This page includes South African Sign Language HL Grade 12 past papers and memos.
Exam facts from the DBE November 2023 question papers. See the full exam guide.
South African Sign Language HL Grade 12 Papers
Find South African Sign Language HL Grade 12 papers below, organised by terms and years.
Exam PracticeSouth African Sign Language HL: Most Common Exam Questions Quiz
Comprehension questions from DBE NSC South African Sign Language Home Language Paper 1 (2023), taken from the official English transcription, with the memo answers. In the exam these questions are signed.
20
Exam Questions
1
Topics
1
Paper
1
NSC Years (2023 to 2023)
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.1
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (1 mark)
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.2
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
Asia / Other Asian countries.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.3
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (1 mark)
• Poaching continues due to the high value of the stub.
• Poachers will get a lot of money from selling the rhino horns.
• Rhino horns are ground to make medicines.
Accept any ONE of the above or similar response.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.4
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (1 mark)
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.5
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
The Asian rhino uses the bottom teeth for defence.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.6
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
The black rhino's mouth is pointed to pluck leaves and fruit from low branches.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.7
Read first: TEXT A
Official memo answer (1 mark)
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.9
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
• It is a belief that rhino horns cure illnesses.
• There is no scientific evidence that it can cure illnesses.
• It is an inherited practice.
Accept any TWO of the above or similar responses.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.11
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
• Poachers will continue to kill the rhinos as the stub is also valuable.
• If not done properly, the rhino can die through infection.
Accept any TWO of the above or similar response.
NSC November 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.13
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (3 marks)
• They will have regular income.
• Children remain in schools.
• Improvement in health care.
• Poverty and diseases are reduced.
• Women are caring and protective over animals.
Accept any THREE of the above or similar responses.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.1
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (1 mark)
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.2
Read first: TEXT A
Official memo answer (1 mark)
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.3
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
• To sweeten food / desserts
• To sweeten beverages
• To make beauty / health products.
• To make health foods.
• To sweeten medicinal products
Accept any TWO similar responses.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.4
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
We get most of our food from crops.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.5
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.6
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
Due to harmful gases in the atmosphere.
Accept any other similar responses.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.7
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
Results in paralysis and death.
Accept any other similar responses.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.8
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (3 marks)
Pesticides cause bees to lose their memory.
Bees go into shock and forget their way home.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.9
Read first: TEXT A
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
PLUS:
Accept any ONE of the responses below.
Pollen is transferred from flower to flower by wind.
Pollen is transferred from flower to flower by beetles and butterflies, slowly.
NSC May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Question 1.10
Read first: TEXT A (chunk 6)
Written question: work out your answer first (in your head or on paper), then check the memo.
Official memo answer (2 marks)
• Although grain crops do not require pollination, people cannot live on rice and bread only.
• Herbivores depend on certain plants to be pollinated. If this does not happen then cattle that provide milk and meat to humans would also become extinct if their food production ceased to exist.
Any TWO of the above or similar responses.
Tip: press A–D to answer multiple choice, → for the next question.
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2026
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2025
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2023
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2022
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2021
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2020
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Study Guides
South African Sign Language HL Grade 12 Exam Guide
How the final South African Sign Language HL exam is set out, taken from the cover and instruction pages of the DBE November 2023 question papers.
South African Sign Language HL Paper 1
- 70 marks
- 2 hours
- 14 pages
- November 2023
| Section | Question | What it covers | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Comprehension | 30 |
| B | Summary | 10 | |
| C | Language Structure and Conventions | 30 |
Comes with: the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work.
Instructions on the paper
- Answer ALL the questions.
- Create a NEW folder for EACH section when recording yourself.
- Sign the number of each question correctly before you record your answer.
- Pay special attention to fingerspelling and SASL structure.
- Sign fluently and clearly.
- The Booklet for Rough Work will NOT be assessed; hand it in at the end of the examination.
South African Sign Language HL Paper 2
- 80 marks
- 2½ hours
- 14 pages
- November 2023
| Section | Question | What it covers | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1-4 | Prescribed PoetryAnswer ANY TWO (10 marks each) | 20 |
| A | 5 | Unseen PoetryCOMPULSORY | 10 |
| B | 6-9 | Longer StoryAnswer ONE (essay or contextual) | 25 |
| C | 10-11 | DramaAnswer ONE (essay or contextual) | 25 |
Section A: TWO prescribed poems + unseen poem; Sections B and C: ONE essay and ONE contextual question
Comes with: the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work.
Instructions on the paper
- Answer questions on the poems, longer story and drama that you were taught.
- Answer FIVE QUESTIONS in total: THREE in Section A, ONE in Section B, ONE in Section C.
- In Sections B and C answer ONE ESSAY and ONE CONTEXTUAL question.
- Sign the number of each question correctly before you record your answer.
- Create a NEW folder for EACH section when recording yourself.
- Sign fluently and clearly.
South African Sign Language HL Paper 3
- 100 marks
- 3 hours
- 7 pages
- November 2023
| Section | Question | What it covers | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | EssayChoose ONE topic (1.1-1.6) | 50 |
| B | Transactional TextsAnswer TWO questions (2 x 25) | 50 |
Section A: ONE essay; Section B: TWO transactional texts
Comes with: the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work.
Instructions on the paper
- Answer ONE question in SECTION A and TWO questions in SECTION B.
- Start EACH section in a NEW folder when recording yourself.
- Plan in your Booklet for Rough Work, edit and proofread your recording; save signed drafts in the same folder as your final essay.
- Sign an essay of 4–6 minutes. Sign the NUMBER and TITLE of your essay.
- Use SASL structure and sign clearly, fluently and within the recording space.
South African Sign Language HL Grade 12 Questions and Answers
How many papers do you write for South African Sign Language HL in Grade 12?
3 papers: Paper 1 (70 marks, 2 hours), Paper 2 (80 marks, 2½ hours) and Paper 3 (100 marks, 3 hours). These facts are from the DBE November 2023 question papers.
What is in South African Sign Language HL Paper 1?
In the November 2023 paper: Question 1: Comprehension (30 marks); Section B: Summary (10 marks); Section C: Language Structure and Conventions (30 marks).
What is in South African Sign Language HL Paper 2?
In the November 2023 paper: Question 1-4: Prescribed Poetry (20 marks); Question 5: Unseen Poetry (10 marks); Question 6-9: Longer Story (25 marks); Question 10-11: Drama (25 marks). Section A: TWO prescribed poems + unseen poem; Sections B and C: ONE essay and ONE contextual question.
What is in South African Sign Language HL Paper 3?
In the November 2023 paper: Question 1: Essay (50 marks); Section B: Transactional Texts (50 marks). Section A: ONE essay; Section B: TWO transactional texts.
What do you get with the South African Sign Language HL question paper?
Paper 1 comes with the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work. Paper 2 comes with the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work. Paper 3 comes with the signed version of the question paper and a Booklet for Rough Work.
How long is the South African Sign Language HL question paper?
In November 2023, Paper 1 had 14 pages, Paper 2 had 14 pages and Paper 3 had 7 pages.
Which South African Sign Language HL past papers are on this page?
39 files from 2020 to 2026, covering the June and November exams. They are listed by year and term above, and each one opens as a PDF.
Are the South African Sign Language HL memos included?
Yes. 24 of the files are memos (marking guidelines). Each memo is listed next to its question paper.
Is there a South African Sign Language HL practice quiz?
Yes. The exam questions quiz on this page has 20 questions taken word for word from real DBE South African Sign Language HL papers. The memo answer shows after you try each question.