Consumer Studies Grade 12 Exam Guidelines Scope 2026

To excel in Consumer Studies Grade 12 for the 2026 academic year, learners must be able to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios involving finance, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. While the official 2026 Department of Basic Education (DBE) examination timetable is yet to be released, these Exam Guidelines provide the definitive scope for your revision.

The Consumer Studies curriculum is designed to produce informed consumers who can manage resources responsibly and navigate the South African economic environment.

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Download Consumer Studies Grade 12 Exam Guidelines (PDF)

Download the official guidelines to ensure your study plan is 100% aligned with the 2026 CAPS requirements:

• Download Consumer Studies Grade 12 Exam Guidelines 2025-2026 (English)
• Download Consumer Studies Grade 12 Exam Guidelines 2025-2026 (Afrikaans)

For more support, including past papers and marking guidelines, visit the My Courses homepage or explore the Grade 12 Study Resources section.

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2026 Exam Structure: Paper 1 (Theory)

Duration: 3 Hours | Total Marks: 200

The final external examination consists of one paper divided into six compulsory questions. The exam heavily utilizes resources like case studies, cartoons, and graphs to test your analytical skills.

Section A: Short Questions (40 Marks)

• Question 1: Covers all topics in the curriculum. Format includes multiple-choice, matching items, and terminology.

Section B: Main Topics (160 Marks)

• Question 2: The Consumer (40 Marks): Focuses on consumer rights, financial contracts, taxes, and interest rates.
• Question 3: Food and Nutrition (40 Marks): Covers nutritional requirements, food-related health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), and food additives.
• Question 4: Clothing (20 Marks): Focuses on fashion cycles, clothing for the world of work, and textile properties.
• Question 5: Housing and Interior (20 Marks): Covers buying vs. renting, financial implications of housing (interest rates, insurance), and space planning.
• Question 6: Entrepreneurship (40 Marks): Focuses on production planning, marketing (the 5Ps), and financial feasibility (break-even points).

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Key Focus Areas for 2026

Success in Consumer Studies requires a move beyond rote memorization toward applied competence:

1. Critical Reasoning: You must be able to “justify” or “evaluate” scenarios, such as why a specific food product is unsuitable for a person with hypertension.
2. Financial Literacy: Master the calculation of interest (simple vs. compound) and understand the impact of inflation on a household budget.
3. Product Specifications: Know how to draft and interpret specifications for small-scale production in the entrepreneurship section.
4. Sustainability: Be prepared for questions on sustainable consumption and the ethical choice of household appliances and textiles.

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Conclusion: Strategy for 2026 Success

The Consumer Studies Grade 12 Exam Guidelines for 2026 emphasize that students often lose marks by not reading case studies carefully. Always start each question on a new page and use the reading time to identify the core consumer problem in Section B.

Remember that your Practical Assessment Task (PAT) accounts for 25% of your final mark—treat your practical exams as seriously as your theory paper. For continuous updates on the 2026 matric calendar and expert revision tips, stay tuned to My Courses.