Grade 12 Past Exam Papers – All Subjects And Languages

Use past exam papers to assist you in studying for your Matric exams. Here are the past exam papers and memos from 2017 - 2020.

If you are trying to prepare for the upcoming Matric Finals and looking to find some old papers to work through, then you came to the right place. Below you will find old final papers from 2020 for every language and subject in South Africa. 

Here are all the past exam papers from November 2020

Languages

Afrikaans

English

Non-languages

Accounting

Agricultural Management Practices

Agricultural Technology

Dramatic Arts

Life Orientation

Technical Mathematics

Visual Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

You can download Grade 12 past papers right here or from the Matric Downloads site.

No, using past papers is not cheating. It is free to download and assist you in studying for your exams.

You must take these four (4) compulsory subjects in Matric: your Home Language, Life Orientation, English First Additional Language, and any Mathematical subject.

No, you cannot do your Matric in three (3) months. This is because three (3) months is too short to study all of your work and write all of the exams.

Yes, a D is a pass in Math. D is equal to a percentage between 60% and 69% and the minimum pass for Math is 30%.

No, you cannot study for a Matric certificate at UNISA. You can however study courses at UNISA without a Matric certificate.

A National Senior Certificate (NSC) is a Matric certificate. If you pass all of your Matric exams, you will be awarded an NSC at the end of your Grade 12 year.

Yes, you can. You will need to write six (6) subjects in your Matric exams, but you only have to pass five (5).

If you cheat in your Matric exams, you will be disqualified from writing the exams any further.

Matric is NQF Level 4.

No, 3 hours of sleep is not enough before an exam. You will need at least 8 hours of sleep to function properly, and be prepared for your exam.

To achieve a bachelor’s pass in Matric, you will need to:Obtain 40% in your home language subjectObtain 50% for four (4) high credit subjectsObtain 30% for two (2) other subjectsYou are allowed to fail a subject

No, Grade 10 is not Matric. Grade 12 is Matric.

The lowest APS you can get to pass your Matric is 14 APS points.

Yes, you can still get a bachelor’s pass if you failed one (1) subject.

Yes, you can do your Adult Matric online if you are over the age of 21. You will also need a grade 9 report or higher.

No, you will need your exam number and your ID to check your Matric results online.

In South Africa, grade 12 is called Matric and the students are commonly called matriculants.

No, you do not need Matric to study further. There are many courses you can take that do not require a Matric certificate.

If you miss a Matric exam you will need to rewrite that exam paper. You can do this by applying for the supplementary examinations.

Yes, The IEB exams are considered tougher than the NSC.

No, Matric is not a diploma. It is a National Senior Certificate (NSC).

The minimum requirements for a NSC are the following:40% in your Home language subject40% in two (2) other subjects30% in three (3) other subjects

Some students prefer to study at night because it is more peaceful. They also feel more relaxed and have more brain power to concentrate on their studies.

After completing your Grade 12 year of high school, you can get a Matric certificate. If you are over the age of 21, you can also get a Matric certificate from a higher learning institution.

No, if you do not have a Matric certificate, you will not qualify for NSFAS.

There is no difference between Matric and Grade 12. They mean the same thing.

You can collect your Matric certificate at the examination center or high school you wrote your Matric at.

You must apply for a replacement at the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or Provincial Education Department (PED) and complete a re-issue application form.

The Grade 12 English Paper 2 will consist of these topics:

  • Novels
  • Dramas
  • Short stories
  • Poetry

Yes, Matric is considered an accredited and recognised qualification.

Yes, your Matric certificate is recognised by educational institutions overseas.

Yes, a Diploma can help you get a job.

Yes, you can do your Matric at age 21. If you are 21 years old or older you can apply for your Amended Senior Certificate.

No, you will need a proof of identification to be able to do your Matric.

You cannot. You need to write your exams to be able to pass your Matric year.

The passes in Matric are:

  • Bachelor’s Degree Pass (B)
  • Diploma Pass (D)
  • Higher Certificate Pass (HS)
  • National Senior Certificate Pass (NSC)

Yes, 60% is considered a pass.

No, you cannot write Matric online. You can register for the exams online, but you will need to write the exams at an examination center.

As a Matric student, you should be studying between six (6) and eight (8) hours per day.

Here are some tips on how to wake up early to study:

  • Go to bed earlier
  • Do not use your phone before you go to bed
  • Do not snack late at night
  • Avoid any drinks that contain caffeine before bed

No, NSFAS does not fund Matric Rewrite.

Yes, it is a good idea to study past papers. They will help prepare you for your Matric exams.

Yes, they do work. Students who use study guides can do better in their exams.

You should ensure you have eaten a healthy meal and are hydrated. It is important to take deep breaths and keep calm before you write your exams. Ensure you have all the stationary you will need for the exam.

You can pass English by doing the following:

  • Do your homework every day
  • Read all your prescribed texts
  • Practice your spelling and grammar
  • Practice past English exam papers

Yes, it is a good idea. You can discuss questions and answers with other people and help each other understand the schoolwork.

It is because you are nervous and it is quite normal. You are about to enter a stressful situation where you will be doing something that will affect your final grades.

Take a deep breath, eat a healthy meal, drink some water, and ensure you are thoroughly prepared for your exam to help you panic less.

Your final Matric exams will count 75% toward your final Matric mark.

No, you can only fail one (1) subject in Matric. Failing two (2) subjects means you fail Matric.

Yes, you can. If you are under the age of 21, you can apply for supplementary exams and if you are 21 and above, you can apply for your Amended Senior Certificate (SC).

In Maths Paper 1 you will be covering algebra and functions, complex numbers, calculus, sequences and series, financial maths, area, and, volume.

No, the Matric certificates for 2022 are not out yet. The outcome of the Matric exams will be announced on the 19th of January 2023.

No, matriculation is also a term that is used when you finish your last year of high school.

Yes, you can. You can find your Matric results in some of the newspapers specific to your province.

No, you will need a Matric certificate or equivalent to apply for a job at Clicks.

It will cost R 153,00 to replace your Matric certificate.

Yes, you can repeat your Matric year to improve your grades.

Some universities accept diploma passes. You can then study a course below a degree level. First, do research about a university before you apply with your diploma pass.

A fail in Matric means you did not meet the minimum pass requirements to be awarded a Matric certificate.

Yes, you can go to college after Matric.

It is unlikely that you will be offered a job by the government without a Matric certificate.

The government does however offer you many opportunities to receive an education.

No, NSFAS does not fund Matric College because we are a private institution.

Yes, you can fail your home language and still pass your Matric. But then you will have to pass all of your other subjects.

A Diploma is a minimum of 19 APS points.

Yes, Afrikaans is a high credit subject.

An Admission Point Score (APS) is a score that is used by universities and colleges to evaluate if you qualify for a course. Your APS is calculated from your Matric results.

You can use an app called MatricsMate. You can download it from the App store on your smartphone.

You need to pass six (6) out of your seven (7) subjects to pass Matric.

Yes, you can. You can check your Matric results on the Department of Basic Education’s website.

If you cannot find your Matric results on the Department of Basic Education’s website it is most likely because of technical difficulties. Please contact your high school or the Department of Basic education directly.

Yes, you can repeat your Matric.

Gauteng had the highest pass rate of 82,8% in 2021.

The Jeppe High School for Boys in Gauteng had the best Matric results and highest pass rate in 2021.

Yes, 80% is considered a distinction in Matric.

You can feel a bit overwhelmed and confused because you are starting a new chapter in your life. But this is normal, and if you do not know what to do next, there is no shame in asking for guidance.

There are many reasons why students are afraid of taking exams, but the most common ones are not knowing what to expect and whether they have studied enough to pass with good grades.

A Grade 12 learner is usually seventeen (17) or eighteen (18) years old.

The Matric pass rate was 76.4% for 2021.

You can rewrite Matric as many times as you want as long as you are still under the age of 21.

A Matric Upgrade can take about a year to complete, but it can take longer depending on your needs as a student.

Yes, you can complete your Matric by applying for the Amended Senior Certificate (SC) program at a college.

Yes, Matric College is a distance-learning college where you can study any course online.

An Amended Senior Certificate is a certificate you can apply for to get your Matric if you did not get your Matric in high school.

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a system designed to rank the level of education you have achieved on a scale from one (1) to ten (10) in South Africa.

You should get your Matric certificate as an adult to give you more career options or apply for tertiary education.

Written by: Elzanne Van Niekerk

Last Updated: March 18, 2022