No, one can never be too old for Adult Matric.The oldest person to get their Matric is a South African man named Lavis Vilakazi, who got his Matric at the age of 77. If a 77 year old can get their Matric, so can you!
Whether you want to get your Matric or upgrade the Matric results that you got a long time ago, you can do so when you register to study at Matric College.
Can I Upgrade My Matric After 20 Years?
Yes, you can upgrade your Matric any time, as long as you are over the age of 21. You may register for a Matric Upgrade as early as 19 years old. However, you must be 21 to write the exams because you will write the Adult Matric (Senior Certificate) exams. It is different from the National Senior Certificate Exams that school-going matriculants write.
Who Qualifies For A Matric Upgrade
The requirements you must meet to qualify for a Matric Upgrade are as follows:
- You must be 21 or older
- You must have written Matric before, and have proof of your results
- You must be able to do your course in English or Afrikaans
If you meet all of these requirements, you can do a Matric Upgrade. You can choose to either improve your marks in up to four subjects or change up to four subjects. You can do this by adding four new subjects to your Matric Certificate.
How Old Must I Be To Rewrite Matric?
To rewrite your Matric, you must be under the age of 21. If you are 21 or older, you can apply for a Matric Upgrade.
Who Qualifies For Matric Rewrite?
The requirements you must meet to qualify for a Matric Rewrite are as follows:
- You must be younger than 21
- You must have written Matric before, and have proof of your results
- You must be able to understand, read, and write in English or Afrikaans
If you meet all of these requirements, you can do a Matric Rewrite. You can improve your marks in up to four subjects. You are not allowed to change any of your subjects. You must rewrite the subjects you wrote for your Matric final exams.
How Much Does Matric Rewrite Cost?
It is free to register with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for a Matric Rewrite or a Matric Upgrade. However, it will not be free to study for your Matric Rewrite or Matric Upgrade.
You will need to pay for your study materials, such as textbooks and stationery, and the fees of the educational institution where you study for your Matric Rewrite or Matric Upgrade.
How Long Does It Take To Do A Matric Rewrite?
It will take a minimum of three months to complete a Matric Rewrite. Registration for the Matric Rewrite closes each year in early February. Exams are held each year in May/ June and October/November.
There are only a few differences between a Matric Rewrite and a Matric Upgrade. The differences are tabulated below:
Matric Rewrite | Matric Upgrade |
Must be under the age of 21 | Must be over the age of 21 |
May not change any subjects | May change up to four subjects |
Can be written one to five years after your Matric year | Can be written after you turn 21 |
Do Universities Accept Upgraded Marks?
Yes, universities do accept upgraded Matric marks. Once you have completed a Matric Upgrade, you can combine your results. You can do this by applying to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for a Replacement Certificate: Change of Status.
You can then use your combined results to apply to Universities the same way you would with your original Matric Certificate.
How Many Times Can I Repeat Matric?
There is no limit to the number of times you can improve your Matric results.
While you are still under the age of 21, you can apply for a Matric Rewrite. There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite your Matric, as long as you are still under 21.
Once you are 21 or older, you can apply for a Matric Upgrade. There is no limit to the number of times you can upgrade your Matric results.
Can I Go To College If I Fail Matric?
Yes, there are still plenty of study options available if you do not get your Matric, such as:
ICB Courses
There are three streams of study available in the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) courses:
You can find the entry requirements for each stream of study below.
|
ICB Study Stream |
Entry Requirement |
Accepted Equivalent Examples |
|
Business Management |
Grade 11 or equivalent |
|
|
Financial Accounting |
Grade 10 or equivalent |
|
|
Office Administration |
Matric or equivalent |
|
We receive accreditation for our ICB courses from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This means that you will walk away with a nationally recognised qualification once you complete your studies with us. You will then be able to apply for jobs or do an internship to gain work experience.
The ICB is an international organisation, which means these qualifications are also recognised internationally.
All ICB courses go up to the Diploma level, and none require Matric to apply.
Short Courses
Matric College offers a range of Short Courses that you can study without Matric. They are:
- Beauty Therapy Courses
- Educare & Child Care Courses
- Event & Wedding Planning Courses
- Tourism & Guest House Courses
Our Short Courses only have three entry requirements:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must be able to do your course in English
- You must have access to a laptop or computer, as well as an internet connection because you will study via distance learning
What Have We Learned?
- It is never too late to get your Matric, you can do Adult Matric at any age
- You can Upgrade your Matric any time after completing Matric as long as you are 21 or older
- You must be younger than 21 to do a Matric Rewrite
- It is free to register with the DBE for a Matric Rewrite or Matric Upgrade, but you will have to pay for your study materials and the fees of the institution where you study
- A Matric Rewrite takes a minimum of three months to complete
- NSFAS does not fund Matric Rewrite or Matric Upgrade courses
- Universities do accept upgraded Matric results
- There is no limit tot the number of times you can improve your Matric results
- There are still many studying options available to you even if you do not have your Matric
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Stacey Christian
Date Published: January 31, 2023