Grade 12

CAPS English Grade 12 Past Papers

English Home Language papers test language structures (Paper 1), literature (Paper 2), and writing (Paper 3). Practise each paper separately, then review the marking guidelines so you know how content, structure and language marks are split.

Past papers / Grade 12

2026 exam dates

National Senior Certificate dates for English Home Language from the Department of Basic Education timetable. Confirm your own centre, start time and permit with your school.

Paper 3

Thu 15 Oct 2026

09:00 start, 3 hours, 100 marks

Paper 1

Wed 28 Oct 2026

09:00 start, 2 hours, 70 marks

Paper 2

Thu 19 Nov 2026

09:00 start, 2½ hours, 80 marks

Source: DBE Oct/Nov 2026 NSC timetable

What each paper covers

Topic weightings summarised from the CAPS examination guidelines so you can prioritise revision. Exact questions change each year - use this as a map, not a prediction.

Paper 1 (Language in context) - 70 marks (2 hours)

Paper 1 tests comprehension, summary and language structures. Read the texts twice before answering, quote or paraphrase as the instruction asks, and watch instruction verbs (identify, discuss, critically comment). Summary marks vanish when you exceed the word count or copy whole sentences.

  • Comprehension30 marks
  • Summary10 marks
  • Language structures and conventions30 marks

Paper 2 (Literature) - 80 marks (2½ hours)

Paper 2 is literature - poetry, novel/drama and related contextual or essay responses for your set works. Plan essays before writing, use short embedded quotes, and answer the question asked rather than retelling the plot.

  • Poetry (seen and unseen as applicable)30 marks
  • Novel / drama contextual and essay responses50 marks

Paper 3 (Writing) - 100 marks (3 hours)

Paper 3 is the writing paper - essay plus transactional texts. Choose a topic you can sustain for the full length, paragraph for clarity, and match register to the text type (formal letter, article, speech, and so on). Leave time to proofread for language marks.

  • Essay50 marks
  • Transactional writing (longer and shorter texts)50 marks

English Home Language Paper 1

Direct PDF links open the DBE file where available. Otherwise the session page lists every subject pack.

English Home Language Paper 2

English Home Language Paper 3

Need help with Grade 12 English?

Practise with past papers, then book a CAPS tutor for guided walkthroughs, exam technique, and a plan for the topics you keep losing marks on.

More exam prep