Home Grade 12 Physical Sciences
Grade 12 · CAPS · NSC 2026
Grade 12 Physical Sciences (CAPS) – topics, exam weighting and study time
All 18 topics of matric Physical Sciences – Physics for Paper 1 and Chemistry for Paper 2 – 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 18
Study sections 78
Exam-style questions 180
Total study time ≈ 77 h 00 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 Physical Sciences topics.
Physical Sciences · Paper 1
Paper 1: Physics
Fri 30 Oct 2026 · 09:00 3 hours · 150 marks 9 topics · ≈ 39 h 20 min
Topic and exam weighting Sections Exam questions Study time
Mechanics ≈ 65/150 (Newton's laws typically ≈ 15–20 marks of this, plus a few MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 11 (136 marks) Study time ≈ 5 h 35 min notes 2 h 40 · exam questions 2 h 45
Show the 5 sections Forces, free-body diagrams and friction 35 min Newton's three laws of motion 25 min Inclined planes 35 min Connected objects, pulleys and lifts 40 min Newton's law of universal gravitation 25 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 40 min · 11 exam-style questions (136 marks) at exam pace 2 h 45 min · quiz 10 min
Newton's Laws and Applications: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Mechanics ≈ 65/150 (momentum and impulse typically ≈ 12–16 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (105 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 00 min notes 1 h 45 · exam questions 2 h 05
Show the 4 sections Momentum and Newton's second law in momentum form 25 min Impulse and the impulse-momentum theorem 25 min Conservation of linear momentum: collisions and explosions 30 min Elastic and inelastic collisions 25 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 45 min · 10 exam-style questions (105 marks) at exam pace 2 h 05 min · quiz 10 min
Momentum and Impulse: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Mechanics ≈ 65/150 (vertical projectile motion typically ≈ 12–15 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 10 (101 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 55 min notes 2 h 45 · exam questions 2 h 00
Show the 5 sections Free fall and the equations of motion 25 min Thrown upward: maximum height and time of flight 30 min Thrown from a height; bouncing balls 35 min Graphs of motion: x–t, v–t and a–t 35 min Two objects: dropped and thrown later 40 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 45 min · 10 exam-style questions (101 marks) at exam pace 2 h 00 min · quiz 10 min
Vertical Projectile Motion (1D): what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Mechanics ≈ 65/150 (work, energy and power typically ≈ 12–15 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (102 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 15 min notes 2 h 05 · exam questions 2 h 00
Show the 4 sections Work done by a force and net work 30 min The work-energy theorem 30 min Conservative forces and conservation of mechanical energy 40 min Power, P = Fv and efficiency 25 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 05 min · 10 exam-style questions (102 marks) at exam pace 2 h 00 min · quiz 10 min
Work, Energy and Power: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Waves, sound and light ≈ 15/150 (Doppler typically ≈ 10–13 marks, plus one or two MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (73 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 15 min notes 1 h 35 · exam questions 1 h 30
Show the 4 sections Sound waves and what the Doppler effect is 20 min The Doppler equation: moving source 25 min Moving listener and finding unknown speeds 25 min Applications: medicine, red shift and the expanding universe 25 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 35 min · 9 exam-style questions (73 marks) at exam pace 1 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
The Doppler Effect: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Electricity & magnetism ≈ 55/150 (electrostatics typically ≈ 12–15 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 9 (86 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 40 min notes 2 h 45 · exam questions 1 h 45
Show the 5 sections Charge: conservation, quantisation and charge sharing 25 min Coulomb's law 25 min Net force on a charge: three charges in a line 35 min Net force at right angles (2D vector addition) 40 min Electric field 40 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 45 min · 9 exam-style questions (86 marks) at exam pace 1 h 45 min · quiz 10 min
Electrostatics: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Electricity & magnetism ≈ 55/150 (electric circuits typically ≈ 15–20 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 11 (125 marks) Study time ≈ 5 h 00 min notes 2 h 20 · exam questions 2 h 30
Show the 4 sections Ohm's law, resistance and series/parallel networks 35 min Emf, internal resistance and terminal potential difference 35 min Power, energy and the cost of electricity 30 min The switch question: what happens to the readings 40 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 20 min · 11 exam-style questions (125 marks) at exam pace 2 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
Electric Circuits: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Electricity & magnetism ≈ 55/150 (electrodynamics typically ≈ 10–13 marks, plus MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (75 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 40 min notes 2 h 00 · exam questions 1 h 30
Show the 4 sections Electromagnetic induction (Faraday's law) 30 min Generators (AC and DC) 30 min Electric motors 30 min Alternating current: rms values and power 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 00 min · 9 exam-style questions (75 marks) at exam pace 1 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
Electrodynamics: Generators, Motors and AC: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Matter & materials ≈ 15/150 (optical phenomena typically ≈ 10–13 marks, plus one or two MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (95 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 00 min notes 1 h 55 · exam questions 1 h 55
Show the 4 sections Photons and the particle nature of light 25 min The photoelectric effect and the photoelectric equation 35 min Intensity vs frequency; E_k(max) against f graphs 30 min Emission and absorption spectra 25 min Notes and worked examples 1 h 55 min · 10 exam-style questions (95 marks) at exam pace 1 h 55 min · quiz 10 min
Photoelectric Effect and Spectra: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Paper 1 total 9 topics · 39 sections · 89 questions · ≈ 39 h 20 min
Physical Sciences · Paper 2
Paper 2: Chemistry
Mon 2 Nov 2026 · 09:00 3 hours · 150 marks 9 topics · ≈ 37 h 40 min
Topic and exam weighting Sections Exam questions Study time
Matter & materials ≈ 58/150 (organic structure, properties and reactions together; naming/structure questions ≈ 12–18 marks plus 3–5 MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (71 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 55 min notes 2 h 20 · exam questions 1 h 25
Show the 4 sections Functional groups and homologous series 30 min IUPAC naming rules 40 min Molecular, structural and condensed formulas 30 min Structural isomers 40 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 20 min · 10 exam-style questions (71 marks) at exam pace 1 h 25 min · quiz 10 min
Organic Molecules: Structure and Naming: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Matter & materials ≈ 58/150 (physical-properties question typically ≈ 10–15 marks, typically Question 3, plus 1–2 MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (65 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 35 min notes 2 h 05 · exam questions 1 h 20
Show the 4 sections Intermolecular forces in organic compounds 35 min Chain length, branching and the three-step explanation 30 min Comparing different functional groups 30 min Solubility, vapour pressure and experimental data 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 05 min · 9 exam-style questions (65 marks) at exam pace 1 h 20 min · quiz 10 min
Physical Properties of Organic Molecules: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Matter & materials ≈ 58/150 (reactions question typically ≈ 15–20 marks, typically Question 4, plus 2–3 MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 11 (87 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 45 min notes 2 h 50 · exam questions 1 h 45
Show the 5 sections Combustion and esterification 35 min Substitution reactions 30 min Addition reactions and Markovnikov's rule 30 min Elimination reactions and Zaitsev's rule 30 min Cracking and flow-diagram questions 45 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 50 min · 11 exam-style questions (87 marks) at exam pace 1 h 45 min · quiz 10 min
Organic Reactions: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (reaction rate typically ≈ 12–16 marks, typically Question 5, plus 1–2 MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (84 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 05 min notes 2 h 15 · exam questions 1 h 40
Show the 4 sections Reaction rate and how it is measured 30 min Collision theory and the factors that affect rate 40 min Activation energy, energy diagrams and the Maxwell–Boltzmann curve 30 min Rate graphs and reading rate from gradients 35 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 15 min · 10 exam-style questions (84 marks) at exam pace 1 h 40 min · quiz 10 min
Rate and Extent of Reaction: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (equilibrium typically ≈ 15–18 marks, typically Question 6, plus 2 MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 10 (79 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 35 min notes 2 h 50 · exam questions 1 h 35
Show the 5 sections Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium 25 min Le Chatelier's principle 35 min The equilibrium constant and RICE-table calculations 45 min Reading equilibrium graphs 35 min Industrial equilibrium: the Haber process 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 50 min · 10 exam-style questions (79 marks) at exam pace 1 h 35 min · quiz 10 min
Chemical Equilibrium: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (acids and bases typically ≈ 15–18 marks, typically Question 7, plus 2 MCQs) Sections 5 Exam questions 11 (91 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 55 min notes 2 h 55 · exam questions 1 h 50
Show the 5 sections Acid–base models, conjugate pairs and ampholytes 30 min Kw, pH and strong versus weak acids 35 min Hydrolysis of salts and choosing an indicator 35 min Titration calculations and percentage purity 45 min Reactions of acids 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 55 min · 11 exam-style questions (91 marks) at exam pace 1 h 50 min · quiz 10 min
Acids and Bases: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (electrochemistry ≈ 25–30 marks in total; galvanic cells typically ≈ 12–16 marks, typically Question 8, plus 1–2 MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 11 (86 marks) Study time ≈ 4 h 20 min notes 2 h 25 · exam questions 1 h 45
Show the 4 sections Redox revision: oxidation numbers and half-reactions 40 min Galvanic cell: components, electrodes and cell notation 40 min Using the Table of Standard Reduction Potentials 30 min The Zn–Cu cell, running flat and concentration effects 35 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 25 min · 11 exam-style questions (86 marks) at exam pace 1 h 45 min · quiz 10 min
Electrochemistry 1: Redox and Galvanic Cells: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (electrolytic cells and industrial electrolysis typically ≈ 10–14 marks, typically Question 9, plus 1–2 MCQs) Sections 4 Exam questions 10 (74 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 40 min notes 2 h 00 · exam questions 1 h 30
Show the 4 sections Electrolytic cells and the electrolysis of copper(II) chloride 30 min Electrolysis of sodium chloride and the chlor-alkali industry 30 min Electroplating and the electrorefining of copper 30 min Extraction of aluminium and comparing the two cell types 30 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 00 min · 10 exam-style questions (74 marks) at exam pace 1 h 30 min · quiz 10 min
Electrochemistry 2: Electrolytic Cells: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Chemical change ≈ 92/150 (no separate question – stoichiometry is embedded in rate, equilibrium, acids/bases and electrochemistry calculations, ≈ 10–15 marks in total) Sections 4 Exam questions 9 (65 marks) Study time ≈ 3 h 50 min notes 2 h 20 · exam questions 1 h 20
Show the 4 sections The mole: mass, gas volume and concentration 30 min Balanced equations and limiting reagents 40 min Percentage yield and percentage purity 35 min Empirical and molecular formulas; gas volume ratios 35 min Notes and worked examples 2 h 20 min · 9 exam-style questions (65 marks) at exam pace 1 h 20 min · quiz 10 min
Quantitative Chemistry (Stoichiometry) Revision: what it covers, how it is examined and study time
Paper 2 total 9 topics · 39 sections · 91 questions · ≈ 37 h 40 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 exam pace – 1,2 minutes per mark, the pace of 150 marks in 3 hours.Quiz: 10 minutes per topic.
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