Grade 10 · Life Sciences · Paper 2 · CAPS
History of Life on Earth – Grade 10 Life Sciences (Paper 2)
What History of Life on Earth covers, how it is examined in Grade 10, the 5 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 5
- Exam-style questions
- 10
- Marks of practice
- 83
- Study time
- ≈ 4 h 20 min
What it covers
History of Life on Earth is a Grade 10 Life Sciences topic in the CAPS curriculum, examined in Life Sciences Paper 2 of the Grade 10 school and provincial exams. You study it in 5 sections: The geological time scale; Fossils: formation and dating; Key events in the history of life; Mass extinctions and the impact of humans; South African fossil sites and the Cradle of Humankind.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Grade 10 Life Sciences Paper 2
- Exams
- June and November school or provincial exams – your school sets the papers and the dates
- Weighting
- History of life on Earth ≈ 43/150 (29 %) in the Gr 10 November Paper 2 (DBE Gr 10 Examination Guidelines 2024)
There is no national Grade 10 exam. Your school’s exam guideline says which topics each paper covers.
Sections to study
- The geological time scale30 min
- Fossils: formation and dating35 min
- Key events in the history of life30 min
- Mass extinctions and the impact of humans25 min
- South African fossil sites and the Cradle of Humankind30 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples5 sections | 2 h 30 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions10 questions · 83 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 1 h 40 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 4 h 20 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
- 10 exam-style questions on History of Life on Earth (83 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked exam-style answers, point by point, with labelled diagrams for each of the 5 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 History of Life on Earth? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick History of Life on Earth as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Grade 10 Life Sciences P2 topics
Questions about History of Life on Earth
How is History of Life on Earth examined in Grade 10?
Grade 10 learners write Life Sciences exams set by their school or province, in June and November. History of Life on Earth is part of Life Sciences Paper 2; the usual weighting is: History of life on Earth ≈ 43/150 (29 %) in the Gr 10 November Paper 2 (DBE Gr 10 Examination Guidelines 2024). Your school’s exam guideline confirms which topics each exam covers.
How long does it take to study History of Life on Earth?
About 4 h 20 min: 2 h 30 min for the notes and worked examples in its 5 sections, 1 h 40 min for the 10 exam-style questions (83 marks) at 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
Can I get online lessons for Grade 10 History of Life on Earth?
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 History of Life on Earth as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.