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Share on WhatsAppHow is matric marked?
- 7
80–100% · Outstanding
Called a distinction
- 6
70–79% · Meritorious
- 5
60–69% · Substantial
- 4
50–59% · Adequate
Bachelor's pass needs this or higher in 4 subjects
- 3
40–49% · Moderate
Diploma pass needs this or higher in 4 subjects
- 2
30–39% · Elementary
30% is the lowest mark that counts as a pass
- 1
0–29% · Not achieved
Every subject gets a percentage and an achievement level from 1 to 7. Level 7 means 80% or more, which is what people call a distinction. Level 1 means below 30%, which is not a pass in that subject. The same scale is used for every subject.
What do you need to pass matric?
Home Language
at least 40%
Another subject
at least 40%
Another subject
at least 40%
Another subject
at least 30%
Another subject
at least 30%
Another subject
at least 30%
One subject
can be lower*
* All seven need the year's schoolwork (School-Based Assessment) handed in and the final exam written. The seven subjects are your Home Language, a second official language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation and three subjects you choose.
Matric learners take seven subjects: a Home Language (the language taken at the highest level), a second official language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation, and three subjects they choose. You must hand in the year's schoolwork and write the final exam in all seven. To pass, you need at least 40% in your Home Language and in two other subjects, and at least 30% in three more. The seventh subject can be lower. If you are up to 2% short of 30% or 40% in one subject, and that is all that stands between you and a pass, that one subject can be moved up to the pass mark. This is called condonation.
Sources: 1
What are the different kinds of matric pass?
Bachelor's pass
plus 50% or more in 4 subjects (Life Orientation does not count)
Can lead to degree study
Diploma pass
plus 40% or more in 4 subjects (Life Orientation does not count)
Can lead to diploma study
Higher Certificate pass
plus 30% or more in the language the university or college teaches in
Can lead to higher certificate study
NSC pass
the basic pass: 40% in three subjects and 30% in three more
You receive the National Senior Certificate
Each step includes everything below it. These are the legal minimums; universities and colleges set their own entry requirements on top.
Your certificate shows which kind of study your results qualify you for. A Higher Certificate pass is the basic pass plus at least 30% in the language the university or college teaches in. A Diploma pass adds at least 40% in four subjects other than Life Orientation. A Bachelor's pass adds at least 50% in four subjects other than Life Orientation. Life Orientation does not count toward a Diploma or Bachelor's pass.
Which pass do your marks earn?
Example: Thabo's marks. Change them to yours.
Diploma pass
Meets the minimum the law sets for diploma study. Each university or college sets its own marks and subjects for each course, and places are limited.
1 more subject at 50% or higher (not Life Orientation) would make it a Bachelor's pass.
- Met: Home Language: at least 40%
- Met: Two more subjects: at least 40%
- Met: Three more subjects: at least 30%
- Met: English or Afrikaans: at least 30% (for Higher Certificate and above)
- Met: Four subjects at 40% or more, for a Diploma pass (Life Orientation does not count)
- Not met: Four subjects at 50% or more, for a Bachelor's pass (Life Orientation does not count)
A guide to the rules, not an official result. It assumes every subject's schoolwork was handed in and its exam written. Nothing you type is saved or sent.
The calculator applies the rules above to seven marks. It starts with an example learner, Thabo; change the marks to yours and it shows which pass they earn, which rules are met, and what would move you up a level. It is a guide to the rules, not an official result.
Which subjects count for a Bachelor's pass?
Any four of your subjects count, except Life Orientation. Until 2018 only subjects on a fixed "designated" list counted; that list was scrapped from the 2018 exams, so Mathematical Literacy, Tourism or Dramatic Arts count the same as Mathematics. You need at least 50% in four of them. Some advice sites still describe the old list, or say five subjects including Life Orientation: both are out of date.
Does a Bachelor's pass get you into university?
Not on its own. A Bachelor's pass is the minimum the law sets for degree study, and it does not guarantee a place. Each university sets its own entry requirements for each programme, based on your marks and on minimum marks in particular subjects. A science degree, for example, may require Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and Mathematical Literacy will not do. Check the requirements for the programme you want before choosing Grade 10 subjects.
Sources: 2
What if you fail or want better marks?
You can apply to have your exam papers re-marked or re-checked straight after results come out. The closing date is usually 14 days after results are released, and it is printed on the back of your statement of results. Forms are available from your school or district office, or you can apply online through the Department of Basic Education; there may be a fee per subject, so check when you apply. The February supplementary exam no longer exists: to improve your results, you rewrite subjects in the June exams. The Department's Second Chance Matric Programme is free for people who register to rewrite. If you do not pass the full certificate, you still receive a certificate for the subjects you passed.
Sources
- National Policy pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R–12 (Department of Basic Education)
- Minimum Admission Requirements for Higher Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Programmes requiring a National Senior Certificate, Government Notice 751 of 2008 (copy published by Universities South Africa)
- National Senior Certificate Examination Report (Department of Basic Education)
- FAQs on NSC Examinations: remarking, rechecking and the June examination (Department of Basic Education)
- Second Chance Matric Programme is free (SAnews, government news agency)
- Higher Education Act: minimum admission requirements and revocation of the designated list of subjects (Government notice, 30 November 2018)
- National Senior Certificate online re-mark and re-check application (Department of Basic Education)
See a school's matric results
Each school's page shows its matric pass rate from the Department of Basic Education's results report, alongside schools in similar circumstances.
More Guides
Data sourced from the Department of Basic Education EMIS database. Read our full methodology