# English HL Grade 8 Paper 1 November Mock 2026 Memo (English) > Grade 8 English HL Paper 1 memorandum from the November Mock Exam 2026 (English), 9 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, question paper linked when available. - Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8-english-hl-2026-november-mock-exam-memorandum-paper-1-english/e2d13898-1854-482f-a95f-c9520395e8c9 - Updated: 2026-10-26 - Subject: English HL - Grade: Grade 8 - Language: English - Document type: Memorandum - Year: 2026 - Exam period: November Mock Exam - Paper: 1 - Publisher: Hlayiso - Curriculum: CAPS - Pages: 9 Breadcrumbs: [Home](https://www.hlayiso.com/) › [Library](https://www.hlayiso.com/library) › [Grade 8](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8) › [English HL](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8/english-hl) › [English HL Grade 8 Paper 1 November Mock 2026 Memo (English)](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8-english-hl-2026-november-mock-exam-memorandum-paper-1-english/e2d13898-1854-482f-a95f-c9520395e8c9) ## About this document English HL · Grade 8 · November Mock Exam · 2026. Memorandum, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF. Read it free online on the page above; download the PDF from there. ## Matching paper and memo - [Grade 8 English HL P1 November 2026 Mock](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8-english-hl-2026-november-mock-exam-question-paper-paper-1-english/c4d0380a-b353-42f7-8078-585e78e77ed8) — QP · 2026 · Eng ## Document text Text extracted from the PDF. Layout, diagrams and tables may not survive extraction. ### Page 1 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 HOME LANGUAGE P1 NOVEMBER 2026 (MOCK) MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 70 These marking guidelines consist of 9 pages. ### Page 2 English Home Language/P1 2 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 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. • The marking guidelines should be discussed before marking starts. 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. (Errors must still be indicated.) • For open-ended questions, no marks should be awarded for YES/NO or I AGREE/I DISAGREE alone. The reason/substantiation is what should be credited. • TRUE/FALSE earns 1 mark ONLY if it is supported by a correct quotation (1 mark). • When one-word answers are required and the candidate gives a whole sentence, mark it correct provided that the correct word is underlined/highlighted. • When two facts/points are required and a range is given, mark only the first two. • For multiple-choice questions, accept the letter AND/OR the answer written out in full. • Accept dialectal variations. Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 3 English Home Language/P1 3 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION A: READING AND VIEWING QUESTION 1: COMPREHENSION 1.1 B – a girl who overcame her fear of water and learnt to swim. (1) 1.2 The sea was unfamiliar to her/she did not know it at all; (1) she had only seen it from a distance (through the taxi window) and had never been in it or learnt to swim. (1) [Award 1 mark for 'unfamiliar/unknown' and 1 mark for the explanation linked to the text.] (2) 1.3 Any TWO of the following: • Only 9 of the 40 learners in Ayanda's class could swim. • Every summer there are reports of children who drowned (in rivers, dams and swimming pools) during the holidays. • Many drownings happen only a few metres from safety. [Do not credit the fact that Ayanda herself could not swim unless it is linked to the class figures.] (2) 1.4 B – asked again and again, very eagerly. (1) 1.5 She was afraid that Ayanda could drown because she was still a beginner/the sea is dangerous ('does not forgive mistakes'). (1) A lifeguard is trained to watch swimmers and can rescue Ayanda if she gets into trouble. (1) [Accept any TWO valid, well-reasoned ideas.] (2) 1.6 FALSE. (1) 'The first lessons did not take place in the sea at all, but in a municipal swimming pool.' (1) [Award the mark for FALSE only if the quotation is correct. Accept 'not … in the sea at all' or 'in a municipal swimming pool'. The quotation must be in quotation marks.] (2) 1.7 If you stay calm and float, you are able to breathe/you do not go under the water, (1) so you stay alive until someone comes to rescue you. (1) [Candidates must use their own words. Award a maximum of 1 mark for a direct quotation.] (2) 1.8 1.8.1 Simile (1) 1.8.2 An old car makes loud, rough, spluttering noises. (1) The comparison shows that Ayanda swallowed a lot of water and coughed badly/the first week was very difficult and unpleasant for her. (1) (2) 1.9 Any ONE trait with evidence, e.g. • Hard-working/dedicated/committed: she passed her lifesaving test/arrives an hour early every Saturday. Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 4 English Home Language/P1 4 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 • Helpful/caring/kind/compassionate: she helps the coaches with the youngest beginners; she remembers how scared she was and comforts the small children. • Patient/responsible/a role model: she helps the youngest beginners and tells them the water needs respect. • Determined/brave: she passed a test that included a 200-metre swim and a rescue. [Award 1 mark for the trait and 1 mark for the supporting evidence.] (2) 1.10 A – hopeful (1) 1.11 YES: Many children cannot swim and drown every year; knowing how to float/ swim could save their lives. Lessons at school would reach children whose families cannot pay for lessons. OR NO: Many schools do not have swimming pools, money or trained coaches; it could be unsafe to teach large groups without lifeguards. Some learners are very afraid of water and should not be forced. [No mark for 'yes/no' alone. Award 2 marks for a well-substantiated response, 1 mark for a vague/partly substantiated response.] (2) [20] Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 5 English Home Language/P1 5 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 QUESTION 2: ANALYSING AN ADVERTISEMENT 2.1 The SunBox solar study lamp. [Accept 'a (solar) study lamp'/'a lamp'.] (1) 2.2 Learners/school children (and their parents). (1) Clue (any ONE): the headline refers to 'marks'; 'study lamp'; 'Study bright, every night'; '10 000 happy learners'; the picture of a learner studying at a desk. (1) (2) 2.3 Literal meaning: giving off light – the lamp gives bright light even during load-shedding. (1) Figurative meaning: excellent/outstanding/very good marks or results. (1) (2) 2.4 The window shows that all the houses outside are dark (load-shedding). (1) The desk is brightly lit by the SunBox lamp so that the learner can keep studying/ working – this will help her to get good ('shining') marks. (1) [Both the window and the desk must be referred to for 2 marks.] (2) 2.5 Rhyme ('bright' and 'night'). (1) It makes the slogan catchy/memorable/easy to remember, so that people remember the product's name when they shop. (1) [Accept 'assonance' (the repeated 'i' sound) with a valid explanation.] (2) 2.6 To persuade readers that the product is popular/tried and trusted/that they should join the many other learners who use it (bandwagon technique). [Accept 'testimonial/social proof' with a valid explanation.] (1) [10] TOTAL SECTION A: 30 Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 6 English Home Language/P1 6 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION B: SUMMARY QUESTION 3: SUMMARISING IN YOUR OWN WORDS Use the following main points as a guideline. Any SEVEN of the following EIGHT points are to be credited. NO. QUOTATIONS NO. POINTS 1 'As soon as you hear thunder, go indoors' 1 Go inside a solid building as soon as you hear thunder. 2 'a car with a metal roof will also protect you, as long as the windows are closed' 2 If there is no building, shelter in a closed car with a metal roof. 3 'Many people run for shelter under a tree, but this is one of the most dangerous places to be.' 3 Do not shelter under a tree. 4 'Get out of swimming pools, rivers and dams immediately' 4 Get out of the water immediately. 5 'keep away from wire fences, bicycles and metal poles' 5 Stay away from metal objects. 6 'unplug televisions, computers and other appliances, and do not use a phone that is plugged into the wall' 6 Unplug electrical appliances/do not use a phone that is plugged in. 7 'do not lie flat on the ground. Crouch down low with your feet together and cover your ears' 7 In an open field, crouch low with your feet together (do not lie flat). 8 'Wait at least thirty minutes after the last clap of thunder before you go outside again.' 8 Wait thirty minutes after the last thunder before going outside. [Do not credit the information about Highveld storms, the open bakkie, the explanation of why trees are dangerous or the anecdote about the uncle as separate points. Point 6 may be split into two sentences (appliances; phone): credit it as ONE point only.] POINT FORM NOTE: What follows is merely an example. It is not prescriptive and must be used very carefully. 1. Go indoors as soon as you hear thunder. 2. If there is no building, sit in a closed car with a metal roof. 3. Do not shelter under a tree. 4. Get out of pools, rivers and dams at once. 5. Stay away from metal objects such as fences and bicycles. 6. Unplug electrical appliances and do not use a plugged-in phone. 7. Crouch low with your feet together if you are in the open. (69 words) Marking the summary: Marking is on the basis of the inclusion of valid material and the exclusion of invalid material. • Mark allocation: – 7 marks for 7 points (1 mark per main point) – 3 marks for language – Total marks: 10 Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 7 English Home Language/P1 7 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 • Distribution of language marks when the 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 the 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 – 0–1 quotation: award full language marks (as per the non-verbatim table) NOTE: • Word count: markers must verify the number of words used. • Do not deduct marks if the candidate fails to indicate the number of words used or indicates it incorrectly. If the word limit is exceeded, read up to the last sentence above the upper limit (70 words) and ignore the rest of the summary. • If the summary is written in paragraph form instead of numbered sentences, mark the points but deduct 1 language mark. TOTAL SECTION B: 10 Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 8 English Home Language/P1 8 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION C: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT 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. • Sentences must be grammatically correct and given in full where the question requires it. • For multiple-choice questions, accept the letter AND/OR the answer written out in full. QUESTION 4: VISUAL LITERACY (CARTOON) 4.1 At home, in the lounge/living room. (1) Clue (any ONE): the couch; the TV; the boy is playing a video game; his mother is there; the school books lying on the floor. (1) (2) 4.2 He is playing a video game (on the TV). [Accept 'gaming'/'playing games'.] (1) 4.3 To emphasise the word/to show that he stresses it: he is over-confident and boastful about how much he knows. (1) 4.4 His eyes are wide/staring, his mouth is wobbly and he is sweating. (1) This shows that he is shocked/panicking/nervous/afraid because he cannot answer the questions. (1) [Award 1 mark for the facial expression and 1 mark for the feeling.] (2) 4.5 It suggests that he has stopped/paused in shock; he realises that he is in trouble and does not know what to say/do. [Accept: his words trail off because he is worried.] (1) 4.6 He boasted that he knew 'EVERYTHING', yet he says the test asked only questions he did not know, and he got 4/50, so he actually knew almost nothing. (1) He blames the test as unfair instead of admitting that he did not study, which is ironic/ridiculous. (1) [Award 2 marks only if the irony/contrast with FRAME 1 or his refusal to accept the blame is explained.] (2) 4.7 Learners should prepare/study properly for tests and not be over-confident; take responsibility for your own results. [Accept: do not let gaming/entertainment take the place of studying.] (1) [10] QUESTION 5: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND CONVENTIONS 5.1 5.1.1 grand – adjective (1) 5.1.2 prepared – verb (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over ### Page 9 English Home Language/P1 9 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 5.1.3 while – conjunction (1) 5.2 hole – whole (1) libary – library (1) (2) 5.3 were – was (The Grade 8 stall … was the most popular of all.) (1) 5.4 adorned/decked/beautified/ornamented/embellished/trimmed [Accept 'dressed up/made beautiful'.] (1) 5.5 unpopular (1) 5.6 It shows possession/ownership (the speech belongs to the principal). (1) 5.7 To show the exact words spoken by the principal/to indicate direct speech. [Accept: to quote what he said.] (1) 5.8 A gumboot dance was performed by a group of girls. [Award 1 mark for 'A gumboot dance was performed' and 1 mark for 'by a group of girls'. The past tense must be retained.] (2) 5.9 The principal said that if they/we forgot their/our roots, (1) they/we would fall over. (1) [Award 1 mark for the change of tense (forgot … would) and 1 mark for the correct pronouns. Deduct 1 mark if inverted commas are retained.] (2) 5.10 The choir will sing songs in five different languages. (1) 5.11 Representative Council of Learners (1) 5.12 Simple sentence (1) 5.13 Learners did not come to school in traditional clothes. [Accept: 'Learners didn't come …'/'No learners came …'.] (1) 5.14 knew, e.g. I knew all the answers in the test. [The word 'knew' must be used correctly in a sentence of the candidate's own. Accept gnu, e.g. A gnu is a type of antelope.] (1) 5.15 performance (1) [20] TOTAL SECTION C: 30 GRAND TOTAL: 70 Copyright reserved ## Related documents - [Grade 8 English HL P2 November 2026 Mock](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8-english-hl-2026-november-mock-exam-question-paper-paper-2-english/967f4869-31b5-419b-bc59-fedbda6c9872) — English HL · QP · 2026 · Eng - [English HL P1 Nov 2018](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/english-hl-p1-nov-2018/06f87c4d-8383-4829-8c1d-52297cc37af7) — English HL · QP · 2018 · Eng - [English HL P1 Nov 2017](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/english-hl-p1-nov-2017/4678d748-96ad-41f2-aeb6-91cd15ebdb00) — English HL · QP · 2017 · Eng - [English HL P1 March 2016](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/english-hl-p1-march-2016/3b7b4354-2a8f-4522-ad58-08b69bbae839) — English HL · QP · 2016 · Eng - [English HL P2 Nov 2018](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/english-hl-p2-nov-2018/53c46757-54f2-45cd-a061-38cf8daad43f) — English HL · QP · 2018 · Eng - [June-2017-G8-Eng HL-P2](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/june-2017-g8-eng-hl-p2/0ac30fda-82a1-46cf-8d14-5300bc0f4174) — English HL · QP · 2017 · Eng ## More from Grade 8 English HL - [English HL P2 Nov 2015](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/english-hl-p2-nov-2015/e0f491fb-91a7-4c11-acd8-b0657d263fd4) — QP · 2015 · Eng ## Collection - [Grade 8 past papers](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-8/past-papers) --- Hlayiso: free CAPS and IEB past papers, memos, notes and study guides for South African learners. 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