The matric exam period is usually a time of intense stress and hard work for young people throughout the country. Long years of schooling and study culminate in a few hours of rigorous testing which can have dramatic implications for the rest of your life. Of course, everyone is worried about passing, but a surprising amount of people aren’t actually sure what they need to pass in the first place. Results are transformed into a point-based pass system which can be difficult to understand, especially when you’re trying to focus on your studies. Additionally, different grades provide students with different benefits, and just because you ‘passed’, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be accepted into a university. With all this in mind, we would do well to ask ourselves a couple of important questions, like – What marks do you need to pass matric? What kind of passes are there? And what happens if you fail a subject? What are the Pass Requirements for Passing Matric?
After writing matric exams, your results are converted into points with higher percentages earning more points. This is known as your Admission Points Score (APS). To receive a pass, you’ll need a minimum APS score alongside a few other basic prerequisites. These requirements differ slightly depending on the pass in question.
There are four different passes that can be achieved and each one provides students with unique options, so it’s important to understand which is which –
Matric Passes
| Pass Type | Requirements |
National Senior Certificate Pass (NSC) – This is the most basic matric pass. You’ll receive your matric, but you won’t make it into any universities. | An APS score of at least 14 An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in your Home Language An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in 2 other subjects An APS score of at least 2 (30%) in 4 other subjects You can fail one subject but you must get at least 30% for the rest of the subjects. |
Higher Certificate Pass (HC) – This is the next stage up from an NSC. Students who achieve an HC pass will normally receive provisional entrance into certain college or certification courses but not for university degree courses. | An APS score of at least 15 An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in your Home Language An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in 2 other subjects An APS score of at least 2 (30%) in 3 other subjects One of your languages must be either English or Afrikaans |
Diploma Pass (D) – With this pass, students will be able to pursue a diploma course at a university/college but will still not be able to pursue a college degree course. | An APS score of at least 19 An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in your Home Language An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in 4 other high credit subjects An APS score of 2 (30%) in 2 other subjects |
Bachelor’s Degree Pass (B) – Students who achieve this pass will receive provisional entrance into a college degree course. It should be noted, however, that each university will have different APS requirements for their various degrees. In other words, just because you receive a bachelor’s degree pass, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will gain admittance into every programme. | An APS score of at least 23 An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in your Home Language An APS score of at least 4 (50%) in 4 other high credit subjects An APS score of 2 (30%) in 2 other subjects |
How are APS Scores Calculated?
APS points are granted for each subject in matric. They are converted from a percentage figure (your subject mark) to a single number ranging between 1-7. The conversion proceeds as follows –
| Subject Mark | APS |
80 – 100% | 7 points |
70% – 79% | 6 points |
60% – 69% | 5 points |
50% – 59% | 4 points |
40% – 49% | 3 points |
30% – 39% | 2 points |
0% – 29% | 1 point |
The converted points are added together to form your total APS.
As noted, different universities may have different ways of calculating your total APS, for example, they may or may not count subjects like Life Orientation.
If you need help working out your APS, you can find a useful APS calculator here.
Once again, it’s important to remember that you don’t just need a certain score to get your specific pass, you’ll also need to obtain a bare minimum grade for certain subjects.
How Many Points do you Need to Pass Matric?
For a bare minimum pass, you will need an APS score of at least 14 points. That said, there are some other basic requirements involved and such a pass will limit the total amount of opportunities available to you once you finish your schooling.
Can you Fail 1 Subject in Matric?
Yes, you can, but you will then need to get 30% or more for your other 6 subjects.
How do Supplementary Exams Work in Matric?
In certain scenarios, you may be able to write supplementary exams which take place in the year following your original matric exams. However, not everyone qualifies for these exams and you will need to fulfil certain prerequisites if you wish to take them. These prerequisites include, but are not limited to, –
- You failed grade 12, but you only need a maximum of 2 subjects to pass.
- You missed the exams but you had a valid reason for doing so (ie, you were medically unfit, there was a death in your immediate family, etc).
- You were one requirement short of getting your higher certificate, bachelor’s pass, etc.
Alternatively, you can re-enrol for your matric year, although this usually involves redoing all of the exams for that year.
In some cases, people can also apply for an amended senior certificate which can help individuals to complete their NSC or improve their results.
What does Code 777 mean in Matric?
A code 777 is used when a mark has not been captured and when the reason for this issue has not yet been established. Generally, this code is eventually changed to either a 444 (absent) or to a 999 (absent with valid reasons).
In Conclusion – What are the Pass Requirements for Passing Matric and What Happens if you Fail a Subject?
To achieve the most basic matric pass (an NSC pass), you will need to achieve –
- An APS score of at least 14
- An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in your Home Language
- An APS score of at least 3 (40%) in 2 other subjects
- An APS score of at least 2 (30%) in 4 other subjects
- You can fail one subject but you must get at least 30% for the rest of the subjects.
It should be noted, however, that this type of pass will restrict the scope of your future endeavours and will not enable you to seek out a college degree. Higher scores will grant you different passes such as – a Higher Certificate (HC) pass, a Diploma (D) pass, or a Bachelor’s Degree (B) pass. Each pass will enable the student to seek further education in line with the pass that they acquired.
The term APS refers to your Admission Points Score. This score is calculated by converting your percentage marks into points ranging from 1-7. Higher marks will give higher point scores, which will in turn provide better passes. As noted, you will need an APS of at least 14, alongside the other requirements mentioned, if you wish to pass matric at the most basic level.
You can still pass matric even if you fail 1 subject, however, you will need to get at least 30% for all other subjects to do so. In some cases, students may be allowed to take supplementary exams in the year following their initial exams, although certain prerequisites will have to be met before this takes place. Alternatively, students may re-enrol for their matric year. Individuals may also apply for an Amended Senior Certificate, which can help them to complete their NSC or to improve their results.
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