Grade 10 · Life Sciences · Paper 1 · CAPS
Cells: the Basic Units of Life – Grade 10 Life Sciences (Paper 1)
What Cells: the Basic Units of Life covers, how it is examined in Grade 10, the 4 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 4
- Exam-style questions
- 9
- Marks of practice
- 86
- Study time
- ≈ 4 h 25 min
What it covers
Cells: the Basic Units of Life is a Grade 10 Life Sciences topic in the CAPS curriculum, examined in Life Sciences Paper 1 of the Grade 10 school and provincial exams. You study it in 4 sections: Cell theory, the microscope and magnification; Cell structure: organelles and their functions; Plant and animal cells compared; cell specialisation; Movement across membranes: diffusion, osmosis and active transport.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Grade 10 Life Sciences Paper 1
- Exams
- June and November school or provincial exams – your school sets the papers and the dates
- Weighting
- Cells ≈ 19/150 in Paper 1
There is no national Grade 10 exam. Your school’s exam guideline says which topics each paper covers.
Sections to study
- Cell theory, the microscope and magnification40 min
- Cell structure: organelles and their functions40 min
- Plant and animal cells compared; cell specialisation25 min
- Movement across membranes: diffusion, osmosis and active transport45 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples4 sections | 2 h 30 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions9 questions · 86 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 1 h 45 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 4 h 25 min |
Grade 10 exams are set by your school or province – plan back from the date your school gives you.
What you get in the portal
- 9 exam-style questions on Cells: the Basic Units of Life (86 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked exam-style answers, point by point, with labelled diagrams for each of the 4 sections
- Tutor notes added to sections and questions – for the whole class or just for you
- A topic quiz and Grade 10 mock papers built from the exam-style questions
Notes, worked examples, questions and memos open once the tutor approves your account – usually with your first confirmed lesson.
Stuck on Cells: the Basic Units of Life? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick Cells: the Basic Units of Life as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Grade 10 Life Sciences P1 topics
Questions about Cells: the Basic Units of Life
How is Cells: the Basic Units of Life examined in Grade 10?
Grade 10 learners write Life Sciences exams set by their school or province, in June and November. Cells: the Basic Units of Life is part of Life Sciences Paper 1; the usual weighting is: Cells ≈ 19/150 in Paper 1. Your school’s exam guideline confirms which topics each exam covers.
How long does it take to study Cells: the Basic Units of Life?
About 4 h 25 min: 2 h 30 min for the notes and worked examples in its 4 sections, 1 h 45 min for the 9 exam-style questions (86 marks) at 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
Can I get online lessons for Grade 10 Cells: the Basic Units of Life?
Yes. Create a free account in the Adventuity portal, request a one-on-one online lesson of 60, 90 or 120 minutes (or a seat in a group class) and choose Cells: the Basic Units of Life as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.