Senior Phase · Grade 7

English First Additional Language

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Grade 7 CAPS Aligned Free Papers + Memos
Overview
What to expect in Grade 7

Grade 7 English First Additional Language builds on the functional English literacy of the Intermediate Phase. Learners read more complex texts, write structured paragraphs across different text types and use a wider range of grammatical structures. The focus is on practical English communication — reading with understanding, writing clearly and speaking with confidence.

Weekly time
4–5 hours per week
Assessment
Formal: 75% · Informal: 25%
Text types
Narrative, descriptive, transactional, simple argumentative
Key progression
Multi-paragraph writing · transactional texts · extended vocabulary
CAPS curriculum
Term-by-term breakdown
Term 1
Narrative texts and extended sentence structures
  • Read narrative texts and answer literal, inferential and evaluative questions
  • Compound and complex sentences using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
  • Revision and extension of present, past and future tense
  • Relative pronouns: who, which, that in sentences
  • Write a structured narrative paragraph with introduction, development and conclusion
  • Vocabulary: word families, synonyms, antonyms
  • Direct speech: punctuation and use in narrative writing
  • Oral: short prepared talk on a personal topic
Term 2
Descriptive and transactional texts
  • Read descriptive texts and formal texts (letters, notices, advertisements)
  • Modal verbs: can, may, must, will, would — in context
  • Degrees of comparison: adjectives and adverbs
  • Apostrophe for possession and contraction
  • Write a formal or informal letter
  • Write a short descriptive paragraph about a place or person
  • Word formation: prefixes and suffixes
  • Oral: describe a picture or process clearly
Term 3
Informational texts and direct/indirect speech
  • Read informational and argumentative texts
  • Direct speech to indirect speech and back — conversion practice
  • Passive voice — recognition and simple use
  • Revision of all tenses covered so far
  • Write a short informational paragraph or advertisement
  • Vocabulary: use context clues to work out word meanings
  • Conjunctions: extended list — coordinating and subordinating
  • Oral: summarise a text in own words
Term 4
Persuasive texts, poetry and revision
  • Read persuasive texts — identify techniques, tone, purpose
  • Simple poetry: stanzas, rhyme, rhythm, simile, personification
  • Identify figurative language in poems
  • Revision of all grammar: parts of speech, tenses, speech, voice
  • Write a short persuasive paragraph
  • Write a simple poem or creative paragraph
  • Oral: recite a memorised poem or short dialogue
  • Examination preparation: comprehension strategies and time management
Assessment
How marks are split
Reading & comprehension
40%
Language structures
25%
Writing
25%
Oral work
10%
Key skills
What a strong Grade 7 student can do
Read texts with understanding at Grade 7 level Use modal verbs in context Write compound and complex sentences Convert direct to indirect speech Write a formal letter with correct layout Identify figurative language in poems Write a structured multi-paragraph text Use degrees of comparison Build vocabulary through prefixes, suffixes and context Summarise a text accurately in own words
Practice materials
Grade 7 papers & memos
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Study smarter
Tips for Grade 7
📖

Build vocabulary every day. Five new words a day = 200 per term. Strong vocabulary is the biggest advantage in English tests.

✏️

Read questions before the passage. Know what you are looking for before reading.

📝

Use the correct letter layout. Address, date, salutation, body, closing. Learn it once and use it every time.

🔤

Practise English out loud. Speaking builds fluency and confidence faster than any other method.

🌱

Connect ideas with conjunctions. Use because, although, while, but, and, or to make your writing flow better immediately.