Grade 12 English First Additional Language (FAL) Paper 1 – November 2024/2025

 

Introduction

The Grade 12 English First Additional Language (FAL) Paper 1 for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination in November 2024 is a pivotal component of learners’ final assessment. As prescribed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of South Africa, this paper concentrates on testing Language in Context, subdivided into three main sections: Comprehension, Summary, and Language. It carries a total of 80 marks and spans 2 hours, testing learners’ abilities in both understanding and using English in diverse contexts  

1. Overview of the Paper Structure

The examination is divided into three distinct sections, each evaluating a specific skillset:

1. Section A – Comprehension (30 marks)
2. Section B – Summary (10 marks)
3. Section C – Language (40 marks)

Learners must complete all sections, and there are clear expectations around structure and time allocation:

• Section A tests interpretation, inference, and contextual understanding.
• Section B assesses the ability to condense and rephrase information concisely.
• Section C examines command over spelling, grammar, editing, and contextual language usage  .

2. Section A: Comprehension (30 marks)

This section asks learners to read two texts—commonly referred to as Text A and Text B—and respond to a variety of questions. Questions typically target:

• Factual comprehension: Extracting explicit details (e.g., identifying correct interpretations of phrases such as “finally gave in,” which might suggest characteristics like stubbornness)  .
• Inference and interpretation: Understanding implied meaning, reading tone, and intent behind the author’s words.
• Vocabulary in context: Defining words as used in the text, often framed as single-word answers like “limitations”  .
• Critical thinking: Engaging with opinions and reasoning—e.g., identifying that AI should enhance systems rather than deceive them  .
• Visual literacy: In some cases, learners may analyse a cartoon (e.g., characters like Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and a character named Dennis) and interpret visual and textual cues  .

Each question grants specific marks—usually 1 or 2 per response—and markers accept various valid expressions, including dialectal alternatives  .

3. Section B: Summary (10 marks)

The Summary section tasks learners with condensing a longer text (or a combination of passages) into a brief, coherent summary. Key expectations include:

• Word count awareness: Exceeding the limit may lead markers to disregard text beyond the final allowable sentence  .
• Mark distribution:
  • 7 marks for capturing 7 main points—1 point per essential idea.
  • Up to 3 marks for language—clarity, grammar, coherence, and conciseness  .
• This section assesses both content selection (relevance and completeness) and linguistic precision.

4. Section C: Language (40 marks)

The longest section of the paper includes:

• Spelling and Editing: Correcting errors and ensuring meaning is unaffected by minor mistakes. One-word answers may still earn marks unless the meaning shifts  .
• Language and Editing Skills: Tasks often include:
  • Fixing punctuation (e.g., the correct use of exclamation marks).
  • Correcting grammar and syntax errors.
  • Refining vocabulary for clarity or appropriateness.
  • Rewriting sentences to improve structure or expression  .

DOWNLOAD ENGLISH FAL P1 HERE

• Visual-text integration: In sections like cartoon analysis, learners must interpret textual and visual elements to explain meaning or humour—e.g., assessing whether a cartoon is humorous or disrespectful depending on character interactions  .

Markers use guidelines allowing flexible, yet directed awarding of marks, with room for partial comprehension and varied valid answers  .

5. Marking Guidelines (Memorandum)

The DBE provides specific marking guidelines (or memorandum) to examiners, outlining:

• Strict adherence to marking rubrics: Each section has precise expectations (e.g., 30 marks for comprehension, 10 for summary, 40 for language)  .
• Acceptable variation: Dialect usage, synonymous phrasing, or partially correct answers are still acceptable under guided discretion  .
• Language marks: Even when learners paraphrase rather than quote exactly, they can still earn language marks  .
• Guidelines for summary length: Content exceeding the word limit may be truncated at the boundary  .

These guidelines ensure clarity, consistency, and fairness across exams nationally.

6. Time Management & Strategy

Given the 2-hour duration, time allocation is crucial:

• Section A (~45–50 minutes): Comprehension demands thorough understanding and careful responding. Aiming for ~1–2 minutes per mark ensures space for thoughtful answers.
• Section B (~15–20 minutes): Writing a concise, accurate summary takes careful selection of information and clear expression.
• Section C (~40–50 minutes): Complex tasks like editing, punctuation, and grammar require detailed attention; breaking it into subsections helps manage time effectively.

Balanced time distribution helps complete all sections without rushing.

7. Examination Context & Syllabus Alignment

Paper 1 is firmly grounded in the CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) framework for Grade 12 English FAL, emphasizing:

• Language in context: Understanding, interpreting, summarizing texts.
• Literacy skills: Reading comprehension, summarizing, editing, and grammar.
• Visual literacy: Interpretation through cartoons or other visual texts.

Moreover, Paper 1 is the language component of the final exam, with subsequent papers focusing on Literature (Paper 2) and Writing (Paper 3). Paper 1’s performance carries 60% weighting within the final examination component for the subject, supplemented by School-Based Assessment (SBA)  .

8. Key Tips for Learners

1. Practice past papers and memoranda: Familiarity with question types and marking logic builds confidence.
2. Master timing strategies: Allocate minutes per question and stick to your plan.
3. Be concise in summaries: Cover 7 points clearly without unnecessary detail.
4. Focus on precision in Section C: Small grammar or punctuation slips can cost marks.
5. Express answers in your own words: As long as meaning is preserved and accurate, paraphrasing earns language marks.
6. Read questions carefully: Keywords like “explain,” “infer,” and “define” signal different approaches.
7. Review guidelines on exceeding word limits: Be sure to stay within bounds to avoid losing parts of your answer.

9. Summary Breakdown

Let’s quickly recap the sections and marks distribution:

Conclusion

The Grade 12 English FAL Paper 1 (November 2024) is a well-balanced assessment that evaluates comprehension, summarizing, and language accuracy. By understanding the structure, practicing with past papers, and managing time wisely, learners can approach the exam with preparedness and confidence. The DBE’s marking guidelines support fair and consistent evaluation, recognizing valid responses in varied forms as long as clarity and accuracy are maintained.