Test (elaborations) Life Sciences (Biology)

Western Cape Education Department
Directorate: Curriculum FET




LIFE SCIENCES
REVISION BOOKLET
2026 TERM 2


Grade 11

This revision program is designed to assist you in revising the critical
content and skills that you have covered during the 2nd term. The
purpose is to prepare you to understand the key concepts and to
provide you with an opportunity to establish the required standard and
the application of the knowledge necessary to succeed in the
examination.


The revision program covers the following topics:
• Photosynthesis (32 marks in Paper 1 in Final Examination)
• Animal nutrition (32 marks in Paper 1 in Final Examination)
• Cellular respiration (22 marks in Paper 1 in Final Examination)

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Life Sciences revision booklet 2026 Grade 11 Term 2

Table of Contents
1. EXAMINATION WRITING TIPS: ........................................................................................................... 4
1.1 GENERAL TIPS FOR WRITING LIFE SCIENCES: ................................................................................. 4
1.2 HOW TO APPROACH YOUR LIFE SCIENCES EXAMINATION: ........................................................... 4
TERM 2 CONTENT ...................................................................................................................................... 5
2. PHOTOSYNTHESIS .............................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 PROCESS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS ..................................................................................................... 5
LIGHT PHASE: ............................................................................................................................................. 6
DARK PHASE: .............................................................................................................................................. 7
2.2 IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS .............................................................................................. 7
2.3 ATP AS ENERGY CARRIER IN CELLS ................................................................................................. 7
2.4 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE RATE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS ........................................................ 7
2.5 THE ROLE OF OPTIMUM LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN A GREENHOUSE TO
IMPROVE CROP YIELD ................................................................................................................................ 9
2.6 EXPERIMENT TO SHOW THAT LIGHT IS NECESSARY FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS................................. 9
3. ANIMAL NUTRITION ......................................................................................................................... 10
3.1 DIFFERENCES IN DENTITION FOR HERBIVORES, CARNIVORES AND OMNIVOROUS LYFESTYLES10
3.2 HUMAN NUTRITION ..................................................................................................................... 10
3.2.1 MECHANICAL DIGESTION ......................................................................................................... 11
3.2.2 CHEMICAL DIGESTION.............................................................................................................. 12
3.2.3 ABSORPTION ............................................................................................................................ 12
3.2.4 TRANSPORT AND ASSIMILATION OF ABSORBED NUTRIENTS .................................................. 13
3.2.5 EGESTION ................................................................................................................................. 13
3.3 HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL - THE HORMONAL CONTROL OF BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.................. 14
3.3.1 When the glucose levels in the blood increases above the normal level: ............................... 14
3.3.2 When the glucose levels in the blood decreases below the normal level:.............................. 14
3.3.3 Diabetes mellitus: .................................................................................................................... 15
4. CELLULAR RESPIRATION ................................................................................................................... 15
4.1 AEROBIC RESPIRATION................................................................................................................. 15
4.2 ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION ............................................................................................................ 17
4.3 ROLE OF ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION IN THE INDUSTRY ................................................................ 17
4.4 EXPERIMENT TO SHOW THAT CARBON DIOXIDE IS PRODUCED BY LIVING ORGANISMS DURING
CELLULAR RESPIRATION ........................................................................................................................... 17
5. REVISION QUESTIONS: ..................................................................................................................... 18
QUESTIONS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS .......................................................................................................... 18
QUESTIONS ON ANIMAL NUTRITION ....................................................................................................... 21

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Life Sciences revision booklet 2026 Grade 11 Term 2

QUESTIONS ON CELLULAR RESPIRATION ................................................................................................. 23
END OF DOCUMENT................................................................................................................................. 24




List of figures (content only)


Figure 1: Diagram showing the requirements and products of 5
photosynthesis

Figure 2: Structure of a chloroplast 6
Figure 3: Flow diagram showing the light and dark phases of 6
photosynthesis

Figure 4: Line graph showing the effect of light intensity -photosynthesis 7
Figure 5: Line graph showing the effect of carbon dioxide -photosynthesis 8
Figure 6 Line graph showing the effect of temperature – photosynthesis 8
Figure 7: Diagram showing that light is necessary for photosynthesis 9
Figure 8: The human digestive system 11
Figure 9: Structure of a villus 13
Figure 10: Flow diagram showing hormonal control of blood sugar 14
Figure 11: Structure of a mitochondrion 15
Figure 12: Diagram illustrating stages of aerobic respiration 16
Figure 13: Diagram to show that carbon dioxide is produced during 17
respiration



List of tables (content only)


Table 1: Instructional verbs and meaning 4

Table 2: Dentition in herbivores, carnivores and omnivores 10
Table 3: Types and functions of teeth in humans 12
Table 4: Enzymes involved in chemical digestion 12