A Matric Certificate is the baseline qualification for most formal employment and onward study in South Africa. Its absence narrows the field, but its presence alone doesn’t guarantee success. What having Matric does is open admission: universities (Higher Certificate, Diploma, or Bachelor’s depending on pass level), TVET colleges, learnerships, and most employers list Matric as a minimum requirement. Without it, those routes either close or require an alternative (NCV Level 4 or an SC(A)). What it doesn’t do is replace experience, application, or specific skills. How Matric and success connect in practice is what the rest of this page works through.
Do I Need A Matric Certificate To Be Successful?
While it is not necessary to get your Matric, it is helpful if you want to be successful. When employers are looking for new potential employees to hire or promote, having your Matric can give you a boost in the possibility of being chosen.
Why Is It Important To Do Well In Matric?
For the same reason it is better to have your Matric than not, it is better to do well in Matric. The higher your results, the more options and opportunities you will have after Matric.
What Is The Lowest Certificate In Matric?
The lowest passing level in Matric is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass/Matric Pass. There are four Passing Levels in Matric. They are:
- Bachelor’s Degree Pass
- Diploma Pass
- Higher Certificate Pass
- National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass/Matric Pass
The minimum requirements for each are as shown below:
| Pass Level | Requirements |
| Bachelor’s Degree pass |
|
| Diploma pass |
|
| Higher Certificate pass |
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| NSC pass/Matric pass |
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Achieving a Bachelor’s Degree Pass will give you the most opportunities for your future after Matric. Achieving a Matric Pass is the minimum requirement to pass Matric. If you do not meet the requirements for a Matric Pass, you will not pass Matric.
How Many Subjects Must I Pass To Get A Matric Certificate?
When doing a High School Matric, you will write seven (7) subjects. You must pass at least six (6) of these subjects, including your Home Language subject, to pass Matric. You may fail one subject, except for your Home Language subject.
When doing an Adult Matric Course, you will write six (6) subjects. You must pass five (5) of these subjects, including your Home Language subject. You can fail one subject and still pass Matric.
Can I Pass Matric If I Fail Maths?
Yes, you can. The only subject you cannot fail and still pass Matric is your Home Language subject. You must pass your Home Language subject with a minimum of 40%. You can fail any other subject.
Can I Get A Matric Certificate If I Failed?
Yes, you will still receive a Matric Certificate, even if you fail. All students who write Matric will receive a Matric Certificate, whether they pass or not. If you fail, your Matric Certificate will state your results, and that you have not passed.
How Long Does It Take To Get A New Matric Certificate?
If your Matric Certificate has been lost or damaged, and you have applied for a new one, the time it will take for the replacement certificate to arrive will vary depending on your application.
If you applied through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) website, it will take a minimum of four to six weeks to be ready for collection. It is advised that you contact your Department of Education Offices to check if your new certificate has arrived before going to collect it.
If you have applied through Umalusi, it will take up to two working days if you selected to collect it in person from the Umalusi offices in Pretoria, and it will take up to seven working days if you selected to have the certificate couriered to you.
Can I Study Without Matric?
Yes, there are plenty of options available for you to study even if you do not have a Matric. You can study courses such as:
- Adult Matric
- Matric Rewrite/Matric Upgrade
- ICB Courses
- Short Courses
All of these courses can be studied without Matric. If you do not have Matric, have never written Matric before, and you would like to get it, you can study our Adult Matric Course. If you have written Matric before but did not pass, you can study our Matric Rewrite Course or our Matric Upgrade Course. If you want to study without getting your Matric, you can choose one of our ICB Courses, or one of our Short Courses.
ICB Courses
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is an internationally recognised institution. Qualifications are recognised worldwide, and are accredited in South Africa by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
We offer all three available ICB streams of study. These courses do not require Matric to apply, and each level of study provides you with a qualification for the following levels to build on. This means you can begin applying for work after only your first year of studying!
The three available ICB streams of study are:
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 |
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Financial Accounting | Grade 10 or equivalent |
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Office Administration | Matric or equivalent |
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Each stream of study has three to four levels of study, and all go up to the Diploma level. So you can study without Matric and even get an internationally recognised Diploma-level qualification.
Short Courses
All Short Courses offered at Matric College have very few entry requirements. All you need is to:
- Be 16 or older
- Be able to understand, read, and write in English
- Be able and comfortable studying via distance learning
We offer a wide range of Short Courses that you can choose from. They are:
What Have We Learned?
- You can be successful more easily by getting your Matric
- The better you do in Matric, the more options and better opportunities you will have afterwards
- The lowest Passing Level in Matric is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass/Matric Pass
- You may fail a maximum of one subject and still pass Matric, as long as you do not fail your Home Language subject
- You can fail Maths and still pass Matric
- You will still receive a Matric Certificate even if you fail. It will state your results and that you have not passed Matric
- If you order a replacement certificate, it will take four to six weeks to arrive
- There are many options available for you to study even if you do not have Matric
People Also Ask
Yes, you can combine your N3 with a Matric Certificate—but with a few conditions. If you completed your N3 Certificate with two languages, you may qualify for a Senior Certificate (Amended). This means your N3 results (which are at an NQF Level 4, similar to Matric) can be converted and combined with other matric-level subjects, like those offered in Adult Matric.
However, if your N3 certificate does not include the required languages, you’ll need to take additional subjects through an Adult Matric programme to meet the minimum requirements. This path is often taken by adults who want to qualify for a Matric Certificate for employment or further study opportunities.
If you fail two subjects in Grade 12, you will not pass Matric. To earn a National Senior Certificate (NSC), you need to pass at least six out of seven subjects. Failing two means you fall short of the minimum requirements.
But don’t worry—there are options to improve your results:
- Supplementary Exams: You may qualify to rewrite the failed subjects during the May/June exam session.
- Matric Upgrade: If you’re over 21, you can register for a Matric Upgrade course through an Adult Matric provider and rewrite the failed subjects.
- Recheck/Re-mark: If you believe an error was made during marking, you can apply for a recheck or re-mark.
These paths give you a second chance to achieve your Matric and unlock your future goals.
There are several reasons why students may get poor Matric results. These include:
- Lack of preparation or poor study habits
- High levels of stress and anxiety during exam periods
- Absenteeism or missing key learning due to illness or personal issues
- Inadequate support systems, especially for adult learners returning to education
- Learning difficulties or lack of understanding in certain subjects
The good news? Online Adult Matric courses are designed to help you overcome many of these challenges.
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Vimbainashe Chabata
Date Published: February 22, 2023