# Natural Sciences Grade 8 Paper 1 November Mock 2026 Memo

> Grade 8 Natural Sciences Paper 1 memorandum from the November Mock Exam 2026, 9 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, question paper linked when available.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-8-natural-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-memorandum/d63a7f12-995d-4e35-92c4-b4653684bc93
- Updated: 2026-10-26
- Subject: Natural Sciences
- Grade: Grade 8
- Document type: Memorandum
- Year: 2026
- Exam period: November Mock Exam
- Paper: 1
- Publisher: Hlayiso
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 9

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## About this document

Natural Sciences · Grade 8 · November Mock Exam · 2026. Memorandum, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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## Document text

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### Page 1

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Mock
hlayiso mock exams
Practice Series:
Grade 8 Exam Preparation
WWW.HLAYISO.COM
SENIOR PHASE
END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION
GRADE 8
NATURAL SCIENCES
NOVEMBER 2026 (MOCK)
MARKING GUIDELINES
MARKS: 100
These marking guidelines consist of 9 pages.

### Page 2

Natural Sciences
2
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
GENERAL MARKING GUIDELINES
1. One tick (✓) = one mark. Accept answers that are worded differently but are scientifically
correct.
2. Where a question asks for a set number of answers (e.g. TWO reasons), mark only the
FIRST answers given, up to that number.
3. Calculations: award marks for the method/substitution and for the final answer with the
correct unit, as shown. If the unit is omitted or wrong, deduct 1 mark only ONCE per
question.
4. Consistent accuracy (CA): where an incorrect answer from an earlier question is used
correctly in a later step, the later step is marked positively.
5. Spelling: accept phonetically correct spelling of scientific terms, unless the misspelt word
has a different scientific meaning.
6. Circuit diagrams and drawings: mark according to the criteria given. Circuit diagrams
must use the correct symbols; a picture of the components earns no marks for symbols.
CONTENT AND COGNITIVE LEVELS (approximate):
Term 3 Energy and Change 65 marks; Term 4 Planet Earth and Beyond 35 marks.
Lower order (recall) 41 marks, middle order (understanding and routine application) 44 marks,
higher order (explaining, investigation skills, analysing data) 15 marks.
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### Page 3

Natural Sciences
3
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1
A ✓
only electrons move; the rod has fewer electrons than
protons
(1)
1.2
C ✓
the bell uses an electromagnet
(1)
1.3
A ✓
more cells give a bigger current
(1)
1.4
A ✓
(1)
1.5
D ✓
(1)
1.6
B ✓
(1)
1.7
A ✓
(1)
1.8
D ✓
(1)
1.9
B ✓
(1)
1.10
B ✓
the Moon is not luminous
(1)
[10]
QUESTION 2
2.1
Lightning ✓
(1)
2.2
Electromagnet ✓
(1)
2.3
Refraction ✓
(1)
2.4
Constellation ✓
(1)
2.5
Galaxy ✓
(1)
[5]
QUESTION 3
3.1
B ✓
(1)
3.2
C ✓
(1)
3.3
D ✓
(1)
3.4
F ✓
(1)
3.5
H ✓
(1)
[5]
TOTAL SECTION A: 20
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### Page 4

Natural Sciences
4
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
SECTION B
QUESTION 4
4.1
Neutral (no charge / uncharged) ✓
It had an equal number of protons (positive charges) and electrons (negative
charges). ✓
(2)
4.2
Electrons were transferred (rubbed off) from the woollen cloth ✓onto the comb.
✓
The comb now has more electrons than protons.
Do NOT award marks if the learner says protons or positive charges moved.
(2)
4.3
Positive ✓
(1)
4.4
−−−−−
+
−
+
−
+
−
negative comb
piece of paper
Criteria: comb drawn with negative charges ✓; positive charges on the side
of the paper NEAREST the comb and negative charges on the far side ✓
The paper stays neutral overall (equal numbers of + and −). Accept positive charges
on the near side and negative charges on the far side drawn in any number, as long
as the near side is clearly positive.
(2)
4.5
Repel ✓
(like charges repel)
(1)
[8]
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### Page 5

Natural Sciences
5
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 5
5.1
5.1.1 Magnetic effect ✓
5.1.2 Chemical effect ✓
5.1.3 Heating effect ✓
(3)
5.2.1
It is a temporary magnet; it is magnetic only while a current flows. ✓
(1)
5.2.2
ANY TWO: increase the number of turns (coils) of wire around the nail / use
more cells in series (a battery with a higher potential difference, so a bigger
current) / wind the coils closer together ✓✓
Do not accept “use a bigger nail” or “use a stronger magnet”.
(2)
5.2.3
Aluminium is NOT a magnetic material (it is not attracted by a magnet). ✓
(1)
5.3.1
copper chloride −→copper ✓+ chlorine (gas) ✓
Either order. Do not accept “chloride” for chlorine.
(2)
5.3.2
Chemical effect ✓
(1)
5.3.3
Electrical energy ✓−→chemical (potential) energy ✓
If the order is reversed (chemical −→electrical), award 1/2.
(2)
5.4
So that the fuse melts and breaks the circuit BEFORE the wires become too
hot and cause a fire or damage the appliance. ✓
(1)
[13]
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### Page 6

Natural Sciences
6
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 6
6.1.1
How does the number of light bulbs connected in series ✓affect the current in
the circuit? ✓
1 mark for both variables (number of bulbs and current); 1 mark for a question form.
(2)
6.1.2
The number of light bulbs (in series) ✓
(1)
6.1.3
ANY ONE: the same battery (number of cells) / the same type of bulb / the
same ammeter / the same connecting wires ✓
(1)
6.1.4
As the number of bulbs in series increases, the current decreases. ✓
Each extra bulb adds resistance, so the total resistance of the circuit increases.
✓
(2)
6.2.1
IQ = Itotal −IP = 1,2−0,5 ✓
IQ = 0,7 A ✓
(2)
6.2.2
YES ✓
(1)
6.2.3
Decrease ✓
(1)
6.2.4
ANY ONE: if one bulb blows the others stay on / each light can be switched
on and off on its own / each bulb gets the full potential difference, so all bulbs
glow brightly ✓
(1)
6.3
fuse
S
Criteria: three cells in series ✓; closed switch in the circuit ✓; fuse in series
with the battery (in the main, unbranched part) ✓; two bulbs in parallel (two
separate paths) ✓
Correct symbols required. Accept a fuse drawn as a rectangle with a line through it,
or as a labelled box. The switch must be drawn CLOSED.
(4)
[15]
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### Page 7

Natural Sciences
7
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 7
7.1.1
(Visible light) spectrum ✓
(1)
7.1.2
X: Red ✓
Y: Violet ✓
(2)
7.1.3
Violet ✓
(1)
7.2.1
i = 90◦−40◦✓
i = 50◦✓
The angle of incidence is measured between the incident ray and the NORMAL. If 40°
is given: 0/2.
(2)
7.2.2
50◦✓
(CA from 7.2.1)
(1)
7.2.3
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. ✓
Also accept: the incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal lie in the same plane,
together with i = r.
(1)
7.3.1
Refraction ✓
(1)
7.3.2
Towards the normal ✓
Light slows down when it enters the glass / glass is optically denser than air.
✓
(2)
7.4.1
Black ✓
(1)
7.4.2
The red shirt reflects only red light and absorbs all other colours (including
blue). ✓
The blue light is absorbed and there is no red light to reflect, so no light reaches
the eye from the shirt. ✓
(2)
7.5
The wooden door ✓
(it is opaque)
(1)
[15]
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### Page 8

Natural Sciences
8
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 8
8.1.1
It gives off (emits) its own light and heat / it is luminous / it produces energy by
nuclear fusion. ✓
(1)
8.1.2
Nuclear fusion ✓
Helium ✓
Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium.
(2)
8.1.3
D: Mars ✓
E: Jupiter ✓
(2)
8.1.4
Pluto ✓
(1)
8.1.5
ANY ONE, named ✓and explained ✓, e.g.:
Liquid water – all living organisms need water for their life processes.
Suitable temperature (the right distance from the Sun) – not too hot or too cold,
so water stays liquid.
An atmosphere with oxygen (and carbon dioxide) – needed for respiration (and
photosynthesis).
The ozone layer / magnetic field – protects organisms against harmful radiation
from the Sun.
(2)
8.1.6
ANY OTHER ONE of the conditions in 8.1.5 (name only), different from the
one given in 8.1.5 ✓
(1)
8.2.1
Mercury ✓
(1)
8.2.2
The further a planet is from the Sun ✓, the longer it takes to complete one orbit
(the longer its year). ✓
(2)
8.2.3
Gravity (gravitational force of the Sun) ✓
(1)
8.3
ASTEROID
COMET
Made of rock and metal
Made of ice, frozen gases, dust
and rock (“dirty snowball”)
Has no tail
Forms a tail (of gas and dust)
when it comes close to the Sun
Most are found in the asteroid
belt between Mars and Jupiter
Comes from the Kuiper belt or
the Oort cloud
Orbit is almost circular
Orbit is very long and stretched
(elliptical)
ANY THREE differences ✓✓✓
Both sides of a difference must be given for the mark. If the answer is not in a table,
maximum 2 marks.
(3)
[16]
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### Page 9

Natural Sciences
9
Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 9
9.1.1
Southern Cross (Crux) ✓
(1)
9.1.2
Alpha Centauri ✓
Accept: Rigil Kentaurus / the Alpha Centauri system that includes Proxima Centauri;
accept Proxima Centauri.
(1)
9.1.3
The distance ✓that light travels in one year ✓(about 9,5 million million km).
(2)
9.1.4
The distances are so huge that the numbers in kilometres would be far too
large to use. ✓
(1)
9.1.5
distance = speed × time = 300000×500 ✓
distance = 150000000 km (150 million km) ✓
(2)
9.2.1
Spiral (a flat disc with curved/spiral arms) ✓
(accept: barred spiral)
(1)
9.2.2
From Earth it looks like a hazy, milky band of light across the night sky. ✓
(1)
9.3.1
Radio telescope ✓
(1)
9.3.2
ANY TWO: dark skies far from city lights (little light pollution) / clear, dry air
with few cloudy nights / high altitude, so there is less air above the telescope /
little air pollution or dust ✓✓
(2)
9.3.3
ANY ONE: it can be used during the day and at night / it can be used when
it is cloudy or raining / it can detect objects that give off no visible light / radio
waves pass through dust clouds in space ✓
(1)
[13]
TOTAL SECTION B: 80
GRAND TOTAL: 100
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