On this page, you will find the complete set of Life Sciences Grade 12 past papers, from 2025 all the way back to 2017. These include DBE final exams, mid-year June papers, trial exams, and supplementary papers, each available with full marking memorandums on StudyPapers.co.za.
Quick Navigation: Select Your Term
Term 4 (Finals) | Term 3 (Trials) | Term 2 (June) | Term 1 (March)
Term 4: Life Sciences Grade 12 November NSC Final Exam Papers
Download official NSC final exam papers for Life Sciences. Practice for your finals with Paper 1 and Paper 2 resources from 2023, 2022, and 2021.
| Year | Paper 1 (Eng & Afr) | Paper 2 (Eng & Afr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
| 2022 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
| 2021 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
Term 3: Life Sciences Grade 12 Preparatory (Trial) Papers
Get the latest 2025 Preparatory exam papers. This section includes September trial papers for Paper 1 and Paper 2, including versions for Xhosa and Sesotho learners.
| Year | Paper 1 (QP & Memo) | Paper 2 (QP & Memo) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eng QP | Memo Afr QP | Eng QP | Eng Memo Afr QP | Afr Memo |
| 2024 | Eng Memo | Afr Memo | Eng Memo | Afr Memo |
| 2023 | Eng QP | Eng Memo Afr QP | Afr Memo Alt: Xhosa | Sesotho | Eng QP | Eng Memo Afr QP | Afr Memo Alt: Xhosa | Sesotho |
| 2022 | Eng QP | Eng Memo Afr QP | Afr Memo Niche: Xhosa | Sesotho | Eng QP | Eng Memo Afr QP | Afr Memo Niche: Xhosa | Sesotho Errata: V1 | V2 |
Term 2: Life Sciences Grade 12 June Past Papers
Download mid-year exam documents for 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021. This section contains Paper 1 and Paper 2 for English and Afrikaans medium schools.
| Year | Paper 1 Downloads | Paper 2 Downloads |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo NSC: P1 & Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo NSC: P2 & Memo |
| 2024 | Afr Paper | Afr Memo Eng Memo | Eng Memo (1) | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
| 2023 | Eng Paper | Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
| 2022 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
| 2021 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Paper | Afr Memo |
Term 1: Life Sciences Grade 12 March Test Papers
Get a head start in Term 1 with Controlled Test papers. Includes the latest 2025 KZN paper and official 2017 February/March archives.
| Year | Paper 1 (Eng & Afr) | Paper 2 (Eng & Afr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | KZN March QP & Memo | – |
| 2024 | KZN March QP & Memo | – |
| 2017 | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Vraestel | Afr Memo | Eng Paper | Eng Memo Afr Vraestel | Afr Memo |
Every learner who is serious about improving their marks should be working through these Life Sciences Grade 12 past papers. Whether you are struggling to pass or aiming for a distinction, the papers show you how questions are asked, where learners fail, and what examiners expect in your responses.
Looking for All Grade 12 Past Papers?
Access every Grade 12 subject in one place — past exam papers, memos, and more from 2015 to 2025. All free to download.
Browse All Grade 12 PapersLife Sciences Grade 12 Study Guides:
Mind the Gap Study guides:
Why Past Papers Matter for Life Sciences Grade 12
In 2024, there was a major improvement in results. The pass rate for Life Sciences Grade 12 increased to 80,8%, and the number of learners achieving distinctions jumped from 8 718 to 14 989. But the real story lies in the details of how those marks were gained or lost.
According to the DBE’s national diagnostic report:
- Many learners still struggle with scientific investigations and application questions.
- Basic skills like calculating percentage increases and interpreting data in graphs caused a loss of easy marks.
- Poor spelling, weak graph captions, and illegible handwriting all cost marks — and these issues come up again and again in past papers.
By working through Life Sciences Grade 12 past papers, you practise the exact format of the questions that most learners struggle with.
What You Will Find in the Life Sciences Exam Papers
The final exam has two full-length papers:
- Paper 1 (150 marks) focuses on human reproduction, homeostasis, endocrine control, and plant responses.
- Paper 2 (150 marks) covers genetics, evolution, DNA, meiosis, and protein synthesis.
Paper 1: What You Need to Practise
- Scientific investigations and data analysis: Q3.3 and Q3.5 in 2024 were poorly answered due to weak planning and poor understanding of procedures. Past papers show you how to interpret investigation setups and graph-based questions.
- Plant responses and reproductive strategies: These two small sections accounted for 21 marks in 2024, yet most learners did not revise them properly.
- Spelling and terminology: Words like ureter, epididymis, and circular muscles were often spelled incorrectly, and when spelling changes meaning, you lose the mark. Past papers help you lock in these keywords by seeing them in context.
- Homeostasis and menstrual cycle: Learners struggled to apply negative feedback mechanisms. Past papers show you how this topic is usually phrased.
Paper 2: What You Must Not Skip
- Meiosis and DNA replication: Every year, learners lose marks here due to mixing up processes and stages. Past papers help you practise diagrams and steps in order.
- Pedigree diagrams and inheritance: Questions that require combining information and applying ratios were a challenge in 2024.
- Phylogenetic trees and Out-of-Africa hypothesis: Many teachers skip these. You will not be caught off guard if you use past papers to familiarise yourself with the diagrams and questions.
- Human evolution and natural selection: Learners could not structure their long-form answers clearly. Practising past long questions builds confidence in how to explain processes in steps.
How to Use the Life Sciences Grade 12 Past Papers on This Page
Every file on StudyPapers.co.za is:
- Clearly labelled by year and exam term (June, Trial, Final)
- Comes with a full memo, so you can mark your own work
- Covers Paper 1 and Paper 2 separately for targeted practice
Tips:
- Use the memo to check how mark allocation works, many questions require two parts to earn a full mark.
- Train yourself to read the instruction verb of the question (e.g. name, explain, justify, describe) — these are common triggers for lost marks.
- Practise data-based questions often. Many learners lose marks just because they do not refer to the diagram or graph provided.
Other Grade 12 Papers
We have a large collection of past papers for all Grade 12 subjects. Use the search box below or browse the full list of subjects.
- Accounting
- Agricultural Management Practices
- Agricultural Sciences
- Agricultural Technology
- Afrikaans
- Business Studies
- Computer Applications Technology (CAT)
- Civil Technology
- Consumer Studies
- Dance Studies
- Design
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Electrical Technology
- Engineering Graphics & Design
- English
- Geography
- History
- Hospitality Studies
- Information Technology
- IsiXhosa
- IsiZulu
- Life Orientation
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Literacy
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Technology
- Music
- Physical Sciences
- Religion Studies
- Sepedi
- Sesotho
- Setswana
- SiSwati
- Technical Mathematics
- Technical Sciences
- Tourism
- Tshivenda
- Visual Arts
- Xitsonga