Finding out what your Matric results mean can be difficult when there are so many terms out there. Some names used for Matric results are percentages, symbols, codes, or merits.
It is important to understand what these terms mean so that you can understand what results are required for the things you want to do after Matric. The Matric symbols work as follows:
Symbol | Percentage bracket | Code/APS | Merit level |
A | 80% – 100% | 7 | Outstanding |
B | 70% – 79% | 6 | Meritorious |
C | 60% – 69% | 5 | Substantial |
D | 50% – 59% | 4 | Moderate |
E | 40% – 49% | 3 | Adequate |
F | 30% – 39% | 2 | Elementary |
FF | 0% – 29% | 1 | Not achieved |
What Are The Pass Levels You Can Get In Matric?
There are four passing levels you can achieve in Matric, and they are:
- Bachelor’s pass/passed with exemption
- Diploma pass
- Higher Certificate pass
- (NSC) National Senior Certificate pass/Matric pass
Each passing level has its own requirements, and each is a different level of difficulty to achieve. The Bachelor’s Degree pass is the highest passing level and requires hard work and dedication to achieve it. The requirements for each passing level is as follows:
Pass Level | Requirements |
Bachelor’s Degree pass |
|
Diploma pass |
|
Higher Certificate pass |
|
NSC pass/Matric pass |
|
How Are Matric Final Marks Calculated?
School Matric final marks are calculated using two factors:
- Marks from your year’s work, including assignments, projects, and tests
- Your Matric final exam marks
Your year’s work will count for 25% of your final marks. Your final exams will count for the remaining 75% of your final marks.
For Adult Matric, your final marks are calculated using only your final exams.
What Is A Distinction In Matric?
A distinction in Matric is 80% and above. However, note that this is only for school level education. Once you reach tertiary education level, a distinction is 75% and above.
How Are Matric Points Calculated?
Your APS is calculated using your Matric final marks. Each percentage bracket is allocated a number of points. By finding which brackets your subjects fall under, you can find out what your score is for each subject. You can then add these up to get your APS.
Note that Life Orientation does not count for your APS. You can calculate your APS online, but remember to add Life Orientation in the single point bracket, no matter what your mark actually was.
What Marks Do You Need To Pass Matric?
To pass Matric, you must meet the requirements for a Matric pass. These are the minimum requirements for passing Matric. If you do not meet the requirements for a Matric pass, you will not pass Matric.
How Many Points Are Needed To Get A Bachelor’s Degree Pass?
The minimum APS requirement for a Bachelor’s Degree pass is 23. Each passing level has its own APS requirements, which are as follows:
- Bachelor’s Degree pass – 23
- Diploma pass – 19
- Higher Certificate pass – 15
- NSC pass/Matric pass – 14
However, note that these are only the minimum requirements. Achieving these results does not guarantee your admission into any university courses.
What Do The Pass Levels Mean?
Each passing level determines at what level you can apply to further your education at tertiary education institutions. Achieving a Diploma pass means that you can apply to universities to study for a Diploma. It also means you are unlikely to be able to study for a Bachelor’s Degree.
However, many universities will have their own requirements for Bachelor’s Degrees, and certain courses will also have higher requirements or specific subject requirements. Check with the university you are applying to about any additional requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree course.
A Higher Certificate pass means you can apply at any universities to study for a Higher Certificate.
An NSC pass/Matric pass means that you have passed Matric, but are not eligible to apply to study at a university. However, there are other options for what you can study with your Matric, such as:
- NATED courses
NATED Courses
NATED stands for National Accredited Technical Education Diploma. These courses are accredited by SAQA (the South African Qualifications Authority) and QCTO (the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations).
This means that these qualifications are recognised by education institutions and potential employers as formal qualifications.
Each course has three levels of theory studies. Each of these theory levels takes a minimum of six months to complete. This is then followed by 18 months of work experience, which counts as the practical side of the qualification.
This means you can complete a full NATED qualification in three years. For your 18 months of work experience, you will be placed with a company or business relevant to your stream of study. You will be placed using iWIL, which is a free placement service.
There are seven streams of study in NATED courses:
- Business Management
- Educare
- Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Legal Secretary
- Management Assistant
- Marketing Management
Business Management
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66871 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66929 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Business Management National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66995 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Business Management National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67036 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Business Management National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Educare
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66883 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66971 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Educare National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67007 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Educare National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67050 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Educare National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Financial Management
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66874 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66954 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Financial Management National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66998 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Financial Management National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67040 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Financial Management National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Human Resource Management
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66873 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66953 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Human Resource Management National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66997 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Human Resource Management National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67039 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Human Resource Management National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Legal Secretary
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66883 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66959 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Legal Secretary National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66880 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Legal Secretary National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67035 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Legal Secretary National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Management Assistant
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66876 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66956 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Management Assistant National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67001 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Management Assistant National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67033 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Management Assistant National N6 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
Marketing Management
National N4 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66872 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Matric: National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N5 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66952 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Marketing Management National N4 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Certificate | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 66996 |
Credits | 60 |
Entry Requirements | Marketing Management National N5 Certificate |
Subjects |
|
Career Options |
|
National N6 Diploma | |
Qualification | Diploma |
NQF Level | 6 |
Accredited by | QCTO & DHET |
SAQA ID Number | 67037 |
Credits | 360 |
Entry Requirements | Marketing Management National N5 Certificate |
Subjects | This is the practical part of the qualification and consists of 18 months of work experience |
Career Options |
|
What If I Did Not Pass Matric?
There are still options available for you to further your studies even if you do not have your Matric, such as:
- ICB courses
- Short courses
ICB Courses
There are three ICB courses you can choose to study without Matric:
- Business Management
- Financial Accounting
- Office Administration
The entry requirement for the ICB Business Management Programme is that you have Grade 11 to apply. There are three levels in this course, going up to the Diploma level.
The entry requirement for the ICB Financial Accounting programme is that you have Grade 10 to be able to apply. There are four levels in this course, going up to the Diploma level.
The entry requirement for the ICB course Office Administration programme is that you have Matric or a Matric Equivalent to apply.
This means you can study the first level of the ICB Business Management course, or the first two levels of the ICB Financial Accounting course, and use that to apply for this course.
Where Can I Study ICB Courses?
There are many places where you can study ICB courses. Some reputable distance learning colleges that offer these ICB courses are:
Short Courses
There are also many short courses offered at four of the above colleges.
Short Courses At Matric College
Short Courses At Skills Academy
- Accounting, Bookkeeping And Finance
- Beauty
- Computer Courses
- Educare And Childcare
- Forensics And Policing
- Human Resource Management
- Insurance Courses
- Interior Decorating and Design, and Digital Photography
- Management Courses
- Marketing
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Project Management
- Tourism
- Wedding And Events Planning
Short Courses At Ember Academy
- Beauty Therapist Programmes
- Child Daycare Programme
- Child Psychology Programme
- Crèche Management Programme
- Digital Photography Programme
- Event Management Programme
- Facial Skincare Programme
- Guest House Management Programme
- Human Resource Management Programme
- Make-up Application Programme
- Nail Care Programme
- Operational Health and Safety Programme
- Personal Assistant Programme
- Project Management Programme
- Receptionist Courses
- Supply Chain Management Programme
- Tourism Management Programme
- Tourism Marketing Programme
- Wedding Planner Programme
Short Courses At Learning Group
What Have We Learned?
- There are four passing levels for Matric
- Each passing level has its own requirements
- School Matric final marks are calculated using your year’s work and your final exam marks
- Each passing level has its own APS requirements
- Each passing level determines the level at which you can apply to further your studies after Matric
- A distinction in Matric is 80% or above
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 4, 2022