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You don’t need to be fluent to do well in an Afrikaans First Additional Language exam. A lot of marks come from knowing what the paper wants, reading the instructions properly and avoiding a handful of silly mistakes. Here’s how to prepare, what to do in the exam room, and how to tackle each section.
Before the exam
Know your paper’s sections
Find out exactly what is in each paper you’re writing: which sections, which texts and how many marks each part is worth. In the senior grades, Afrikaans FAL is usually split into separate papers for language, literature and writing, with orals done during the year, but this differs between grades, schools and exam bodies.
Ask your teacher or check your school’s exam guidelines. Knowing the layout means no surprises on the day.
Learn the question words
Many marks are lost because learners misread what the question asks. Learn these vraagwoorde (question words) until you know them without thinking:
| Question word | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|
| Noem | name or list facts, no explanation needed |
| Verduidelik | explain why or how |
| Beskryf | describe what something is like |
| Vergelyk | show how two things are alike or different |
| Haal aan | quote: copy the exact word(s) from the text |
| Motiveer | give a reason or proof for your answer |
| Lewer kommentaar | give your opinion and back it up |
Practise past papers
Past papers are the best practice you can get. Ask your school for old tests and exams, or download past papers from the official education department and exam body websites. Do them under exam conditions: timed, no phone, no notes.
Then mark your work with the memo and look at why you lost marks. Was it spelling? Word order? Not enough facts? That’s what you work on next.
Learn idioms, proverbs and grammar in small doses
Don’t try to learn fifty idiome (idioms) the night before. Learn three or four a day, and one grammar rule a week. Ten minutes a day beats three hours once a month.
Write them on cards, test yourself on the taxi or bus, and use them in sentences. See the notes on idiome, spreekwoorde and grammar.
Read Afrikaans every day
The more Afrikaans you read, the easier comprehension and writing become. Read anything: a news site, a magazine, song lyrics, the back of a cereal box. Even five minutes a day helps you pick up vocabulary and word order without trying.
In the exam room
Read the instructions and the marks
Read the instructions at the top of the paper and at the start of each section. They tell you which questions to answer, whether you have a choice, and how to answer.
Look at the marks in brackets. Usually, one mark = one fact. A question worth (3) wants three separate points, not one long sentence that says the same thing three times.
Plan your time per section
Before you start, look at how many marks each section is worth and split your time to match. A section with more marks gets more minutes.
If you’re stuck on one question, leave a gap, put a mark next to it and move on. Come back at the end.
Answer in full sentences when asked
If the instruction says Antwoord in volsinne (answer in full sentences), reuse the words of the question in your answer.
| Question | Full-sentence answer |
|---|---|
| Waarheen het Anele na skool gegaan? | Anele het na skool biblioteek toe gegaan. |
| Waarom was die span bly? | Die span was bly omdat hulle die wedstryd gewen het. |
Never leave a question blank
A blank answer always gets zero. A sensible guess might get a mark. For multiple choice and waar of onwaar (true or false), always choose something.
Check your spelling and the double nie
Afrikaans usually needs two nie’s in a negative sentence. Markers notice when the second one is missing.
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| Hy het nie die werk geleer. | Hy het nie die werk geleer nie. |
| Sy is nie bang. | Sy is nie bang nie. |
Also check your spelling. If a name or word is right there in the text or question, copy it exactly.
Keep 10 minutes to check
Stop writing about 10 minutes before the end. Read through every answer and check:
- Did you answer every question?
- Is the verb in the right place (omdat sy … gemis het, not omdat sy het … gemis)?
- Is every negative sentence closed with nie?
- Did you number your answers the same way as the paper?
Tips per section
Comprehension (begrip)
Read the questions before the passage, so you know what to look for. Underline key words in each question and find them in the text. When a question says haal aan, copy the exact word(s) and put them in quotation marks. More strategies: Begrip (comprehension) strategies.
Summary (opsomming)
Follow the instructions exactly: the number of points, the word limit and whether you must write a paragraph or a list. Use your own words where you can, write full sentences and leave out examples and repetition. Always check the word count your paper asks for. Step-by-step help: Opsomming skryf (summary writing).
Language (taal)
This is where practice pays off fastest, because the rules don’t change. Know your tenses, ontkenning (negatives), lydende vorm (passive voice), indirekte rede (reported speech) and voegwoorde (conjunctions). Read each instruction carefully: “rewrite in the past tense” means you change only the tense. Revise with the grammar notes.
Literature (letterkunde)
Know your setwork well: the characters, what happens, the setting and the main themes. Questions often ask you to explain why a character does something or to quote from the text, so learn a few short key quotes. Answer about the text you studied, not the movie version.
Writing (skryfwerk)
Plan before you write, even if it’s just a few lines in the margin. Use the correct format for letters, emails, speeches and so on, and stick to the length your paper gives. Short, correct sentences score better than long, broken ones. See Opstel wenke (essay tips), Formele brief (formal letter) and Toespraak (speech).
Orals (mondeling)
Practise out loud, not just in your head. Say your speech to a mirror, a friend or your phone’s voice recorder, and time it. Use small cue cards with key words, not a full script. Look up, speak slowly and smile: confidence counts. Check your teacher’s guidance for the topic, the time and what you’ll be marked on.
The two-minute trick
When you get your paper, spend the first two minutes paging through it before you write anything. Circle the question words and note the marks per section. You’ll plan your time better and you won’t miss a question on the back page.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Because she missed the bus.
Right: Sy was laat omdat sy die bus gemis het.
Answer in Afrikaans. An English answer usually gets no marks, even if the content is right.
Wrong: Die bus.
Right: Thabo het met die bus skool toe gegaan.
When the instruction says full sentences, a one- or two-word answer loses marks. Reuse the words of the question.
Wrong: Die verteller vertrou nie sy broer.
Right: Die verteller vertrou nie sy broer nie.
A negative sentence usually needs the second nie at the end.
Wrong: Hy was moeg omdat hy het laat gaan slaap.
Right: Hy was moeg omdat hy laat gaan slaap het.
After omdat, the verb moves to the end of the sentence.
Wrong: Onwaar.
Right: Onwaar. Die hond het die kat gejaag, nie die muis nie.
If the question says motiveer, “true” or “false” on its own isn’t enough. Give the proof from the text.
Quick check
Test yourself: how exam-ready are you?
- A question is worth 2 marks. How many facts should you usually give?
Show answerHide answer
Two facts (usually one mark per fact).
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What does the question word “Noem” ask you to do?
Show answerHide answer
Name or list facts, without explaining them.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What does “Haal aan” mean?
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Quote: copy the exact word(s) from the text.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- The instruction says “Antwoord in volsinne”. What must you do?
Show answerHide answer
Answer in full sentences.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- You don’t know the answer to a question. What should you do?
Show answerHide answer
Write your best attempt. Never leave it blank, because a blank answer always gets zero.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Voltooi die sin: Ek het nie lekker geslaap ___.
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Ek het nie lekker geslaap nie.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What does “Motiveer jou antwoord” ask you to do?
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Give a reason or proof (from the text) for your answer.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Korrigeer die woordorde: Sy was laat omdat sy het die bus gemis.
Show answerHide answer
Sy was laat omdat sy die bus gemis het.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What does the question word “Verduidelik” ask you to do?
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Explain why or how.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- How much time should you try to keep at the end of the exam to check your answers?
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About 10 minutes.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
Klaar! Lekker gewerk.
You've checked every answer. Screenshot your score and flex in the group chat.
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