Life Sciences
Life Sciences is considered to be the softer of the sciences, however, this doesn't mean the subject is easy.
Life Sciences is a subject that covers a range of topics from the human body to evolution. This is a content-heavy subject with many concepts and processes to learn and understand. Throughout your Grade 12 academic year, you have to complete a number of assessments and these assessments include termly tests and practicals, a project or assignment and exams (one midyear, two trials and two final papers).
Grade 12 Life Sciences Content:
- 1.1 DNA & RNA
- 1.2 Protein Synthesis
- 2.1 Endocrine System
- 3.1 Evolution in Present Times
- 3.2 Evolution
- 3.3 Human Evolution
- 3.4 Lamarckism, Darwinism, Punctuated Equilibrium
- 3.5 Speciation
- 4.1 Concepts in Inheritance
- 4.2 Genetic Engineering
- 4.3 Genetic Lineages/Pedigree Diagrams, Paternity Testing and Genetic Links
- 4.4 Monohybrid and Dihybrid Crosses
- 4.5 Mutations
- 4.6 Sex Determination, Sex-linked Inheritance and Blood Grouping
- 5.1 Homeostasis
- 6.1 Human Reproduction
- 7.1 Meiosis & Abnormal Meiosis
- 8.1 Human Ear
- 8.2 Human Eye
- 8.3 Nervous System - Central/Peripheral/Autonomic
- 9.1 Scientific Method
- 10.1 Vertebrate Reproductive Strategies
The Exam
The Life Sciences exams are divided into two papers. Each paper is out of 150 marks and is 2,5 hour long papers.
- Paper 1 examines the following topics: human reproduction, reproduction in vertebrates, responding to the environment (humans and plants), endocrine system, and homeostasis.
- Paper 2 examines the following topics: DNA, meiosis, genetics and inheritance, and evolution.
Future Careers in Life Sciences with a Matric Certificate
With your matric certificate, you can choose from these courses at a tertiary institution: Researcher, Microbiologist, Scientist, Epidemiologist, Chemist.
Download the NSC Examination guidelines
Download the Grade 12 Life Sciences Curriculum