Afrikaans FAL ExplainedA Guide for Parents and Guardians

If your child’s report says “Afrikaans FAL” and you’re not quite sure what that means, you’re not alone. This guide explains, in plain English, what First Additional Language is, what your child learns, how they’re assessed and how the marks work. You don’t need to speak a word of Afrikaans to follow it.

What “First Additional Language” means

South African schools teach languages at different levels. The two you’ll hear about most are:

• Home Language (HL): the level for a language the learner is expected to know well, usually the language they speak at home. It goes deeper into literature and more advanced use of the language.
• First Additional Language (FAL): the level for a language the learner is learning as an extra language. In Afrikaans this is called Eerste Addisionele Taal (EAT), so you may see “Afrikaans EAT” on letters or textbooks too. It builds practical, everyday ability: understanding, reading, speaking and writing clearly.

FAL is not a “lesser” subject. It is simply pitched at learners who don’t speak the language at home, so the expectations and the texts are different from Home Language.

For the National Senior Certificate (NSC, the “matric” certificate), learners take two official languages: one at Home Language level, and the other at Home Language or First Additional Language level. Many learners whose home language is English take English Home Language and Afrikaans FAL, but the combination depends on what the school offers.

What your child learns in Afrikaans FAL

FAL is made up of a few main skills. Each one has its own place in tests and exams:

Skill	What it involves
Reading and comprehension (begrip)	Reading a text and answering questions about it in Afrikaans
Summary (opsomming)	Picking out the main points of a text and writing them briefly in their own words
Language (taal)	Grammar and language use, such as tenses, negatives, word order and vocabulary
Literature (letterkunde)	Studying prescribed books and poems, called setworks, mainly in the senior grades
Writing (skryfwerk)	Essays, letters, e-mails and other short texts in the correct format
Orals (mondeling)	Speaking and listening tasks, such as a prepared speech, a reading or a conversation

This site has notes for most of these: the grammar notes, comprehension strategies, summary writing and essay tips.

How learners are assessed

Assessment during the year

Throughout the year, teachers give tests, assignments, orals and exams that count towards the final mark. This is often called school-based assessment (SBA). Orals are usually done at school during the year rather than in the final exam.

Exams

In the senior grades, Afrikaans FAL is usually written as separate papers, for example one for language and comprehension, one for literature and one for writing. The exact layout differs between grades, schools and exam bodies, so ask the school for its exam guidelines.

The Grade 12 final exams

In Grade 12, the final NSC exam papers are usually set externally, not by your child’s own teacher, and the year mark from school-based assessment is combined with the final exam to make the final result. In earlier grades, exams are usually set by the school, though some are set by the province or district.

The achievement levels (1 to 7)

NSC results are reported as a percentage and as an achievement level from 1 to 7. You’ll often see these levels on school reports from Grade 10 too.

Level	Percentage	Description
7	80–100%	Outstanding achievement
6	70–79%	Meritorious achievement
5	60–69%	Substantial achievement
4	50–59%	Adequate achievement
3	40–49%	Moderate achievement
2	30–39%	Elementary achievement
1	0–29%	Not achieved

How these marks count for university and college after school is explained in Matric marks and university.

DBE and IEB schools

Most public schools write exams set by the Department of Basic Education (DBE), while many independent schools write exams set by the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Both lead to the National Senior Certificate; the papers are just set by different bodies.

Common questions

Is Afrikaans compulsory?

Not as such. Learners must take a second official language, but it doesn’t have to be Afrikaans. Which languages your child can take depends on what their school offers. In some specific cases, for example learners who have recently arrived from another country, an exemption or concession may be possible. Ask the school, which can explain the rules from the provincial education department.

What’s the difference between Home Language and First Additional Language?

Home Language is pitched at learners who already know the language well and goes deeper into literature and advanced language use. First Additional Language is for learners learning it as an extra language and focuses on practical reading, writing and speaking. The texts, the setworks and the exam papers are different for each level.

What mark does my child need to pass Afrikaans FAL?

There isn’t one simple number. The minimum depends on the role the subject plays in your child’s certificate, for example whether it’s their Home Language or their additional language, and on their other results. Universities and colleges may also ask for more than the minimum. Your child’s school, or the Department of Basic Education, can tell you the current pass requirements.

What are setworks?

Setworks (voorgeskrewe werke, prescribed works) are the books and poems your child studies in literature, such as a novel or drama, short stories and poems. They usually come from an official prescribed list, and the school chooses which ones its learners study. Ask the teacher which setworks your child has, so you can get a copy early.

Can my child change from FAL to Home Language, or the other way round?

Sometimes, but it depends on the school and on the grade. Changes are usually easier in the lower grades. From Grade 10 onwards the rules on changing subjects or levels are stricter, and late changes in Grade 12 may not be allowed. If you’re thinking about it, talk to the school as early as possible.

I don’t speak Afrikaans. Can I still help my child?

Yes. You don’t need to know the language to help with routine, planning and encouragement: a regular study time, checking that homework is done and asking your child to explain what they learnt. Our study timetable guide is a good place to start.

For practical ways to support your child at home, read How to help your child with Afrikaans.