volume of sweat lost at different temperatures Average volume of sweat lost (mℓ) 1 000 800 600 400 200 0 20 25 30 35 40 Temperature (°C) Criteria Mark Correct type of graph: line graph (T) 1 Caption includes both variables (C) 1 Correct label and unit for X-axis and 1 Y-axis (L) Appropriate scale for X-axis and Y-axis 1 (S) Plotting of points (P): 1–4 points plotted correctly 1 All 5 points plotted correctly 2 If a bar 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); plotting can still be credited if the points are correct for the labels given. (6) 2.4.5 - (The hypothalamus detects the increase in body temperature and) more sweat is secreted by the sweat glands✓onto the skin - The sweat evaporates✓ - absorbing heat from the body/skin✓ - which cools the body/lowers the body temperature✓ Any 3 (3) (14) 2.5 2.5.1 (a) Amnion✓ (1) (b) Yolk sac✓ (1) (c) Chorion✓ (1) 2.5.2 E✓ (1) 2.5.3 Provides water/protein/nutrients✓to the embryo/acts as a shock absorber (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.5.4 - It is hard/leathery✓to protect the embryo against mechanical injury/to prevent dehydration✓ - It is porous✓to allow for gaseous exchange✓ Any 1 x 2 (2) 2.5.5 - Reptiles✓ - Birds✓ - (Egg-laying mammals/monotremes)✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) (9) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 3 3.1 3.1.1 (a) Sensory neuron✓ (1) (b) Interneuron✓/connector neuron (1) (c) White matter✓ (1) 3.1.2 (a) A✓ (1) (b) D✓ (1) 3.1.3 - It is a quick response✓ - which protects the body from harm/danger✓ - It does not involve the brain/is involuntary✓so the response is not delayed Any 2 (2) 3.1.4 - The receptor, sensory neuron and interneuron are still functional✓ - so impulses can still reach the brain/cerebrum where pain is interpreted✓ - The damaged motor neuron cannot transmit impulses✓ - to the effector/muscle✓so the muscle does not contract Any 3 (3) (10) 3.2 3.2.1 Equalises the pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane✓ (1) 3.2.2 - The fluid prevents the tympanic membrane✓/ossicles - from vibrating freely/vibrates less✓ - so fewer vibrations are transmitted to the inner ear/cochlea✓ - fewer impulses are generated/sent to the cerebrum✓ Any 3 (3) 3.2.3 - The pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane is equalised✓/the fluid drains out - so the tympanic membrane/ossicles can vibrate freely again✓ (2) 3.2.4 - Pressure waves in the cochlea✓/endolymph - stimulate the hair cells of the organ of Corti✓ - which convert the stimulus into impulses✓ - The impulses are transmitted via the auditory nerve✓ - to the cerebrum✓for interpretation Any 4 (4) (10) 3.3 3.3.1 At 60 minutes✓ (1) 3.3.2 320 ÷ 60✓ = 5,33 times✓ (Accept 5,3) (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 11 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 3.3.3 - Drinking water increases the water level of the blood✓ - This is detected by the hypothalamus✓ - The pituitary gland secretes less ADH✓ - The renal tubules/collecting ducts become less permeable to water✓ - Less water is reabsorbed into the blood✓ - so a large volume of dilute urine is produced✓ Any 4 (4) 3.3.4 Pituitary gland✓/hypophysis (1) 3.3.5 For comparison✓/as a control (1) (9) 3.4 3.4.1 Short-sightedness✓/myopia (1) 3.4.2 The image is formed in front of the retina✓ (1) 3.4.3 Concave lens✓ (1) 3.4.4 - The ciliary muscles contract✓ - The suspensory ligaments slacken✓/tension on the lens decreases - The lens becomes more convex✓/rounder - The refractive power of the lens increases✓/light is refracted more - and a clear image is formed on the retina✓ (5) (8) 3.5 3.5.1 Concentration of gibberellic acid✓ (1) 3.5.2 - Type of plant/dwarf pea plants✓ - Initial height of seedlings✓ - Type and amount of soil✓ - Volume of solution sprayed/5 mℓ✓ - Amount of water✓ - Environmental conditions/same greenhouse/light/temperature✓ - Duration of the investigation/21 days✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) 3.5.3 To show that it is the gibberellic acid✓that caused the increase in stem length✓and not any other factor OR It serves as a control✓for comparison✓ (2) 3.5.4 (23,1 – 8,2) ÷ 8,2 × 100✓✓ = 181,71%✓ (Accept 181,7% / 182%) (3) 3.5.5 Dwarf pea plants produce little of their own gibberellins✓so the effect of the added gibberellic acid is clearer (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P1 12 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 3.5.6 An increase in the concentration of gibberellic acid causes an increase in the stem length of dwarf pea plants✓✓, up to 40 mg/ℓ OR Gibberellic acid increases✓the stem length of dwarf pea plants✓ (2) 3.5.7 - Stimulates seed germination✓/breaks seed dormancy - Causes flowering✓ - Stimulates the development of fruit✓ - Stimulates the production of enzymes that break down starch in seeds✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) (13) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved