National Senior Certificate / Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)

South Africa

CAPS is a single, comprehensive, and concise policy document introduced to replace previous outcomes-based education guidelines. It provides detailed, term-by-term guidance for teaching and assessment across all subjects from Grade R to Grade 12.

Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12)

CAPS is a single, comprehensive, and concise policy document introduced to replace previous outcomes-based education guidelines. It provides detailed, term-by-term guidance for teaching and assessment across all subjects from Grade R to Grade 12.

Governing Body: Department of Basic Education (DBE), Republic of South Africa

Year Adopted: 2012

Grade Levels Covered

Grade R, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12

English Home Language

Grade 4

LS.G4.1 Listening and Speaking

Listen to and speak about a variety of oral texts, including stories, news, and instructions.

Key skills: active listening, oral presentation, vocabulary building, responding to questions
RV.G4.2 Reading and Viewing

Read a range of literary and non-literary texts (folklore, short stories, information texts) with understanding.

Key skills: decoding, comprehension, identifying main ideas, visual literacy

Grade 7

WP.G7.3 Writing and Presenting

Write a range of imaginative and informational texts, including essays and letters, using appropriate registers.

Key skills: process writing, paragraph structure, creative writing, logical sequencing

Grade 12

LSC.G12.4 Language Structures and Conventions

Apply knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and spelling to refine and edit complex texts.

Key skills: critical language awareness, editing, stylistic devices, advanced syntax

Mathematics

Grade 3

NOR.G3.1 Numbers, Operations and Relationships

Count, estimate, and compare whole numbers up to 1000 and perform basic operations.

Key skills: place value, mental math, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division

Grade 7

PFA.G7.2 Patterns, Functions and Algebra

Investigate and extend numeric and geometric patterns to look for a relationship or rule.

Key skills: algebraic expressions, number sequences, input/output diagrams
SS.G7.3 Space and Shape (Geometry)

Describe and classify 2D shapes and 3D objects based on properties.

Key skills: geometric construction, classification of triangles, symmetry

Grade 12

CALC.G12.1 Differential Calculus

Apply the rules of differentiation and use calculus to solve optimization and rate-of-change problems.

Key skills: first principles, derivative rules, graph sketching, optimization

Natural Sciences

Grade 7

LL.G7.1 Life and Living

Understand the biosphere, biodiversity, and the classification of organisms.

Key skills: ecosystem analysis, biological classification, observation
MM.G7.2 Matter and Materials

Investigate the properties of materials and the separation of mixtures.

Key skills: scientific method, laboratory safety, chemical properties

Grade 9

EC.G9.3 Energy and Change

Analyze forces, work, power, and the effects of electrical circuits.

Key skills: circuit diagrams, Ohm's Law application, calculating power

Social Sciences

Grade 4

GEO.G4.1 Geography: Map Skills

Understand side views, plan views, and symbols on a map of a local area.

Key skills: map interpretation, spatial awareness, grid referencing
HIS.G4.2 History: Local History

Investigate how people lived in the past in the local community.

Key skills: source analysis, oral history, chronology

Grade 9

HIS.G9.3 History: World War II

Analyze the causes and events of WWII and its impact on South Africa and the world.

Key skills: causality, evaluating bias, historical interpretation
GEO.G9.4 Geography: Surface Forces

Explain the role of weathering, erosion, and deposition in shaping the earth's surface.

Key skills: geomorphology, environmental impact analysis, fieldwork

Implementation Notes

CAPS is structured into four phases: Foundation Phase (Grades R-3), Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6), Senior Phase (Grades 7-9), and Further Education and Training (FET) Phase (Grades 10-12). Teachers are provided with Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs) that dictate the weekly pace and content to ensure national uniformity.

Assessment

In Grades R-9, assessment is a mix of Continuous Assessment (CASS) and end-of-year examinations (typically weighted 40/60 in Senior Phase). In the FET Phase (Grades 10-12), School-Based Assessment (SBA) accounts for 25% of the final mark, while the external National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination accounts for 75%.

About This Standard
Added:
January 13, 2026

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