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SENIOR PHASE
END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION
GRADE 8
SOCIAL SCIENCES P1
GEOGRAPHY
NOVEMBER 2026 (MOCK)
MARKS: 75
TIME: 1½ hours
This question paper consists of 10 pages.
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Social Sciences Grade 8 P1 November Mock 2026 QP (Eng)
Grade 8 Social Sciences Paper 1 question paper from the November Mock Exam 2026 (English), 10 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Social Sciences · Grade 8 · November Mock Exam · 2026 · English. Question paper, 10 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Social Sciences
- Grade
- Grade 8
- Language
- English
- Document type
- Question paper
- Year
- 2026
- Exam period
- November Mock Exam
- Paper
- 1
- Publisher
- Hlayiso
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 10
- File size
- 160.8 KB
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November Mock Exam 2026
- Paper 1Question paperMemo
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Social Sciences/P1 2 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This question paper consists of TWO sections:
SECTION A: SETTLEMENT (35)
QUESTIONS 1, 2 and 3
SECTION B: TRANSPORT AND TRADE (40)
QUESTIONS 4, 5 and 6
2. Answer ALL the questions in the ANSWER BOOK.
3. Start EACH section on a NEW page.
4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this question
paper.
5. ALL sketches, maps, extracts and graphs are included in this question paper. Study
them carefully before you answer.
6. Use the mark allocation as a guide to the number of facts required. For example, (2 x
2) (4) means TWO facts of 2 marks each, while (2) for a one-fact question means ONE
well-explained fact.
7. Answer in FULL SENTENCES, except when you are asked to state, name, identify or
list.
8. The paragraph question must be answered in paragraph form (about EIGHT lines), not
as a list of points.
9. Show ALL calculations. Marks are given for the steps in a calculation. Write the units in
your final answer.
10. You may use a non-programmable calculator.
11. Write neatly and legibly.
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Social Sciences/P1 3 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
SECTION A: SETTLEMENT
QUESTION 1
1.1 Various options are given as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the correct answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the
question number (1.1.1–1.1.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.6 D.
1.1.1 A rural settlement in which the farmhouses are spread far apart
from one another is called a …
A nucleated settlement.
B dispersed settlement.
(1)
C linear settlement.
D urban settlement.
1.1.2 Which ONE of the following is a SECONDARY economic
activity?
A Catching fish at sea
B Mining coal
(1)
C Making furniture in a factory
D Working in a bank
1.1.3 The land-use zone in the centre of a town with the most shops,
offices and banks and the highest land values is the …
A rural–urban fringe.
B industrial zone.
(1)
C central business district (CBD).
D residential zone.
1.1.4 The area at the outer edge of a town where urban and rural land
uses are mixed is the …
A rural–urban fringe.
B CBD.
(1)
C informal settlement.
D suburb.
1.1.5 A photograph of a town taken from an aeroplane flying directly
above it, so that only the roofs of buildings can be seen, is a/an
…
A oblique aerial photograph.
B ground-level photograph.
(1)
C landscape sketch.
D vertical aerial photograph.
1.2 Complete the statements in COLUMN A with the options in COLUMN
B. Write only Y or Z next to the question numbers (1.2.1–1.2.5) in the
ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.2.6 Y.
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Social Sciences/P1 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1.2.1 People who travel every day Y migrants
between their homes and their Z commuters
places of work are called …
1.2.2 An increase in the percentage of Y urbanisation
a country’s people who live in Z rural depopulation
towns and cities is called …
1.2.3 Better jobs, schools and health Y push
care in a city are examples of … Z pull
factors.
1.2.4 The actual piece of land on which Y situation
a settlement is built is its … Z site
1.2.5 Homes built from scrap materials Y informal settlement
on land that the people do not Z suburb
own form a/an …
(5 x 1) (5)
[10]
QUESTION 2
The sketch below shows a cross-section through a valley in a farming area. Four
possible sites (A, B, C and D) for a new farming village are marked.
C steep, rocky
mountain top S N
midday sun
is in the north
B
road
A D
flood level
gentle slope
flood plain marsh (wetland)
river
[Examiner’s own sketch (not to scale)]
2.1 Define the term rural settlement. (2)
2.2 Name TWO types of rural settlement based on the main economic
activity of the people. (2 x 1) (2)
2.3 Which site (A, B, C or D) is the BEST site for the new farming village? (1)
2.4 Give TWO reasons for your answer to QUESTION 2.3. (2 x 1) (2)
2.5 Explain why site A is a poor site for the village, even though it is close to
the river. (2)
[9]
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Social Sciences/P1 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
QUESTION 3
3.1 The map below shows the land-use zones of Mthonjeni, a fictional town.
It is drawn at a scale of 1 : 20 000. Study the map and answer the
questions that follow.
C pool
E
A
Y
N
X
D
B
Railway line Main road Hospital Railway station Factory chimney
Scale 1 : 20 000
0 200 400 600 800 1 000 m
[Examiner’s own map (fictional town, simplified)]
3.1.1 Identify the land-use zones labelled A, B and C. (3 x 1) (3)
3.1.2 State TWO differences between residential zone C and
residential zone D that can be seen on the map. (2 x 1) (2)
3.1.3 Explain why zone B is located next to the railway line. (2)
3.1.4 The straight-line distance on the map from the railway station
at X to the hospital at Y is 6,5 cm. Calculate the actual distance
in kilometres. Show ALL your calculations. (3)
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Social Sciences/P1 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
3.2 Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
FROM THE VILLAGE TO THE TOWN
Thandi grew up in a small village 80 km from Mthonjeni. After three years of drought,
the family’s crops failed and there was no work in the village. The nearest clinic was
a two-hour walk away. Thandi’s cousin told her that the factories in Mthonjeni were
hiring workers and that the town had a hospital and a college.
Thandi now lives in zone E, where she built a shack from corrugated iron. Many new
arrivals have moved there in the past five years.
[Source: Examiner’s own case study (fictional people and places)]
3.2.1 From the extract, state ONE push factor and ONE pull factor
that made Thandi move to Mthonjeni. (2 x 1) (2)
3.2.2 Explain TWO problems that the fast growth of informal
settlement E may cause for the people living there. (2 x 2) (4)
[16]
TOTAL SECTION A: 35
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Social Sciences/P1 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
SECTION B: TRANSPORT AND TRADE
QUESTION 4
4.1 Various options are given as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the correct answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the
question number (4.1.1–4.1.4) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 4.1.5 A.
4.1.1 Goods that South Africa buys from other countries and brings
into the country are called …
A exports.
B imports.
(1)
C raw materials.
D services.
4.1.2 The cheapest way to move large amounts of petrol and gas
over long distances on land, without using vehicles, is by …
A road.
B air.
(1)
C pipeline.
D rail.
4.1.3 Which ONE of the following is a form of PRIVATE transport?
A A Metrorail train
B A family’s own car
(1)
C A bus rapid transit (BRT) bus
D A minibus taxi
4.1.4 The South African harbour that handles the MOST containers
is …
A Mossel Bay.
B Saldanha Bay.
(1)
C Durban.
D East London.
4.2 Choose the correct word from those given in brackets. Write only the
word next to the question number (4.2.1–4.2.4) in the ANSWER BOOK.
4.2.1 Fresh cut flowers that are sold to Europe are usually sent by
(air/sea). (1)
4.2.2 Goods are packed in large steel boxes of standard size, called
(pallets/containers), so that they can be moved easily from
ships to trains and trucks. (1)
4.2.3 Buying and selling goods between South Africa and China is
an example of (local/international) trade. (1)
4.2.4 When too many vehicles use a road at the same time and traffic
moves very slowly, it is called traffic (congestion/pollution). (1)
[8]
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Social Sciences/P1 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
QUESTION 5
Study the map of South Africa’s main transport network and the table below.
N
Polokwane
B
Johannesburg
P
Richards Bay
Bloemfontein
LESOTHO
SOUTH AFRICA A
Atlantic N1
Ocean
East London
N2
Indian Ocean
Cape Town Gqeberha
National road Main railway line Harbour International airport
[Examiner’s own sketch map (simplified, not to scale)]
COST AND TIME TO MOVE ONE CONTAINER FROM HARBOUR A TO
JOHANNESBURG
Mode of transport Time taken Cost per container
Road (truck) 1½ days R28 000
Rail (goods train) 3 days R19 000
[Fictional figures, compiled by the examiner]
5.1 Identify harbour A and international airport B. (2 x 1) (2)
5.2 Name the national road labelled P that links Johannesburg and Durban. (1)
5.3 In which general direction is Johannesburg from Cape Town? (1)
5.4 Name the BEST mode of transport for each of the following and give
ONE reason for each choice:
(a) 5 000 tonnes of coal from a mine in Mpumalanga to the harbour at
Richards Bay
(b) Boxes of fresh cut flowers from Johannesburg to the Netherlands
(2 x 2) (4)
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Social Sciences/P1 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
5.5 Refer to the table.
5.5.1 Calculate how much money a company will save if it sends 12
containers from harbour A to Johannesburg by rail instead of
by road. Show your calculation. (2)
5.5.2 Suggest why some companies still choose to send their goods
by road, even though it costs more. (2)
5.5.3 Explain TWO ways in which South Africa would benefit if more
goods were moved by rail instead of by road. (2 x 2) (4)
[16]
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Social Sciences/P1 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026
Senior Phase Mock
QUESTION 6
Read the extract and study the graph below on transport in Lwazi, a fictional city.
STUCK IN TRAFFIC IN LWAZI
Every working day about 250 000 people travel into the centre of Lwazi. Most of them
live in suburbs and townships more than 20 km from their workplaces. Many
commuters leave home before 05:30 to reach work on time, and some spend almost
a quarter of their wages on transport.
In the morning and evening rush hours the main roads are blocked by cars, taxis and
buses. Exhaust fumes hang over the city on windless days. The city council plans to
build bus lanes, a park-and-ride centre next to the highway and safe cycle lanes.
[Source: Examiner’s own case study (fictional city)]
HOW COMMUTERS TRAVEL TO WORK IN LWAZI (%)
41
Percentage of commuters
40
30
30
20
12
10 9 8
0
Minibus Private Bus Train Walk or
taxi car cycle
[Fictional data, compiled by the examiner]
6.1 Define the term public transport. (2)
6.2 Use the graph and the extract to calculate how many commuters travel
to work by train every day. Show your calculation. (2)
6.3 State TWO problems that commuters in Lwazi face, according to the
extract. (2 x 1) (2)
6.4 Explain how the planned park-and-ride centre will help to reduce traffic
in the city centre. (2)
6.5 Write a paragraph of approximately EIGHT lines in which you discuss the
negative effects of traffic congestion on people AND the environment,
and suggest ways in which the city can encourage more people to use
public transport. (4 x 2) (8)
[16]
TOTAL SECTION B: 40
TOTAL: 75
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