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Here’s how your matric marks are calculated and how much you need to pass
School-based assessments and the final examination contributes towards your matric results.
Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
With the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results set to be released next week, matriculants may wonder how their final marks are being calculated.
Having an idea of how your matric results are calculated may seem as if it is not a big deal, but is of great importance in case a pupil may think their final marks were incorrectly determined.
How matric results are calculated
Firstly, one must understand that their results are separated between a 25% and 75% assessment criteria to make up the 100%.
School-based assessments (SBA), which include tests, projects and assignment, accounts for the 25%, while the final examination contributes 75% towards your results.
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You get your final marks out of 100% when these two are combine, therefore, this is how your results are calculated.
How much do you need to pass?
There’s a common misconception that a pupil only needs 30% to pass matric, but that is not the case.
To achieve a NSC pass, one must meet the minimum subject requirements.
The pupil must obtain at least the following:
- 40% and higher with at least three subjects including your official home language.
- 30% and higher in two other subjects.
- You can fail one subject (home language included), however, you will need to attain at least 30% for six other subjects.
There are three other different pass levels which include a Bachelor’s Degree, Diploma and Higher certificate pass.
Bachelor’s Degree pass
This pass means you can study towards a Bachelor’s Degree at university since it is the highest pass one can achieve. Most bursary opportunities require that you have a Bachelor’s Degree pass in order to gain access.
The requirement to meet a Bachelor’s Degree pass include the following:
- 40% and higher for your Home Language.
- 50% and above for four high credit subjects.
- 30% and higher in two other subjects.
Diploma pass
With a Diploma pass, a candidate has admission to study towards a national Diploma course at a higher learning institution. To achieve a Diploma pass, you must obtain at least the following:
- 40% and higher for your Home Language.
- 40% and above for three high credit subjects.
- A minimum of 30% for two other subjects.
Higher Certificate pass
A Higher Certificate pass allows you to further your studies at TVET colleges and certain private colleges in a field of your choice. A candidate must pass at least 6 out of 7 subjects and obtain at least the following:
- 40% and higher in your Home Language.
- 40% and higher in two other subjects.
- A minimum of 30% for four other subjects.
What grade system means
If you were wondering what a distinction pass in matric (a pass of 80% or more) and how to achieve it, a candidate must understand the different types of achievement. Take a look below.
- Level 7: 80 – 100% (Outstanding achievement)
- Level 6: 70 – 79% (Meritorious achievement)
- Level 5: 60 – 69% (Substantial achievement)
- Level 4: 50 – 59% (Moderate achievement)
- Level 3: 40 – 49% (Adequate achievement)
- Level 2: 30 – 39% (Elementary achievement)
- Level 1: 0 – 29% (Not achieved: Fail)
This grading system contributes towards your Admission Point Scores (APS).
Your APS is calculated by looking at the percentage you have achieved per subject and then adding those to get a total. This total will be your APS and determines whether or not you qualify for admission into university or college.
Here is how the point system works:
- 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
Meanwhile, the Department of Basic Education has already confirmed that the results for the Class of 2022 were currently being processed and will be released on Friday, 20 January.
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