Cape Town - There was mixed reaction to the second life sciences paper which Western Cape matrics wrote on Monday.
One pupil on the Cape Times matric panel said there were no surprises and another said there were curve balls in every section.
On Monday, 32 978 candidates in the province wrote Life Sciences, of them, 28 852 were full-time matric pupils. Twenty pupils also wrote sport and exercise science, and 104 wrote agricultural management practices.
Tameron Matthee from Camps Bay High School, who plans to study biotechnology at Stellenbosch University next year, said there were no surprises in the life sciences paper.
“Two of the main themes in the paper were evolution and genetic engineering. I went through many past papers in preparation for the exam. There were no surprises and the paper went really well,” Matthee said.
Muzzammil Waggie, from Spine Road High School, said he was shocked by the paper, which threw many curveballs.
“It was very different to last week’s paper, which was easier. I did not leave any questions out, but the paper was filled with curveballs that took me completely by surprise.”
Caitlin Demas, from Bellville Technical High School, agreed with Waggie and said the paper was tricky. “The first paper was easier.”
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer’s spokesperson, Jessica Shelver, said there were no reports of disruptions to Monday’s exam.
On Tuesday, 14 854 pupils in the province will write isiXhosa, two will write isiZulu and three will write Portuguese.
Cape Times