NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

LIFE SCIENCES P1
SEPTEMBER 2023
MARKING GUIDELINES

MARKS: 150

These marking guidelines consist of 9 pages.

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Life Science/P1 2 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES

1. If more information than marks allocated is given

Stop marking when maximum marks is reached and put a wavy line and ‘max’ in
the right-hand margin.

2. If, for example, three reasons are required and five are given
Mark the first three irrespective of whether all or some are correct/ incorrect.

3. If the whole process is given when only part of it is required

Read all and credit relevant part.

4. If comparisons are asked for and descriptions are given

Accept if the differences/similarities are clear.

5. If tabulation is required but paragraphs are given

Candidates will lose marks for not tabulating.

6. If diagrams are given with annotations when descriptions are required

Candidates will lose marks.

7. If flow charts are given instead of descriptions

Candidates will lose marks.

8. If the sequence is muddled and links do not make sense

Where the sequence and links are correct, credit. Where the sequence and links
are incorrect, do not credit. If the sequence and links become correct again,
resume credit.

9. Non-recognised abbreviations
Accept if first defined in the answer. If not defined, do not credit the
unrecognized abbreviation but credit the rest of the answer if correct.

10. Wrong numbering

If the answer fits into the correct sequence of questions but the wrong number is
given, it is acceptable.

11. If the language used changes the intended meaning

Do not accept.

12. Spelling errors

If recognisable, accept the answer, provided it does not mean something else in
Life Sciences or if it is out of context.

13. If common names are given in terminology

Accept, provided it was accepted at the provincial memo discussion meeting

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Life Science/P1 3 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

14. If the only letter is asked for and only a name is given (and vice versa)
Do not credit.

15. If units are not given in measurements

Candidates will lose marks. Marking guidelines will allocate marks for units
separately

16. Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different

way.
17. Caption
All illustrations (diagrams, graphs, tables, etc.) must supplied with a caption and
be credited.

18. Code-switching of official languages (terms and concepts)

A single word or two that appear(s) in any official language other than the
learners’ assessment language used to the greatest extent in his/her answers
should be credited if it is correct. A marker that is proficient in the relevant official
language should be consulted. This is applicable to all official languages.

19. Changes to the marking guidelines

No changes must be made to the marking guidelines without consulting the
provincial internal moderator who in turn will consult with the national internal
moderator (and the external moderators where necessary).

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Life Science/P1 4 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1 1.1.1 D

1.1.2 B
1.1.3 C
1.1.4 A
1.1.5 A
1.1.6 D
1.1.7 C
1.1.8 C
1.1.9 C (9 x 2) (18)

1.2 1.2.1 Umbilical artery

1.2.2 Morula
1.2.3 Goitre
1.2.4 Auxin
1.2.5 Vivipary
1.2.6 Amnioticegg
1.2.7 Amnion
1.2.8 Parental care (8 x 1) (8)

1.3 1.3.1 B only

1.3.2 A only
1.3.3 Both A and B (3 x 2) (6)

1.4 1.4.1 Inhibit (1)

1.4.2 Meristematiccells/apical meristem (1)
1.4.3 Gibberellins and auxins (2)
1.4.4 Gibberellins and abscisic acid (2)
1.4.5 (a) phototropism (1)
(b) geotropism (1)
(8)

1.5 1.5.1 (a) D - Follicle stimulating hormone/FSH (2)

(b) A - Progesterone (2)

1.5.2 (a) (Primary) follicle (1)

(b) Corpus luteum (1)

1.5.3 (a) Ovulation (1)

(b) Luteinising hormone/LH (1)

1.5.4 Puberty (1)

1.5.5 Mitosis (1)
(10)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

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Life Science/P1 5 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 2.1.1 (a) F: Tympanic membrane/ Ear drum (1)

- Receives sound waves from the auditory canal
- Converts/transforms sound waves into vibrations
- Transmits vibrations into ossicles Any 1 (1)
(Mark first ONE only)
(b) D: Round window (1)
- Releases pressure from the inner ear
- Absorbs excess pressure waves to release pressure/
prevent echos  Any 1 (1)
(Mark first ONE only)

2.1.2 Ossicles/(hammer, anvil, stirrup)/ (malleus, inkus, stapes) (1)

2.1.3 (a) E (1)

(b) B (1)

2.1.4 Cristae and maculae (2)

2.1.5 - Increase in pressure in the middle ear/the ossicles do not vibrate

freely
- Fewer pressure waves will be set up on the cochlear/fewer
vibrations will be sent to the oval window
- Organ of Corti will be less stimulated/the cerebrum will be
stimulated differently/incorrectly
- This will lead to hearing impairment/loss of hearing (4)
(13)

2.2 2.2.1 (a) Pupillary mechanism (1)

(b) Light (1)

2.2.2 F - Lens (2)

H - Suspensory ligament (2)

2.2.3 (a) - Binocular/stereoscopic vision will be reduced

- will not be able to see the car in three dimensional image
- this will disturb the judgement of the distance between the car
and your body
- which will result in an increased risk of an accident (4)

(b) Rods cells/light and dark receptors (1)

2.2.4 - The lens is not elastic/cannot change shape

- light rays fall behind the retina/light is not refracted enough
- this causes blurred vision/blurry image is formed (3)
(14)

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Life Science/P1 6 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

2.3 2.3.1 (a) Sensory neuron (1)

(b) Dendrites (1)

2.3.2 H - Receptor receives the stimuli

- and converts it to an impulse
- connects to the sensory neuron
- serves to protect the body Any 3 (3)

2.3.3 - no insulation/loss of insulation/no protection causing the

delay of impulse acceleration/transmission
- loss of electrical impulses/decreased number of electrical
signals causing a delay in the reflex action/uncontrollable
muscle spasm Any (2 x 2) (4)

2.3.4 - Transmits impulse from one neuron to the next

- One-directional transmission of impulses
- Impulses can be transmitted to more than one neuron
- Can determine which stimuli will be transmitted Any 2 (2)
(11)

2.4 2.4.1 (a) Cerebrum (1)

(b) Pituitary gland/hypophysis (1)

2.4.2 - B/cerebrum controls voluntary and (1)

- C/cerebellum coordinates voluntary action (1)

2.4.3 Reflex action – fast, involuntary action due to an unexpected

stimulus controlled by the spinal cord and does not involve the
brain (2)

Involuntary action - under the control of medulla oblongata, the

same stimulus leads to the same response (breathing,
peristalsis etc.) (2)

2.4.4 - The hypothalamus is the control centre for thirst/it is

stimulated by the level of water present in the blood
- Produces ADH which controls the concentration of water in
the blood/osmoregulation
- It sends an impulse to the hypophysis (pituitary gland) to
release either more or less ADH (3)
-
2.4.5 No/decreased protection of the brain
Cerebrospinal fluid /CSF will leak/brain not buffered/no shock
absorption Any 1 (1)
(12)
[50]

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Life Science/P1 7 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

QUESTION 3

3.1 3.1.1 ADH levels (1)

3.1.2 (a) Non-smokers serve as a control to determine a baseline for

people with no nicotine in their blood/control for comparison to
normal levels. (1)

(b) Before breakfast measurements serve as a control to determine

smokers’ baseline for ADH/to check if the increase of nicotine
would have an effect or not/to determine the cause and effect
relationship/isolate the effect of the independent variable
(nicotine). (1)

3.1.3 - To ensure validity (1)

- To isolate the variable being tested (1)

3.1.4 When the water level of the blood increases:

- Less ADH is transported into the kidneys
- Collecting ducts and the renal tubules become less permeable to
water
- Less water is re-absorbed/more water is released
- Causing the water level in the blood to return to normal (4)

3.1.5 Increased osmolality - high salt content in the urine/more concentrated

urine
Decreased free water clearance – less urine released (2)
(11)

3.2 3.2.1 (a) Insulin (1)

(b) Pancreas (1)

(c) Liver (1)

3.2.2 Diabetesmellitus (1)

3.2.3 When the glucose level is high:

- the islets of Langerhans/pancreas are stimulated
- to secrete insulin
- which stimulates the liver
- to convert the excess glucose into glycogen and
- stimulates the absorption of glucose into liver cells
- then blood glucose level decreases* and
- returns to normal* Any (4 + 2) compulsory* (6)
(10)

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NSC – Marking Guidelines

3.3 T
Vasodilation Vasoconstriction
Blood vessels dilates Blood vessels constrict
More blood flows to the skin Less blood flows to the skin
More heat lost from the skin Less heat lost from the skin
More blood is sent to the sweat Less sweat sent to the sweat
glands glands
(Mark first TWO only) Any 2 x 2 + 1 (table) (5)

3.4 3.4.1 Pregnancy is the condition of a female during which an embryo

or a fetus develops within her uterus, typically after the
fertilization of an egg by a sperm (2)
3.4.2 (a) FSH, oestrogen (2)

(b) prolactin (1)

3.4.3 Pituitary/hypophysis (1)

3.4.4 - Progesterone maintains the endometrium for pregnancy

- there will be a risk for miscarriage (2)

3.4.5 26,4 – 16,6 = 9,8

9,8
x 100 = 59,03% (59,036 or 59,04)
16,6 (3)
(11)

3.5 3.5.1 (a) D - spermatogenesis (2)

(b) G - oogenesis (2)

3.5.2 - connects the ovaries to the uterus

- transports the ovum to the uterus
- the site for fertilization Any 1 (1)
(Mark first ONE only)

3.5.3 - becomes more glandular

- becomes more vascular
- thickens for implantation (3)
(8)

3.6 3.6.1 Small, non-cancerous lumps can form on the outside or inside of
the uterus (1)

3.6.2 - pain
- bloating
- abnormal menstruation  Any 2 (2)

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NSC – Marking Guidelines

3.6.3 - the uterus is blocked thus prevents fertilization

OR
- the blocked uterine lining prevents embryo implantation
OR
- the growth and baby position prevent continuation of
pregnancy Any (1 x 2) (2)
(5)
[50]

TOTAL SECTION B: 100

GRAND TOTAL: 150

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