PHYSICAL SCIENCES
EXAMINATION GUIDELINES
GRADE 12
2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS | Page |
1. INTRODUCTION | 3 |
2. ASSESSMENT IN GRADE 12 4 2.1 Format of question papers 4 2.2 Numbering and sequence of questions 4 2.3 Information sheets 4 2.4 Weighting of cognitive levels5 2.5 Weighting of prescribed content 2.6 Skills in Physical Sciences 2.7 Prior knowledge from Grades 10 and 11 | 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 |
3. ELABORATION OF THE CONTENT 3.1 Paper 1: Physics 3.2 Paper 2: Chemistry | 7 7 15 |
4. GENERAL INFORMATION 4.1 Quantities, symbols and units 4.2 Information sheets – Paper 1 (Physics) 4.3 Information sheets – Paper 2 (Chemistry) | 25 25 27 29 |
5. MARKING GUIDELINES: PAPER 1 | 33 |
6. MARKING GUIDELINES: PAPER 2 | 34 |
7. CONCLUSION | 36 |
Paper | Type of questions | Duration | Total | Date | Marking |
1 | Physics 10 multiple-choice questions – 20 marks Structured questions – 130 marks | 3 hours | 150 | October/November | External |
2 | Chemistry 10 multiple-choice questions – 20 marks Structured questions – 130 marks | 3 hours | 150 | October/November | External |
Cognitive level | Description | Paper 1 (Physics) | Paper 2 (Chemistry) |
1 | Remembering (Recall) | 15% | 15% |
2 | Understanding (Comprehension) | 35% | 40% |
3 | Applying and analysing | 40% | 35% |
4 | Evaluating and creating (synthesis) | 10% | 10% |
Focus Content | Marks | Total | Duration | Weighting of cognitive levels | |||
Paper 1: Physics | |||||||
Mechanics | 65 | 150 marks | 3 hours | 15 | 35 | 40 | 10 |
Waves, sound and light | 15 | ||||||
Electricity and magnetism | 55 | ||||||
Matter and materials | 15 | ||||||
Paper 2: Chemistry Focus | |||||||
Chemical change | 92 | 150 marks | 3 hours | 15 | 40 | 35 | 10 |
Matter and materials | 58 |
Newton's Laws and Application of Newton's Laws (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 62–66.) |
Momentum and Impulse (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 99–101.) |
Vertical Projectile Motion in One Dimension (1D) (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 102–103.) |
Work, Energy and Power (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 117–120.) |
Doppler Effect (relative motion between source and observer) (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 121–122.) |
Electrostatics (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 84–85.) |
Electric Circuits (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 88–89 & 121.) |
Electrodynamics (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 130–131.) |
Optical Phenomena and Properties of Materials (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 132–133.) |
Representing Chemical Change (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 37.) |
Quantitative Aspects of Chemical Change (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 82.) |
Intermolecular Forces (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 71–73.) |
Organic Molecules (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 104–116.) |
Homologous series | Structure of functional group | |
Structure | Name/Description | |
Alkanes | Only C-H and C-C single bonds | |
Alkenes | Carbon-carbon double bond | |
Alkynes | Carbon-carbon triple bond | |
Haloalkanes | Halogen atom bonded to a C atom in an alkane | |
Alcohols | Hydroxyl group bonded to a saturated C atom | |
Aldehydes | Formyl group | |
Ketones | Carbonyl group bonded to two C atoms | |
Carboxylic acids | Carboxyl group | |
Esters | - |
Energy and Change (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 90–91.) |
Rate and Extent of Reaction (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 123–124.) |
Chemical Equilibrium (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 125–126.) |
Acids and Bases (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 127–128.) |
Electrochemical Reactions (This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 134–137.) |
Quantity | Preferred symbol | Alternative symbol | Unit name | Unit symbol |
mass | m | kilogram | kg | |
position | x,y | metre | m | |
displacement | Δx, Δy | s | metre | m |
velocity | vx, vy | u,v | metre per second | m·s-1 |
initial velocity | vi | u | metre per second | m·s-1 |
final velocity | vf | v | metre per second | m·s-1 |
acceleration | a | metre per second per second | m·s-2 | |
acceleration due to gravity | g | metre per second per second | m·s-2 | |
time (instant) | t | second | s | |
time interval | Δt | second | s | |
energy | E | joule | J | |
kinetic energy | K | Ek | joule | J |
potential energy | U | Ep | joule | J |
work | W | joule | J | |
work function | W0 | joule | J | |
power | P | watt | W | |
momentum | p | kilogram metre per second | kg·m·s-1 | |
force | F | newton | N | |
weight | w | Fg | newton | N |
normal force | N | FN | newton | N |
tension | T | FT | newton | N |
friction force | f | Ff | newton | N |
coefficient of friction | μ,μs,μk | (none) | ||
torque | τ | newton metre | N.m | |
wavelength | λ | metre | m | |
frequency | f | v | hertz per second | Hz or s-1 |
period | T | second | s | |
speed of light | c | metre per second | m·s-1 | |
refractive index | n | (none) | ||
focal length | f | metre | m | |
object distance | s | u | metre | m |
image distance | s' | v | metre | m |
magnification | m | (none) | ||
charge | Q,q | coulomb | C | |
electric field | E | newton per coulomb or volt per metre | N·C-1 or V·m-1 | |
electric potential at point P | VP | volt | V | |
potential difference | ΔV, V | volt | V | |
emf | E | ε | volt | V |
current | I, i | ampere | A | |
resistance | R | ohm | Ω | |
internal resistance | r | ohm | Ω | |
magnetic field | B | tesla | T | |
magnetic flux | Φ | tesla.metre2 or weber | T·m2 or Wb |
NAME | SYMBOL | VALUE |
Acceleration due to gravity | g | 9,8 m·s-2 |
Universal gravitational constant | G | 6,67 x 10-11 N·m2·kg-2 |
Speed of light in a vacuum | c | 3,0 x 108 m·s-1 |
Planck's constant | h | 6,63 x 10-34 J·s |
Coulomb's constant | k | 9,0 x 109 N·m2·C-2 |
Charge on electron | e | -1,6 x 10-19 C |
Electron mass | me | 9,11 x 10-31 kg |
Mass of the Earth | M | 5,98 x 1024 kg |
Radius of the Earth | RE | 6,38 x 106 m |
NAME | SYMBOL | VALUE |
Standard pressure | pθ | 1,013 x 105 Pa |
Molar gas volume at STP | Vm | 22,4 dm3∙mol-1 |
Standard temperature | Tθ | 273 K |
Charge on electron | e | -1,6 x 10-19 C |
Avogadro's constant | NA | 6,02 x 1023 mol-1 |
MARKING GUIDELINES: PAPER 1
5.1 Calculations
5.1.1 Marks will be awarded for: correct formula, correct substitution, correct answer with unit.
5.1.2 No marks will be awarded if an incorrect or inappropriate formula is used, even though there may be relevant symbols and applicable substitutions.
5.1.3 When an error is made during substitution into a correct formula, a mark will be awarded for the correct formula and for the correct substitutions, but no further marks will be given.
5.1.4 If no formula is given, but all substitutions are correct, the candidate will forfeit one mark.
5.1.5 No penalisation if zero substitutions are omitted in calculations where correct formula/principle is given correctly.
5.1.6 Mathematical manipulations and change of subject of appropriate formulae carry no marks, but if a candidate starts off with the correct formula and then changes the subject of the formula incorrectly, marks will be awarded for the formula and the correct substitutions. The mark for the incorrect numerical answer is forfeited.
5.1.7 Marks are only awarded for a formula if a calculation has been attempted, i.e. substitutions have been made or a numerical answer given.
5.1.8 Marks can only be allocated for substitutions when values are substituted into formulae and not when listed before a calculation starts.
5.1.9 All calculations, when not specified in the question, must be rounded off to a minimum of TWO decimal places.
5.1.10 If a final answer to a calculation is correct, full marks will not automatically be awarded. Markers will always ensure that the correct/appropriate formula is used and that workings, including substitutions, are correct.
5.1.11 Questions where a series of calculations do not necessarily always have to follow the same order (as in circuit calculations) full marks will be awarded provided that it is a valid solution to the problem.
5.1.12 Any calculation that will not bring the candidate closer to the answer than the original solution, will not count any marks.
5.2 Units
5.2.1 Candidates will only be penalised once for the repeated use of an incorrect unit within a question.
5.2.2 Units are only required in the final answer to a calculation.
5.2.3 Marks are only awarded for an answer, and not for a unit per se. Candidates will therefore forfeit the mark allocated for the answer in each of the following situations:
5.2.4 SI units must be used, except in certain cases, e.g. V∙m-1 instead of N∙C-1, and cm∙s-1 or km∙h-1 instead of m∙s-1 where the question warrants this.
5.3 General
5.3.1 If one answer or calculation is required, but two are given by the candidate, only the first one will be marked, irrespective of which one is correct. If two answers are required, only the first two will be marked, etc.
5.3.2 For marking purposes, alternative symbols (s, u, t, etc.) will also be accepted.
5.3.3 Separate compound units with a multiplication dot, not a full stop, e.g. m·s-1. For marking purposes, m.s-1 and m/s will also be accepted.
5.4 Positive marking
Positive marking regarding calculations will be followed in the following cases:
5.4.1 Subquestion to subquestion: When a certain variable is incorrectly calculated in one
subquestion (e.g. 3.1) and needs to be substituted into another subquestion (3.2 or 3.3),
full marks are to be awarded for the subsequent subquestions.
5.4.2 A multistep question in a subquestion: If the candidate has to calculate, for example,
current in the first step and gets it wrong due to a substitution error, the mark for the
substitution and the final answer will be forfeited.
5.5 Negative marking
Normally an incorrect answer cannot be correctly motivated if based on a conceptual mistake. If
the candidate is therefore required to motivate in QUESTION 3.2 the answer given to
QUESTION 3.1, and QUESTION 3.1 is incorrect, no marks can be awarded for QUESTION 3.2.
However, if the answer for, for example, QUESTION 3.1 is based on a calculation, the motivation
for the incorrect answer in QUESTION 3.2 should be considered.
MARKING GUIDELINES: PAPER 2
6.1 Calculations
6.1.1 Marks will be awarded for: correct formula, correct substitution, correct answer with unit.
6.1.2 No marks will be awarded if an incorrect or inappropriate formula is used, even though there may be relevant symbols and applicable substitutions.
6.1.3 When an error is made during substitution into a correct formula, a mark will be awarded for the correct formula and for the correct substitutions, but no further marks will be given.
6.1.4 If no formula is given, but all substitutions are correct, the candidate will forfeit one mark.
Example: No Kc expression, correct substitution:
Kc = (2)2 = 2 (2)
(2)(1) 3
6.1.5 Marks are only awarded for a formula if a calculation has been attempted, i.e. substitutions have been made or a numerical answer has been given.
6.1.6 Marks can only be allocated for substitutions when values are substituted into formulae and not when listed before a calculation starts.
6.1.7 The final answer to all calculations, when not specified in the question, must be rounded off to a minimum of TWO decimal places.
6.1.8 If a final answer to a calculation is correct, full marks will not automatically be awarded. Markers will always ensure that the correct/appropriate formula is used and that workings, including substitutions, are correct.
6.1.9 Mathematical manipulations and change of subject of appropriate formulae carry no marks, but if a candidate starts off with the correct formula and then changes the subject of the formula incorrectly, marks will be awarded for the formula and the correct substitutions. The mark for the incorrect numerical answer is forfeited.
Example:
CORRECT | ANSWER (1) | POSSIBLE | ANSWER (2) | POSSIBLE |
n= m 0,01 = m m = 0,52g (4) | n = m M 0,01 = 52 m = 5200g (2) | n = m M = 0,01 = 0,002 g (0) | n= m M m = M = 52 = 5200g (3) | n= m M = 0,52g (2) |
6.2 Units
6.2.1 Candidates will only be penalised once for the repeated use of an incorrect unit within a question.
6.2.2 Units are only required in the final answer to a calculation.
6.2.3 Marks are only awarded for an answer and not for a unit per se. Candidates will therefore forfeit the mark allocated for the answer in each of the following situations: