# Social Sciences Grade 9 Paper 1 November Mock 2026 Question Paper

> Grade 9 Social Sciences Paper 1 question paper from the November Mock Exam 2026, 10 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, memo linked when available.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-9-social-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-question-paper-paper-1-geography/eb11484d-a41b-4f61-af98-953cffb38c44
- Updated: 2026-10-26
- Subject: Social Sciences
- Grade: Grade 9
- Document type: Question paper
- Year: 2026
- Exam period: November Mock Exam
- Paper: 1
- Publisher: Hlayiso
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 10

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Social Sciences · Grade 9 · November Mock Exam · 2026. Question paper, 10 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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### Page 1

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Mock
hlayiso mock exams
Practice Series:
Grade 9 Exam Preparation
WWW.HLAYISO.COM
SENIOR PHASE
END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION
GRADE 9
SOCIAL SCIENCES P1
GEOGRAPHY
NOVEMBER 2026 (MOCK)
MARKS: 75
TIME: 2 hours
This question paper consists of 10 pages.

### Page 2

Social Sciences/P1
2
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1.
This question paper consists of TWO sections:
SECTION A: SURFACE FORCES THAT SHAPE THE EARTH
(35)
QUESTIONS 1, 2 and 3
SECTION B: RESOURCE USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
(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 sources, sketches, the map extract 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, e.g. (2 x 2) (4)
means TWO facts of 2 marks each.
7.
Answer in FULL SENTENCES, except when you are asked to state, name, identify or
list.
8.
Paragraph questions 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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### Page 3

Social Sciences/P1
3
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
SECTION A: SURFACE FORCES THAT SHAPE THE EARTH
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
The breaking down of rocks in the place where they are found
(in situ) is called …
A
erosion.
B
deposition.
C
weathering.
D
transportation.
(1)
1.1.2
Sand grains that bounce along the bed of a river are transported
by …
A
suspension.
B
saltation.
C
solution.
D
traction.
(1)
1.1.3
Crescent-shaped sand dunes that form in deserts where the
wind blows mainly from one direction are called …
A
barchan dunes.
B
spits.
C
levees.
D
sand bars.
(1)
1.1.4
The movement of sand along a beach by waves that reach the
coast at an angle is called …
A
backwash.
B
longshore drift.
C
deflation.
D
attrition.
(1)
1.1.5
Which farming practice will cause the MOST soil erosion on a
steep slope?
A
Planting rows of trees as windbreaks
B
Building terraces
C
Ploughing up and down the slope
D
Ploughing along the contours
(1)
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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### Page 4

Social Sciences/P1
4
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
1.2.1
Stones carried by a river scrape
and wear away the river bed. This
is called …
Y
Z
abrasion
attrition
1.2.2
Rocks carried by a river knock
against each other and become
smaller and rounder. This is called
…
Y
Z
hydraulic action
attrition
1.2.3
Iron
minerals
in
a
rock
react
with oxygen and the rock turns
red-brown. This is called …
Y
Z
oxidation
carbonation
1.2.4
A pillar of rock that is cut off from a
cliff by wave erosion is a/an …
Y
Z
arch
stack
1.2.5
Raised banks of sand and mud
that build up along the sides of a
river during floods are …
Y
Z
deltas
levees
(5 x 1) (5)
[10]
QUESTION 2
Study the sketches of THREE types of weathering (A, B and C) below.
hot days
cold nights
A
root grows
in a crack
B
1. Day:
water fills
crack
2. Night:
below 0 °C
C
[Examiner’s own sketches]
2.1
Refer to sketches A and B.
2.1.1
Name the type of physical weathering shown in sketch A.
(1)
2.1.2
Is the weathering in sketch B an example of chemical or
biological weathering?
(1)
2.2
Refer to sketch C. Explain how the rock is broken apart.
(2)
2.3
Define the term chemical weathering.
(2)
2.4
Explain why chemical weathering takes place faster in hot, wet areas
than in hot, dry deserts.
(2)
[8]
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### Page 5

Social Sciences/P1
5
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
QUESTION 3
3.1
The sketch below shows a river from its source to its mouth. Study the
sketch and answer the questions that follow.
SEA
A
A: side view
B
C
UPPER COURSE
MIDDLE COURSE
LOWER COURSE
source
mouth
[Examiner’s own sketch (not to scale)]
3.1.1
Identify the river features labelled A, B and C.
(3 x 1)
(3)
3.1.2
Name the type of erosion (downward or sideways) that is most
active in the upper course of the river.
(1)
3.1.3
Explain why a lot of deposition takes place in the lower course
of the river.
(2)
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### Page 6

Social Sciences/P1
6
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
3.2
The map extract below is drawn at a scale of 1 : 50 000. Study it and
answer the questions that follow.
1260
1240
1220
1220
1240
1253
R
S
P
1211
1207
1226
N
River
Main road
Contour (interval 20 m)
Cultivated land
Perennial water
Spot height
Trig. station
Farmstead
Bridge
Scale 1 : 50 000
0
1
2
3
km
[Examiner’s own map extract (fictional area). Trigonometrical station R height: 1 253 m.]
3.2.1
Name the channel pattern of the river on the map extract.
(1)
3.2.2
In which general direction does the river flow?
(1)
3.2.3
Give ONE piece of evidence from the contour lines to support
your answer to QUESTION 3.2.2.
(2)
3.2.4
The straight-line distance on the map from the bridge at P to
the trigonometrical station at R is 5,4 cm. Calculate the actual
distance in kilometres. Show ALL your calculations.
(3)
3.2.5
Feature S is an oxbow lake. Explain how an oxbow lake forms
from a meander.
(2 x 2)
(4)
[17]
TOTAL SECTION A: 35
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### Page 7

Social Sciences/P1
7
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
SECTION B: RESOURCE USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
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 (4.1.1–4.1.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 4.1.6 A.
4.1.1
Anything found in nature that people use to meet their needs is
a/an …
A
natural resource.
B
human-made resource.
C
human resource.
D
service.
(1)
4.1.2
Which ONE of the following resources is non-renewable?
A
Wind
B
Coal
C
Fish
D
Forests
(1)
4.1.3
Using resources to meet our needs today without destroying
them for future generations is called …
A
depletion.
B
overexploitation.
C
pollution.
D
sustainable use.
(1)
4.1.4
Which action will REDUCE a household’s carbon footprint?
A
Burning wood in an open fire every evening
B
Leaving the TV and computer on standby overnight
C
Installing a solar water heater
D
Using a car for short trips to the shop
(1)
4.1.5
THREE of the elements (pillars) of food security are …
A
availability, access and use (utilisation) of food.
B
drought, floods and famine.
C
land, labour and capital.
D
farming, fishing and forestry.
(1)
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
Processing used paper, glass, cans and plastic to make new
products is called (recycling/reducing).
(1)
4.2.2
Materials that can be broken down naturally by bacteria are
(biodegradable/non-biodegradable).
(1)
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### Page 8

Social Sciences/P1
8
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
4.2.3
When a resource is used faster than it can be replaced,
resource (conservation/depletion) takes place.
(1)
4.2.4
Breeding and raising fish in ponds, dams or sea cages is called
(trawling/aquaculture).
(1)
[9]
QUESTION 5
Read the extract and study the graph below on soil erosion.
LOSING THE SOIL OF NTABENI
Ntabeni is a rural village on the hilly slopes of the Eastern Cape. Twenty years ago
the hills were covered with thick grass and the maize fields produced enough food for
every family.
Since then the number of cattle and goats has doubled. The animals eat the grass
faster than it can grow back, and paths made by the animals have turned into deep
dongas. Many families plough their fields straight up and down the slopes, and trees
are cut down for firewood. After heavy summer storms, the rivers turn brown with
mud and the village dam is filling up with silt.
Farmers say that the maize harvest is now less than half of what it used to be, and
many families have to buy maize meal that they cannot always afford.
[Source: Examiner’s own case study (fictional village)]
SOIL LOST FROM FOUR TEST PLOTS NEAR NTABENI
0
10
20
30
40
50
Soil lost (tonnes per hectare per year)
2
Natural
grassland
9
Maize ploughed
along contours
31
Overgrazed
veld
45
Maize ploughed
up and down slope
[Fictional data, compiled by the examiner]
5.1
Define the term soil erosion.
(2)
5.2
Which land use in the graph lost the MOST soil?
(1)
5.3
Calculate how many times more soil was lost from the field ploughed
up and down the slope than from the field ploughed along the contours.
Show your calculation.
(2)
5.4
Identify TWO human activities in the extract that cause soil erosion at
Ntabeni.
(2 x 1)
(2)
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### Page 9

Social Sciences/P1
9
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
5.5
State TWO ways in which soil erosion is affecting food security at
Ntabeni.
(2 x 1)
(2)
5.6
Explain TWO soil conservation methods that the farmers of Ntabeni
could use to reduce soil erosion.
(2 x 2)
(4)
[13]
QUESTION 6
Read the extract and study the graph below on fishing at Sandiso Bay.
EMPTY NETS AT SANDISO BAY
For generations, the families of Sandiso Bay have caught linefish from small boats to
feed their families and to sell at the local market. As tourism grew, restaurants and
shops wanted more and more fish. More boats came to the bay, some fishers began
to use nets with very small holes, and young fish were caught before they could
breed. Some boats also fished at night, ignoring the daily catch limits.
By 2018 many fishers were coming home with almost empty boxes. In that year, part
of the bay was declared a marine protected area (MPA) where no fishing is allowed.
Fishing is still allowed in the rest of the bay.
[Source: Examiner’s own case study (fictional bay)]
AVERAGE LINEFISH CATCH PER BOAT PER DAY, SANDISO BAY
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Catch (kg)
Year
60
55
46
35
24
15
11
13
18
2018: MPA
declared
[Fictional data, compiled by the examiner]
6.1
Define the term overfishing.
(2)
6.2
Describe the trend in the catch from 1990 to 2018. Use figures from the
graph in your answer.
(2)
6.3
Name TWO causes of overfishing at Sandiso Bay mentioned in the
extract.
(2 x 1)
(2)
6.4
Suggest a reason why the catch per boat increased after 2018.
(2)
6.5
Consumer seafood guides place fish species on a green, orange or red
list. Explain how such a guide helps to make fishing more sustainable.
(2)
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### Page 10

Social Sciences/P1
10
Senior Phase Mock
Hlayiso/Mock 2026
6.6
Write a paragraph of approximately EIGHT lines in which you discuss
the effects of overfishing on the marine ecosystem AND on the people
of coastal communities such as Sandiso Bay.
(4 x 2)
(8)
[18]
TOTAL SECTION B: 40
TOTAL:
75
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