All past papers
Matric Past Papers
English Past Papers & Memos
English Home Language and First Additional Language past papers — Language, Literature, and the oral component.
Download by syllabus
These link directly to the Department of Basic Education's own official pages, which list every subject, language and paper for that year. Always the current, correct file — DBE hosts and updates it themselves.
How to actually use these papers
- Paper 1 (Language) rewards technique as much as ability — comprehension answers should quote directly from the passage.
- For the essay/transactional writing section, practise against the clock — running out of time costs more marks than weak content.
- Literature answers need textual evidence (a short quote or specific reference), not just a general summary of the plot.
- Review your own past essays against the rubric, not just the mark — knowing why marks were lost matters more than the number.