Natural Sciences Grade 9 Paper 1 November Mock 2026 Memo

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

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 factors), mark only the FIRST answers given, up to that number. 3. Calculations: award marks for the formula/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 (e.g. lava/larva). 6. Graphs and drawings: mark according to the criteria given in the memo. COGNITIVE LEVELS (approximate): Lower order (recall) 37 marks, middle order (understanding and routine application) 48 marks, higher order (analysis, explanation, evaluation, investigation skills) 15 marks. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 3 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 C ✓ magnetic force acts over a distance (1) 1.2 B ✓ weight is a force, measured in newtons (1) 1.3 B ✓ the conductor gives the charge a safe path to earth (1) 1.4 A ✓ resistance increases with length and decreases with thickness (1) 1.5 D ✓ 3×1,5 = 4,5 V (1) 1.6 B ✓ each bulb has its own path (1) 1.7 B ✓ 2 kW×0,5 h×R3,00 = R3,00 (1) 1.8 A ✓ (1) 1.9 D ✓ (1) 1.10 D ✓ blue stars are the hottest (1) [10] QUESTION 2 2.1 Friction / frictional force ✓ (1) 2.2 Resistor (accept: rheostat / variable resistor) ✓ (1) 2.3 Transformer ✓ (1) 2.4 Ore ✓ (1) 2.5 Supernova ✓ (1) [5] QUESTION 3 3.1 C ✓ (1) 3.2 F ✓ (1) 3.3 E ✓ (1) 3.4 G ✓ (1) 3.5 D ✓ (1) [5] TOTAL SECTION A: 20 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 4 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 SECTION B QUESTION 4 4.1.1 Non-contact force (field force) ✓ (1) 4.1.2 Contact force ✓ (tension) (1) 4.2.1 Electrons ✓ (1) 4.2.2 Electrons are transferred / rubbed off from the woollen cloth ✓onto the balloon. ✓ The balloon now has MORE electrons than protons, so it is negatively charged. Do NOT award marks if the learner says protons/positive charges moved. (2) 4.2.3 Repel ✓ Both balloons have the same (negative) charge and like charges repel. ✓ If “attract” is given, award 0 for the reason (negative marking). (2) 4.3.1 Mass is the amount of matter in an object (measured in kg) and stays the same everywhere. ✓ Weight is the gravitational force that a planet/the Earth exerts on an object (measured in N) and depends on where the object is. ✓ (2) 4.3.2 w = m×g = 52×9,8 ✓ w = 509,6 N ✓ Deduct 1 mark if the unit (N) is omitted. (2) 4.3.3 The same as ✓ (1) 4.4.1 Attract ✓ (1) 4.4.2 Criteria: field lines run from the N pole to the S pole and join the two magnets (attraction pattern) ✓; arrows point from N to S ✓ S N S N Lines may not cross or touch. Award 0 if a repulsion pattern is drawn. (2) [15] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 5 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 QUESTION 5 5.1.1 It is the electrolyte; ✓it allows charges (ions) to move between the electrodes/strips. (1) 5.1.2 Connect more lemon cells in SERIES (to increase the potential difference) ✓ Accept: use more lemons connected in series / make a battery of lemon cells. Do not accept “use a bigger lemon”. (1) 5.2.1 How does the length of the nichrome wire (independent variable) affect the current (dependent variable)? Both variables ✓; written as a question ✓ OR: What is the relationship between the length of a conductor and the current/resistance? (2) 5.2.2 Length of the (nichrome) wire ✓ (1) 5.2.3 ANY ONE: thickness of the wire / type of material (nichrome) / temperature / number of cells (voltage of the battery) ✓ (1) 5.2.4 Suitable heading, e.g. Graph of current against length of nichrome wire ✓ x-axis: length of nichrome wire (cm) and y-axis: current (A), with units ✓ All five points plotted correctly ✓ Smooth curve through the points (do not join to the origin) ✓ 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 Length of nichrome wire (cm) Current (A) Graph of current against length of nichrome wire If the axes are swapped, max 3/4. A bar graph earns max 2/4 (heading and axes only). (4) 5.2.5 As the length of the wire increases, the current decreases ✓ (because the resistance of the wire increases with length). ✓ Accept: The longer the conductor, the higher its resistance and the smaller the current. (2) [12] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 6 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 QUESTION 6 6.1.1 3 V ✓ (2×1,5 V) (1) 6.1.2 Vtotal = VX +VY 3 = 1,8+VY ✓ VY = 1,2 V ✓ CA from 6.1.1. (2) 6.1.3 0,3 A ✓ In a series circuit the current is the same at every point (there is only one path for the current). ✓ (2) 6.2.1 0,4 A ✓ (the total current divides equally between the two identical bulbs: 0,8÷2) (1) 6.2.2 3 V ✓ (components in parallel have the same potential difference as the battery) (1) 6.2.3 Bulb Q stays on / keeps glowing (with the same brightness). ✓ Q is on a separate (parallel) path that is still a complete circuit / still connected to the battery. ✓ If “Q goes out” is given, award 0 for the explanation. (2) 6.3 A S Criteria: battery of two cells and a closed switch in the main circuit ✓; two bulbs in parallel (two separate paths) ✓; ammeter in SERIES in the main (unbranched) part of the circuit ✓ Correct circuit symbols must be used; deduct 1 mark if a picture is drawn instead of symbols. An open switch earns 0 for the battery/switch tick. (3) [12] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 7 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 QUESTION 7 7.1.1 1: Turbine ✓ 2: Generator ✓ (2) 7.1.2 ANY ONE: burning coal releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) which adds to global warming / releases smoke, soot, sulfur dioxide that cause air pollution and acid rain / coal mining damages the land / coal is non-renewable ✓ (1) 7.1.3 Uranium ✓ (accept: uranium-235 / radioactive fuel) (1) 7.2.1 2200÷1000 = 2,2 kW ✓ (1) 7.2.2 15 min = 15 60 = 0,25 h ✓ Cost = 2,2×0,25×3,20 ✓ Cost = R1,76 ✓ CA from 7.2.1. If 15 h is used: R105,60 earns max 2/3. Accept 176 cents. (3) 7.2.3 Cost = 3×4×30×3,20 ✓ Cost = R1 152,00 ✓ OR: per day 3×4×3,20 = R38,40; ×30 = R1152,00. (2) 7.2.4 ANY ONE: install a solar water heater / use a geyser timer or switch the geyser off when it is not needed / lower the geyser thermostat temperature / insulate the geyser and hot-water pipes (geyser blanket) / take shorter showers ✓ (1) [11] QUESTION 8 8.1.1 B: Biosphere ✓ D: Lithosphere ✓ (2) 8.1.2 Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis ✓and release oxygen into the atmosphere. ✓ Accept: plants release water vapour into the air (transpiration) for 1 mark. (2) 8.1.3 Hydrosphere and lithosphere ✓ (both needed for the mark) (1) 8.2.1 X: Sedimentary rock ✓ Y: Metamorphic rock ✓ (2) 8.2.2 P: Cooling / solidification / crystallisation ✓ Q: Heat and pressure (metamorphism) ✓ (2) 8.2.3 ANY ONE: granite / basalt / pumice / obsidian / dolerite ✓ (1) 8.2.4 ANY TWO: temperature changes (heating and cooling) / water (rain, freezing of water in cracks) / wind / plants (roots) and animals / type (hardness) of the rock / chemicals such as acids in rainwater ✓✓ (2) [12] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Natural Sciences 8 Senior Phase – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Mock 2026 QUESTION 9 9.1 Open-cast (open-pit / surface / strip) mining ✓ (1) 9.2 Chemical ✓ (1) 9.3 The acidic water pollutes the streams / rivers / groundwater ✓and kills fish, plants and other organisms in the water / makes the water unsafe for people, animals and crops. ✓ Accept: acid mine drainage dissolves harmful metals that poison living things. (2) 9.4 ANY TWO: fill in the pit and replace the topsoil / plant vegetation (rehabilitate the land) / treat or neutralise the acidic water before it reaches the streams / cover or remove the waste dumps to stop dust / monitor the water quality after closure ✓✓ (2) [6] QUESTION 10 10.1 B: Stratosphere ✓ C: Mesosphere ✓ (2) 10.2 −56 °C✓ (accept −55 °Cto −60 °C) (1) 10.3 B ✓ It absorbs (filters out) harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, which causes skin cancer / damages living cells. ✓ (2) 10.4 Greenhouse gases absorb the heat (infrared radiation) given off by the Earth’s surface ✓and re-radiate (trap) some of it back to the Earth, so heat cannot escape into space. ✓ (2) 10.5 ANY ONE: melting of ice caps/glaciers and a rise in sea level / flooding of coastal areas / more droughts or extreme weather / loss of habitats and extinction of species / crop failure ✓ (1) [8] QUESTION 11 11.1 11.1.1: Main-sequence star (accept: star / yellow star) ✓ 11.1.2: White dwarf (accept: planetary nebula, then white dwarf / planetary nebula) ✓ Do not accept black hole or neutron star for a Sun-like star. (2) 11.2 Nuclear fusion ✓ Hydrogen nuclei join (fuse) to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy (heat and light). ✓ (2) [4] TOTAL SECTION B: 80 GRAND TOTAL: 100 Copyright reserved