English FAL Grade 8 P2 November Mock 2026 Question Paper (Eng)

Copyright reserved Please turn over Mock hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 8 Exam Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM SENIOR PHASE END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION GRADE 8 ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE P2 (WRITING) NOVEMBER 2026 (MOCK) MARKS: 50 TIME: 2 hours This question paper consists of 6 pages.

English First Additional Language/P2 2 Senior Phase Mock Hlayiso/Mock 2026 INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION 1. This question paper consists of THREE sections: SECTION A: Essay (30) SECTION B: Longer transactional text (10) SECTION C: Shorter transactional text (10) 2. Answer ONE question from EACH section. 3. Write in the language in which you are being assessed. 4. Start EACH section on a NEW page and rule off (draw a line) after each section. 5. You must plan (e.g. using a mind map, a flow chart or key words), write a draft, edit and proofread your work. The planning must appear BEFORE each final text. 6. All planning must be clearly indicated as such. It is advisable to draw a line through all planning. 7. Count your words and write the number of words in brackets at the end of each text. Do NOT count the title/heading. 8. You are strongly advised to spend approximately: • 60 minutes on SECTION A • 30 minutes on SECTION B • 30 minutes on SECTION C 9. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this question paper. 10. Give each response a suitable title/heading. 11. Pay special attention to spelling, punctuation and sentence construction. Write neatly and legibly. Copyright reserved Please turn over

English First Additional Language/P2 3 Senior Phase Mock Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION A: ESSAY QUESTION 1 • Write an essay of between 150 and 180 words (about 3 to 4 paragraphs) on ONE of the following topics. • Write down the NUMBER and the TITLE of the essay you have chosen, for example 1.1 The day the lights went out. • Give your OWN title if you choose QUESTION 1.2, 1.6.1 or 1.6.2. • Your essay must have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. • Spend approximately 60 minutes on this section. 1.1 The day the lights went out Write about a day or night when the electricity went off at home or at school. Tell what happened, how you and the people around you coped, and how the day ended. [30] OR 1.2 Write a story that begins with the following words: ‘My hands were shaking as I opened the envelope with my name on it …’ NOTE: You MUST use the words given above as the first words of your essay. Give your essay your OWN title. [30] OR 1.3 A place where I feel happy Describe a place that makes you feel happy and safe (for example a room, a garden, a park, a grandparent’s home or a sports field). Use your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste) so that the reader can picture the place. [30] OR 1.4 Every school should have a garden where learners grow their own vegetables. Do you agree or disagree? Write an essay in which you give your opinion and support it with good reasons and examples. [30] OR 1.5 What Grade 8 has taught me about myself Think about your first year in high school. Write about what you have learnt about yourself, for example your strengths, your weaknesses, your friendships and how you have grown. [30] Copyright reserved Please turn over

English First Additional Language/P2 4 Senior Phase Mock Hlayiso/Mock 2026 1.6 Choose ONE of the following pictures and write an essay on a topic that comes to mind. Write down the question number (1.6.1 or 1.6.2) and give your essay a suitable title. NOTE: There must be a clear link between your essay and the picture you have chosen. Do NOT simply describe the picture. 1.6.1 [30] BUS STOP JOHANNESBURG 450 km [Examiner’s own drawing] OR 1.6.2 [30] NEXT YEAR [Examiner’s own drawing] TOTAL SECTION A: 30 Copyright reserved Please turn over

English First Additional Language/P2 5 Senior Phase Mock Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION B: LONGER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT QUESTION 2 • Respond to ONE of the following transactional texts. • The body of your response should be between 100 and 120 words in length. • Write down the NUMBER and the HEADING of the text you have chosen, for example 2.1 FRIENDLY LETTER. • Pay particular attention to format, language, register and audience. • Spend approximately 30 minutes on this section. 2.1 FRIENDLY LETTER Your cousin, who lives in another province, will start Grade 8 at a new high school next year. He/She has written to tell you that he/she is nervous about starting high school. Write a letter to your cousin in which you share what your first year of high school was like and give him/her advice on how to cope. [10] OR 2.2 DIALOGUE Your younger brother/sister used your cellphone without asking and used up all the data you had saved for a school project. Write the dialogue (conversation) between you and your brother/sister when you find out what happened. NOTE: Use the dialogue format. [10] OR 2.3 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE Learners at your school raised money to fix the roof of a local old-age home that was damaged in a storm. Write an article for your community newspaper in which you report on this project. [10] TOTAL SECTION B: 10 Copyright reserved Please turn over

English First Additional Language/P2 6 Senior Phase Mock Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION C: SHORTER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT QUESTION 3 • Respond to ONE of the following shorter transactional texts. • The body of your response should be between 60 and 80 words in length. • Write down the NUMBER and the HEADING of the text you have chosen, for example 3.1 DIARY ENTRIES. • Spend approximately 30 minutes on this section. 3.1 DIARY ENTRIES You have been chosen to read a poem in front of the whole school at the end-of-year prize-giving. Write TWO diary entries: one on the evening BEFORE the prize-giving and one on the evening AFTER it. [10] OR 3.2 POSTER Your class is organising a car wash on a Saturday morning to raise money for the Grade 8 outing. Write the content of a poster to advertise the car wash. NOTE: Do NOT include drawings or illustrations. No marks will be given for them. [10] OR 3.3 DIRECTIONS A new learner in your class wants to join the school’s chess club, which meets in the school library after school. Write directions from your classroom to the school library. You must include landmarks, distances and specific directions in your response. NOTE: Do NOT draw a map. [10] TOTAL SECTION C: 10 GRAND TOTAL: 50 Copyright reserved