There are four categories of Matric Pass levels:
- Bachelor’s Degree Pass
- Diploma Pass
- Higher Certificate Pass
- Senior Certificate (Amended) Pass
Bachelor’s Degree Pass
This is the highest level of a pass in Matric. With this pass, you can be admitted to study for a Bachelor’s Degree at a University. For you to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree Pass, you need to obtain the following minimum passes:
| SENIOR CERTIFICATE (AMENDED) SC(A) | NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) |
|---|---|
| Obtain 40% in your Home Language subject | Obtain 40% in your Home Language subject |
| Obtain 50% in four other Higher Credit subjects | Obtain 50% in four other Higher Credit subjects |
| Obtain 30% in one other subject | Obtain 30% in two other subjects |
| APS - 21 | APS - 23 |
Diploma Pass
This is the second level of a pass in Matric. With this pass, you can be admitted to study for a Diploma course at an institution of higher learning. For you to obtain a Diploma Pass, you need to obtain the following minimum passes:
| SENIOR CERTIFICATE (AMENDED) SC(A) | NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) |
|---|---|
| Obtain 40% for your Home Language | Obtain 40% for your Home Language |
| Obtain 40% for four other High Credit subjects | Obtain 40% for four other High Credit subjects |
| Obtain 30% for one other subject | Obtain 30% for two other subjects |
| APS - 17 | APS - 19 |
Higher Certificate Pass
This is the third level of a pass in Matric. With this pass, you can be admitted to study for a Higher Certificate at an institution of higher learning. For you to obtain a Higher Certificate Pass, you need to obtain the following minimum passes:
| SENIOR CERTIFICATE (AMENDED) SC(A) | NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) |
|---|---|
| Obtain 40% in your Home Language | Obtain 40% in your Home Language |
| Obtain 40% in two other subjects | Obtain 40% in two other subjects |
| 30% in two other subjects | 30% in three other subjects |
| APS - 13 | APS - 15 |
Senior Certificate (Amended) Pass
This is an ordinary pass in Matric. With this pass, you can be admitted to study any course that only requires a pass in Matric. For you to obtain a Senior Certificate (Amended) Pass, you need to obtain the following minimum passes:
| SENIOR CERTIFICATE (AMENDED) SC(A) | NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) |
|---|---|
| Pass at least 3 subjects with 40%. One of these subjects should be an official Home Language. | Obtain 40% in your Home Language |
| Pass at least 2 subjects with 30%. One of these subjects should be a First Additional Language or Home Language | Obtain 40% in two other subjects |
| You are allowed to fail 1 subject. The minimum percentage you can get for this subject is 20%. | 30% in three other subjects. You can fail one subject even if it is your First Additional Language BUT you must get 30% or more for the rest of the subjects |
| APS - 12 | APS - 14 |
How Are Matric Results Calculated?
For the Senior Certificate (Amended) the results are 100% based on the exams. For the National Senior Certificate (NSC), the results are divided into 25% and 75% to make up 100%. 25% accounts for school-based assessments, that is, tests, projects, and assignments for each subject prior to the exam. 75% represents the final exam mark for each subject written.
What Is APS?
APS stands for Admission Points Score. When your Matric is marked, the mark that you get is given a score. The point or score for your mark is obtained by placing your mark in the 1 – 7 range in the APS calculator. The APS Score is used to determine your eligibility for admission to institutions of higher learning.
For example, if you get a mark of between 80% – 100% in your English subject, your APS point score will be 7 points. The table below shows how your APS score is calculated:
| Matric Subject Symbol / Mark Obtained in Matric exam | APS (Admission Point Score) |
|---|---|
| A (80 - 100%) | 7 |
| B (70 - 79%) | 6 |
| C (60 - 69%) | 5 |
| D (50 - 59%) | 4 |
| E (40 - 49%) | 3 |
| F (30 - 39%) | 2 |
| G (0 - 29%) | 1 |
What APS Scores Do I Need to Pass Matric?
Here are the APS minimum scores that you need to pass Matric:
Bachelor’s Degree Pass
Here are the minimum APS scores for the Bachelor’s Degree Pass
- An APS score of at least 4 in at least 4 high credit subjects
- An APS score of at least 3 in your home language
- An APS score of 2 in any 2 other subjects
A total APS score of 23
Diploma Pass
Here are the minimum APS scores for the Diploma Pass:
- An APS score of at least 3 in your home language
- An APS score of at least 3 in 4 high credits subjects
- An APS score of 2 in any 2 other subjects
A total APS score of 19
Higher Certificate Pass
Here are the minimum APS scores for the Higher Certificate Pass
- An APS score of at least 3 in your home language
- An APS score of at least 3 in 2 other subjects
- An APS score of 2 in any 3 other subjects
A total APS score of 15
Senior Certificate (Amended) Pass
Here are the minimum APS scores for the Senior Certificate Pass
- An APS score of at least 3 in your home language
- An APS score of at least 3 in 2 other subjects
- An APS score of 2 in any 4 other subjects
A total APS score of 14
What Can I Study With An APS Score Of 21?
With an APS score of 21, you can study for a Bachelor’s degree. Here are the minimum APS scores for admission to the following study programmes:
| Course | Minimum APS Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Certificate (Amended) SC (A) | National Senior Certificate (NSC) | |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 21 | 23 |
| Diploma | 17 | 19 |
| Higher Certificate | 13 | 15 |
| Matric Pass | 12 | 14 |
What Percentage Is A Distinction In Matric?
A distinction in a Matric exam is a percentage score of 80 – 100%.
What Are High Credit Subjects
High credit subjects are the subjects that have a higher rating when you apply for a place at a University. For example, Life Orientation is a low credit subject. Some Universities do not include this subject in your APS score. Here is a list of high credit subjects:
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
- IsiNdebele
- isiXhosa
- Isizulu
- Sepedi
- Sesotho
- Setswana
- Siswati
- Tshivenda
- Xitsonga
Non-Languages
What Does B Mean In The Matric Results?
B means that you have obtained between the 70 – 79% mark in your subject and an APS score of 6. Here is the meaning of the other Matric symbols:
| Matric Subject Symbol | Mark Obtained in Matric exam | APS (Admission Point Score) | Achievement Description | A+ | 80 - 100% | 7 | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 70 - 79% | 6 | Meritorious |
| B | 60 - 69% | 5 | Substantial |
| C | 50 - 59% | 4 | Moderate |
| D | 40 - 49% | 3 | Adequate |
| E | 30 - 39% | 2 | Elementary |
| F | 0 - 29% | 1 | Not Achieved |
Can You Pass Matric If You Fail One Subject?
Yes, you can pass Matric if you fail one subject. Remember, for the Senior Certificate (Amended), you write six subjects, and you can pass if you fail one subject. With the National Senior Certificate (NSC), you can write seven subjects and can pass if you fail one subject.
Can I Fail Maths In My Matric Results?
Yes, you can pass Matric without Maths. If it is a Bachelor’s pass that you will have obtained and want to proceed to University, a requirement of the Maths subject at Matric will largely depend on the course that you want to study. It can be best to find out from the University which courses you can do without Maths.
What Was The Matric Pass Rate For 2021?
Here are the Matric pass rates for the last 10 years:
| Matric Year | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 68 |
| 2012 | 74 |
| 2013 | 78 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2015 | 71 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2018 | 78 |
| 2019 | 81.3 |
| 2020 | 76.2 |
| 2021 | 76.4 |
The table below shows the number of students who wrote Matric in the last 10 years:
| Matric Year | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 496 090 |
| 2013 | 623 897 |
| 2014 | 688 660 |
| 2015 | 799 306 |
| 2016 | 828 020 |
| 2017 | 651 707 |
| 2018 | 796 542 |
| 2019 | 787 171 |
| 2020 | 1 058 699 |
| 2021 | 1 116 899 |
How Can I Study Smart?
Matric College makes it easy for you to study smart. As soon as you register. Here is how you will proceed:
- Receive the first package of your study materials within 5 – 7 days of registration
- Write and submit your assignments
- Receive feedback from your tutors
- Interact with fellow students and lecturers continuously when studying
- Make use of our past exam papers to prepare better for exams
- Get help with your exam registration
- Sit for your examinations in May and June
- Pass your exams and get your certificate from Umalusi
- Apply to combine the old and the Matric results
- Receive your combined best results certificate from Umalusi
What Does The Codes On My Statements Of Results Mean?
Here are the symbols and codes that can appear on your Matric statement of results:
| MATRIC CODE / SYMBOL | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree Pass | B |
| Diploma Pass | D |
| Higher Certificate Pass | H |
| Not Achieved | Does not qualify for NSC / SC(A) |
| NSC/BACH | National Senior Certificate, qualifies for studying a Bachelor’s Degree |
| NSC/DIP | National Senior Certificate, qualifies towards studying for a Diploma |
| NSC/HC | National Senior Certificate, qualifies towards studying a Higher Certificate |
| NSC | Achieved the National Senior Certificate only |
| NSC/LSEN | National Senior Certificate, a learner with special educational needs |
| 999 | Absent |
| 888 | Subject change |
| 777 | Outstanding mark |
| zz | Ending (irregularity) |
| px | Null and void (irregularity) |
| mo | Marks outstanding |
What Happens If I Fail Matric?
If you fail Matric, you can register for our Matric Upgrade Programme. Here is what you can do on the programme:
- Write new subjects
- Improve on the subjects already passed
- Pass failed subjects
- Change subjects
Author: Collin Wilbesi
Date Published: April 21, 2022
