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Grade 12 · CAPS · NSC 2026
Grade 12 Life Sciences (CAPS) – topics, exam weighting and study time
The 14 matric Life Sciences topics in the portal, grouped by NSC exam paper, with the typical mark weighting, the study sections in each topic, the number of exam-style questions and how long each topic takes to study.
Topics 14
Study sections 60
Exam-style questions 125
Total study time ≈ 57 h 25 min
Open a topic for what it covers, how it is examined and a daily study target. See the matric exam timetable 2026 . In Grade 10 or 11? See the Grade 10 and Grade 11 Life Sciences topics.
Life Sciences · Paper 1
Paper 1 topics
Fri 13 Nov 2026 · 09:00 2½ hours · 150 marks 8 topics · ≈ 29 h 00 min
Topic and exam weighting Sections Exam questions Study time
Reproduction in vertebrates ≈ 8/150 in Paper 1 (5%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 3 Exam questions 8 (58 marks) Study time ≈ 2 h 30 min notes 1 h 10 · exam questions 1 h 10
Show the 3 sections Fertilisation and where the embryo develops 25 min The amniotic egg 20 min Precocial and altricial development; parental care 25 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 10 min · 8 exam-style questions (58 marks) at exam pace 1 h 10 min · quiz 10 min
Reproduction in Vertebrates: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Human reproduction ≈ 41/150 in Paper 1 (27%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 5 Exam questions 10 (95 marks) Study time ≈ 5 h 00 min notes 2 h 55 · exam questions 1 h 55
Show the 5 sections The male and female reproductive systems; puberty 35 min Gametogenesis and the structure of the gametes 35 min The menstrual cycle and its hormones 45 min Fertilisation, implantation and early development 30 min The placenta, the membranes and the foetus 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 55 min · 10 exam-style questions (95 marks) at exam pace 1 h 55 min · quiz 10 min
Human Reproduction: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Responding to the environment (humans: nervous system, eye, ear) ≈ 54/150 in Paper 1 (36%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (87 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 55 min notes 2 h 00 · exam questions 1 h 45
Show the 4 sections Organisation of the nervous system: CNS, PNS and ANS 25 min The brain and spinal cord; Alzheimer's disease 35 min Neurons and synapses; multiple sclerosis 30 min The reflex arc and reflex action 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 00 min · 9 exam-style questions (87 marks) at exam pace 1 h 45 min · quiz 10 min
Responding to the Environment: the Nervous System: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Part of Responding to the environment (humans) ≈ 54/150 in Paper 1 (36%, shared with the nervous system and the ear) Sections 4 Exam questions 8 (80 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 45 min notes 2 h 00 · exam questions 1 h 35
Show the 4 sections Structure of the eye and the functions of its parts 40 min Accommodation and binocular vision 30 min The pupillary mechanism 20 min Visual defects: short- and long-sightedness, astigmatism and cataracts 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 00 min · 8 exam-style questions (80 marks) at exam pace 1 h 35 min · quiz 10 min
Responding to the Environment: the Human Eye: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Part of Responding to the environment (humans) ≈ 54/150 in Paper 1 (36%, shared with the nervous system and the eye) Sections 4 Exam questions 8 (77 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 25 min notes 1 h 45 · exam questions 1 h 30
Show the 4 sections Structure of the ear and the functions of its parts 35 min Hearing 25 min Balance: the role of the maculae and cristae 25 min Hearing problems: middle-ear infection and deafness 20 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 45 min · 8 exam-style questions (77 marks) at exam pace 1 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
Responding to the Environment: the Human Ear: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Endocrine system and homeostasis ≈ 34/150 in Paper 1 (23%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 3 Exam questions 8 (61 marks) Study time ≈ 2 h 55 min notes 1 h 30 · exam questions 1 h 15
Show the 3 sections Endocrine glands and their hormones 40 min Endocrine vs nervous system; adrenalin 25 min Negative feedback: thyroxin, TSH and goitre 25 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 30 min · 8 exam-style questions (61 marks) at exam pace 1 h 15 min · quiz 10 min
The Human Endocrine System: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Endocrine system and homeostasis ≈ 34/150 in Paper 1 (23%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (85 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 55 min notes 2 h 05 · exam questions 1 h 40
Show the 4 sections Homeostasis, negative feedback and blood glucose; diabetes mellitus 40 min Water and salt balance: ADH and aldosterone 35 min Regulation of the carbon dioxide level 20 min Thermoregulation 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 05 min · 9 exam-style questions (85 marks) at exam pace 1 h 40 min · quiz 10 min
Homeostasis in Humans: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Responding to the environment (plants) ≈ 13/150 in Paper 1 (9%, DBE Examination Guidelines 2021) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (82 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 35 min notes 1 h 45 · exam questions 1 h 40
Show the 4 sections Plant hormones: auxins, gibberellins and abscisic acid 25 min Phototropism and geotropism: the role of auxins 30 min Investigating tropisms 35 min Plant defence mechanisms 15 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 45 min · 9 exam-style questions (82 marks) at exam pace 1 h 40 min · quiz 10 min
Responding to the Environment: Plants: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Paper 1 total 8 topics · 31 sections · 69 questions · ≈ 29 h 00 min
Life Sciences · Paper 2
Paper 2 topics
Mon 16 Nov 2026 · 09:00 2½ hours · 150 marks 6 topics · ≈ 28 h 25 min
Topic and exam weighting Sections Exam questions Study time
DNA: the code of life ≈ 27/150 marks in Paper 2 (18%) Sections 5 Exam questions 9 (113 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 40 min notes 2 h 15 · exam questions 2 h 15
Show the 5 sections Nucleic acids, the structure and location of DNA 30 min DNA replication 25 min DNA profiling and its uses 25 min RNA and transcription 25 min Translation and using codon tables 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 15 min · 9 exam-style questions (113 marks) at exam pace 2 h 15 min · quiz 10 min
DNA: The Code of Life: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Meiosis ≈ 21/150 marks in Paper 2 (14%) Sections 5 Exam questions 9 (108 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 40 min notes 2 h 20 · exam questions 2 h 10
Show the 5 sections Chromosomes, haploid and diploid cells, and where meiosis happens 25 min Interphase and meiosis I 35 min Meiosis II 25 min Crossing over, random arrangement and the importance of meiosis 25 min Abnormal meiosis (non-disjunction, Down syndrome) and mitosis vs meiosis 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 20 min · 9 exam-style questions (108 marks) at exam pace 2 h 10 min · quiz 10 min
Meiosis: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Genetics and inheritance ≈ 48/150 marks in Paper 2 (32%), shared with Genetics 2 (dihybrid crosses, pedigrees, mutations, biotechnology) Sections 5 Exam questions 9 (100 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 35 min notes 2 h 25 · exam questions 2 h 00
Show the 5 sections Concepts in inheritance 25 min Monohybrid crosses (complete dominance) 35 min Incomplete dominance and co-dominance 25 min Multiple alleles: the ABO blood groups 25 min Sex determination and sex-linked inheritance 35 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 25 min · 9 exam-style questions (100 marks) at exam pace 2 h 00 min · quiz 10 min
Genetics and Inheritance 1: Monohybrid Crosses, Blood Groups and Sex-linked Inheritance: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Genetics and inheritance ≈ 48/150 marks in Paper 2 (32%), shared with Genetics 1 (monohybrid crosses, blood groups, sex-linked inheritance) Sections 5 Exam questions 10 (111 marks) Study time ≈ 5 h 00 min notes 2 h 35 · exam questions 2 h 15
Show the 5 sections Dihybrid crosses 40 min Pedigree diagrams (genetic lineages) 30 min Mutations 30 min Genetic engineering, stem cells and cloning 35 min Paternity testing and genetic links (mitochondrial DNA) 20 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 35 min · 10 exam-style questions (111 marks) at exam pace 2 h 15 min · quiz 10 min
Genetics and Inheritance 2: Dihybrid Crosses, Pedigrees, Mutations and Biotechnology: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Evolution ≈ 54/150 marks in Paper 2 (36%), shared with Human evolution Sections 5 Exam questions 10 (127 marks) Study time ≈ 5 h 10 min notes 2 h 30 · exam questions 2 h 30
Show the 5 sections Evolution as a theory, and the evidence for evolution 30 min Variation – the raw material for evolution 25 min Lamarck, Darwin and punctuated equilibrium 35 min Artificial selection, speciation and reproductive isolation 35 min Evolution in present times: resistance 25 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 30 min · 10 exam-style questions (127 marks) at exam pace 2 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
Evolution by Natural Selection: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Evolution ≈ 54/150 marks in Paper 2 (36%), shared with Evolution by natural selection Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (107 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 20 min notes 2 h 00 · exam questions 2 h 10
Show the 4 sections Humans as primates: phylogeny and shared characteristics 25 min Humans compared with African apes: skull, teeth and bipedalism 35 min Fossil evidence: Ardipithecus, Australopithecus and Homo 35 min Out of Africa: fossils, mitochondrial DNA and tools 25 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 00 min · 9 exam-style questions (107 marks) at exam pace 2 h 10 min · quiz 10 min
Human Evolution: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Paper 2 total 6 topics · 29 sections · 56 questions · ≈ 28 h 25 min
How the study time is estimated
Notes and worked examples: the estimate for each section, listed when you open a topic.Exam-style questions: every question in the topic's practice bank at 1,2 minutes per mark. The Life Sciences papers allow 1 minute per mark (150 marks in 2½ hours) – the extra time is for checking your answers against the memo.Quiz: 10 minutes per topic.
It is a guide for planning. Your tutor will help you adjust it to what you already know. Notes, examples, questions and memos open in the portal once the tutor approves your account.
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