Passing Matric with good marks is great, but passing with a distinction is even better. You can pass with a distinction if you commit yourself to your studies. A distinction pass is when you obtain 80% or above in your subjects. This is how you can do it:
- Attend class
- Ask questions
- Make notes
- Study
- Practise
- Study groups
- Extra class
- Motivation
- Complete assessments
- Prepare for the Exams in due time
Attend Class
To pass your Matric with distinctions, you must attend classes. This is how you will gain knowledge and skills. When you are in class, you participate in-class assessments, which helps you learn information that you will need when writing assessments.
Attending classes helps you prepare for exams. You are told about the exam and what to expect. Teachers also provide you with past question papers which you can use to study.
Ask Questions
Students who pass with distinctions are those that ask questions in class. If you ever feel lost in class, it is your right and responsibility to ask the teacher to explain again. The teacher will try to explain until you understand. If you do not, they will refer you to other students who can and this will help you.
When you answer your assessments, you will do it confidently because you know how to answer questions.
Make Notes
When the teacher is busy teaching you in class, this is your chance to make notes. Some teachers will write down the notes on the board, while others will bring hard copy notes of what they will be teaching. Keep these copies and use them as notes.
Study
To pass with distinctions, you will have to study a lot. Studying daily is the way to go. If you want to pass with distinctions, you must do what other students are not doing. Go the extra mile in your studies.
Study for at least three hours after school. During the weekends, study for at least five to six hours. You will easily remember information because you keep revising it. This will help you when you write exams, you will remember what you learnt.
Practise
There are exam papers from exams written in years before you got to Matric. These questions papers are relevant. You must use them to practise for the exams. You can also look for memorandums for each past paper and use them to study.
Using past papers helps you familiarise yourself with the exam. By the time you write your exams, you will be ready. You will know how to answer questions.
Study Groups
Join a study group with other Grade 12 learners who want to achieve distinctions. In this study group, you will learn from other learners. People have different ways of answering questions, through this you will find more than one way to answer different questions.
Study groups help you share ideas. If you do not know something, someone else might, and they can teach you.
Extra Class
Learning in class or having study groups may not be enough for some students to gain distinctions. You can attend extra classes. This will give you a different perspective on things. You may understand better through extra classes.
Motivation
You must keep motivating yourself to study and reach for your goals. It is not easy to study daily. It requires discipline and hard work. Keep reminding yourself that you are doing this to gain access to university and study the course you want. This is how you will secure your dream career.
Complete Assessments
Completing all your assessments is one of the most important parts of completing your Matric. Ensure that you complete all assessments in time and submit them. These assessments will help boost your final exam mark.
If you do not understand your assessments, always ask the teacher to explain so that you answer the questions correctly.
Prepare For The Exams In Due Time
The last step to getting your distinctions is the exams. Prepare for your exams in time. Show up to write all your exam papers and answer all questions. You will reach your distinction passes and follow your dream career.
What Are The Matric Pass Levels?
Matric Pass Levels are different ways to categorise how you pass your Matric. Below, we have made a list from the highest to the lowest Matric Pass Levels:
Requirements For A Bachelor’s Degree Pass Level
- A minimum of 40% in your home language
- A minimum of 50% in four subjects
- A minimum of 30% in two other subjects
Requirements For A Diploma Pass Level
- A minimum of 40% in your home language
- A minimum of 40% in four subjects
- A minimum of 30% in two other subjects
Requirements For A Higher Certificate Pass Level
- A minimum of 40% in your home language
- A minimum of 40% in two subjects
- A minimum of 30% in four other subjects
Requirements For A National Senior Certificate Pass Level
- A minimum of 40% in your home language
- A minimum of 30% in two other subjects
- A minimum of 30% in three subjects
- You can fail one subject
Are Distinctions Hard To Get?
Yes, distinctions are hard to get. However, this does not mean they are impossible to obtain. You simply need to dedicate yourself to studying. You must do this daily so that you can keep up with your work.
Anyone can obtain distinctions. The first thing is to understand what you are learning and then apply it. This means you need to do all that you can to learn. This includes doing the following:
- Studying daily
- Joining study groups
- Asking teacher questions
- Taking notes in class
- Researching topics
When you have learned and understood, you can apply your knowledge in the following:
- Oral presentations
- Assignments
- Tests
- June exam
- Trail exam
- Final exam
Watch The CEO of Matric College, Jan Badenhorst, talk about the use of old exam past papers in preparation for exams
Is 75 A Distinction In Matric?
No, 75% is not a distinction in Matric. 75% is a distinction in university and college. If you want to get a distinction for Matric, you must obtain a mark of 80% or higher. This is a great pass that helps you have a greater opportunity of getting into university.
Is It Good To Get Distinctions?
Yes, it is good to get distinctions. These are known as excellent passes. Getting distinctions pays off. When you have obtained these levels of passes, you can do the following:
- Study at university
- Get a bursary
- Join a learnership
- Get an internship
Students who get distinctions are mostly rewarded by the school and their families. Depending on how many distinctions they earn and how many marks, they are sometimes rewarded by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
The DBE hosts awards ceremonies every year for top learners in South Africa. If you earn excellent distinctions, you may be part of this event.
How Can I Study Faster Without Forgetting?
You can study faster without forgetting, by studying every day. By studying on a daily basis, you keep up with your work. You are up to speed and not left behind. This also helps you to not forget what you have learnt because you keep revising it every day.
What Are The 10 Qualities Of A Good Student?
These are the ten (10) qualities of a good student:
- Loves school
- Enjoys studying
- Good listener
- Great communicator
- Attentive to details
- Spends time with people who dream big
- Performs research
- Loves to excel
- Learns from their failures
- Achieves their goals
Which Is The Best Time To Study?
Any time is the best time to study. There is no specific time to study. You should study every day and this is how you can pass well. Create a study timetable and use it daily.
Author: Mulisa Nethononda
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: June 22, 2022