Life Sciences
CAPS Grade 12 Life Sciences (Paper 1: Reproduction, Endocrine, Homeostasis; Paper 2: DNA, Genetics, Evolution)
Official DBE "Mind the Gap" Study Guides
Free downloadable Department of Basic Education self-study textbooks and literature guides.
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Life Sciences
DBE Mind the Gap Study Guide: Lewenswetenskappe
DBE Official CAPS Examination Guidelines (2021): Life Sciences
Official CAPS Examination Structure
Standard paper durations and mark allocations prescribed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
Paper 1
150 marks, 2.5 hours: Meiosis (11), Reproduction in Vertebrates (6), Human Reproduction (31), Nervous System (54), Endocrine & Homeostasis (34), Plant Hormones (14)
Paper 2
150 marks, 2.5 hours: DNA/RNA Code of Life (27), Meiosis (12), Genetics & Inheritance (45), Evolution (66)
Official Past Exam Papers & Marking Guidelines (72)
Filter by year or language and open any paper in our side-by-side split screen viewer.
2026 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2026 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2026 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2026 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2025 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 1 (NSC Nov Eng)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 2 (NSC Nov Eng)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2024 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2023 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Sept Trial)
2022 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Sept Trial)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2021 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2020 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2020 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2020 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2020 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2019 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Eng)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Eng)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 1 (Nov Afr)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 2 (Nov Afr)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Eng)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Eng)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 1 (May/June Afr)
2018 Life Sciences Paper 2 (May/June Afr)
Practice Quizzes for Life Sciences
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2026 Life Sciences P1 (2026 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2026 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Life Sciences P2 (2025 NSC October/November National Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Life Sciences P1 (2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Life Sciences P2 (2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Life Sciences P1 (2024 NSC October/November National Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Life Sciences P2 (2024 NSC October/November National Examination)
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Life Sciences P2 (2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 NSC May/June Supplementary Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Life Sciences P1 (2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2025 Life Sciences P2 (2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2025 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Life Sciences P1 (2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE))
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE) Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Life Sciences P2 (2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE))
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 Oct/Nov Final NSC (National DBE) Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Life Sciences P1 (2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2023 Life Sciences P2 (2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2023 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Life Sciences P1 (2022 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Life Sciences P1 (2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Life Sciences P2 (2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
8 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Life Sciences P1 (2021 NSC October/November National Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Life Sciences P2 (2021 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Life Sciences P1 (2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2021 Life Sciences P2 (2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2021 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2020 Life Sciences P1 (2020 NSC October/November National Examination)
9 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2020 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2020 Life Sciences P2 (2020 NSC October/November National Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2020 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Life Sciences P1 (2019 NSC October/November National Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Life Sciences P2 (2019 NSC October/November National Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Life Sciences P1 (2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
3 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2019 Life Sciences P2 (2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2019 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Life Sciences P1 (2018 NSC October/November National Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Life Sciences P2 (2018 NSC October/November National Examination)
7 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC October/November National Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Life Sciences P1 (2018 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
5 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 1, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2018 Life Sciences P2 (2018 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2018 NSC May/June Mid-Year Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2024 Life Sciences P2 (2024 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
6 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2024 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.
Q1 MCQ Drill: 2022 Life Sciences P2 (2022 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination)
4 multiple-choice questions taken verbatim from Section A of the official 2022 September Provincial Preparatory (Trial) Examination Life Sciences Paper 2, auto-marked against the official marking guideline. Questions that rely on diagrams or graphs are excluded - see the full paper for those.