How Many Subjects Do You Need To Pass Senior Certificate?

The Senior Certificate is awarded to students who have completed Grade 12 as an adult. Normally, in high school, you must pass at least 6 out of seven subjects for your final year exam. However, with the Adult Matric programme, you are required to pass at least 5 out of six subjects.

What Are The Different Avenues Through Matric College For Pursuing A Senior Certificate?

We provide our students with three different options to receive their Matric certificate. Whether you have already completed the exams and need to improve your results, or if you have never attempted your final year of school.

We also provide bridging courses equivalent to Grade 12 which can be used to enter more advanced courses.

Have a look at the options we provide students who want to take the step to complete Grade 12:

Why Is The Adult Matric Course Important?

There are many people in South Africa without a Matric certificate, and this course can help them gain better opportunities by completing the course. It also includes benefits for students, assisting and supporting them in their studies, such as:

Study materials
Tutors
Study groups

Study Materials

Study materials have information on your chosen subjects and are easy enough to understand so that you can well study alone.

Tutors

Tutors are available to help with any questions or challenges you find during your studies, giving you guidance and support.

Study Groups

Study groups are there to introduce you to other students with similar courses, and this gives you a chance to meet new people and learn new ways to study.

How Can Adult Matric Lead To Further Education Opportunities?

The certificate you get after the course opens the same opportunities for the university as a normal matric (Grade 12) certificate(NSC). This means that you can apply for your desired course if the marks you received meet the requirements to study the course.

This also means you can apply for our National Diploma(NATED) courses. These courses are for anyone who wants to learn the skills to succeed in the workplace and gain experience in their chosen course and overall career path.

Here are our available NATED courses:

What Career Doors Open After Completing An Adult Matric?

You can start your career with an entry-level job in the sector you want because the senior certificate you get after the course is a requirement.

Here are the options available if you want to work after high school:

Internship
Entry-level Job
Learnership
Start your own business

If you want the skills to start your own business, we also have Short courses, and they exclude a matric certificate as a requirement.

We offer courses such as:

What Sets The Matric Upgrade Course Apart?

You are allowed to add new subjects to your matric certificate. This course allows adults with a matric certificate to upgrade their mark and also add new subjects to their certificate. It is beneficial for students applying for specific university courses.

Who Should Consider A Matric Upgrade Course?

Adults who want to start improving their quality of life and want to begin with their education. This second chance opportunity can help open many doors that will help their career choices and further study.

Future employers and universities will see that you are hard-working and focused on your goals and improvement, regardless of your age.

What Are The Long-Term Advantages Of A Matric Upgrade?

Finishing this course allows your marks to improve and opens opportunities to chase your goals and meet people who can help you on your journey. It also pushes you to learn about your strengths and inspires people around you, like family and friends, to take this chance to improve their marks.

Why Choose A Matric Rewrite Course?

This course is a great choice for students who wrote in the previous year and want to improve their Grade 12 certificate. We include benefits that can help you learn more about each topic and understand your studies, giving you a great advantage when you rewrite.

How Can Rewriting Matric Subjects Benefit Personal Development?

The course provides a good opportunity for the students to sit down and think about what they want for the future and how this course will help them. Rewriting your matric exams is a great benefit because it shows that everyone deserves a second chance, despite any challenge.

What Support Is Available For Matric Rewrite Students?

Students receive study materials, access to study groups and expert tutors for each subject, helping them understand what they missed in the first attempt. Each benefit includes checking progress and exam preparation. This gives students an advantage for their upcoming exams.

How Can Adults Obtain A Senior Certificate?

There are 2 different ways for an adult to get a senior certificate: Matric College and The Department of Basic Education.

Writing through the DBE is a good option because it allows you to study from home till your exams, however, we do more for our students to receive better marks. We believe in our students because working and studying are demanding, so we do our best to help them study and receive a senior certificate.

What Time Commitment Is Needed For Adults Seeking A Senior Certificate?

Creating a timetable is the best idea if you are someone who wants to study and write these exams. When you create your timetable, make sure that it fits your schedule, allowing you to study whenever you have the time. And since our courses are flexible, this gives you enough time to study and learn more from our tutors too.

How Can Working Adults Balance Study With Work?

These courses are designed to be flexible. This means that you can study whenever you are free to focus on your studies. If you are working, or you have responsibilities but want to start your journey to getting a Senior Certificate, our courses are perfect for you.

What Is The Registration Process For The Senior Certificate?

There are 2 main ways for a student who wants to register to write their senior certificate exams, online and in person.

To Register Online

visit this website: www.eservices.gov.za, (this takes you to the South African e-Services Portal)
Register to have a portal account (You can skip this step if you already have an account)
Select the “Education” icon
Select the “June or November Registration for Senior Certificate” option (this depends on the time of the year you apply)
This will take you to the application page, where you will fill in the details required for you to be registered

To Apply In Person

You can visit your local education office and register for the exams. The exam you will take (June/November) will depend on the time of the year you apply and when the registration is open which you can find out on the website.

To be registered, you will have to submit the following:

Completed registration form
A copy (certified) of your ID document, birth certificate, or passport for foreign candidates
Repeating candidates must have a copy of their previous highest qualification
If you have entered and written any other Grade 12 or equivalent examination before, you will need to provide the examination numbers for those exams

NOTE: The files that need to be submitted are also required for the online registration to be processed.

What Are The Key Registration Deadlines For The Senior Certificate Exam?

We allow students to apply for our courses at any time of the year. Whether at the beginning, middle or end of the year. This is based on when you want to write, the course length and how long you want to use our services to help you in your studies.

What Are The Differences Between Adult Learning And High School?

While there are similarities when it comes to the certificates received after completing either course and the opportunities available after receiving these certificates, there are a few differences, such as:

Eligibility
Exam Timetable
Course Duration
Entry Requirements
Qualification Name and Credits
Assessment Method
Study Mode

Eligibility

Adult Matric is for individuals aged 21 or older, while traditional high school Matric is for Grade 12 students, usually under 21.

Exam Timetable

Adult Matric exams typically take place in May/June, whereas high school Matric exams are generally in October/November.

Course Duration

Adult Matric can be completed within 12 to 36 months, depending on the individual’s pace, unlike the fixed three-year duration (Grades 10-12) in high school.

Entry Requirements

For Adult Matric, passing Grade 9 or equivalent and being able to study via distance learning is required. In contrast, traditional high school Matric follows a sequential educational path from Grade 8 to 12.

Qualification Name And Credits

Both certificates are awarded by Umalusi, but they differ in the name and credits achieved.

Assessment Method

In Adult Matric, only exam results are considered for final marks, while in traditional high school, a combination of school-based assessments and exam marks are used.

Study Mode

Adult Matric is offered via distance learning, allowing flexibility and study from home, whereas traditional high school requires physical attendance.

How to Choose Your Senior Certificate Subjects?

To choose the right subjects for you to study and write about in your SC exams, you have to consider many factors to choose the right subjects. Mainly, these can be influenced by your end goal after you receive your certificate, such as:

Which course you want to study in university/college
Your future career choice
Your interests

How Can Subject Choice Align with Career Goals?

Each subject is an introduction to concepts that might interest you, and this can help you realise which career you might want to pursue in the future. For example, a student who chooses Life Science might want to learn about the human body and therefore study to become a doctor in university/medical school.

How Does the Matric Upgrade Course Offer Flexibility In Subject Selection?

Matric Upgrade, like most of our courses, is made to be flexible so on top of allowing you to choose which subject marks you want to upgrade in your matric certificate, it also allows you to add a new subject to your matric certificate.

If you want to study a specific course in university and your marks might need a boost, or you need a specific subject added to your certificate to study that university course, this is the course for you.

Can You Choose Any Number Of Subjects In The Matric Upgrade Course?

Yes, you have the option to study and upgrade all the subjects from your original certificate. You also have the option to add any new subjects to your certificate in case you need them to apply for a specific course or help boost your matric pass.

How Can Upgrading Before Work Benefit You?

Upgrading your subjects before you choose your career path. This can allow you to get a foot into the career you want. Such as being able to study the course required to start your career, and learning more about the path you want to pursue from expert tutors. As well as showing future employers your dedication towards your career goals.

What Are The Minimum Requirements To Apply For A Senior Certificate?

To qualify and write your senior certificate exams with Matric College through our Adult Matric course, here are some minimum requirements you will need:

A report showing that you passed grade 9
You completed a Grade 9 equivalent course (e.g ABET Certificate) that includes two official language subjects
Exams must be taken by people who are 21 or older
You can apply and start studying as early as the age of 19
Reading, writing and understanding English or Afrikaans are requirements
You are able to study via distance learning

What Structure Does The Matric Rewrite Course Offer To Students?

This is a course for students under 21 that allows you to rewrite all your subjects from your matric year. This means that if you write 2 or 3 years before, and you are under 21 you can still rewrite and receive a NSC certificate.

So, even if you might be working during this gap year, you can work towards receiving this certificate and studying further for better career opportunities.

How Can a Matric Rewrite Help Improve Grades?

Matric College is there to assist you with your studies. And make sure to support you when you need motivation or want more information on a topic. This can increase confidence and motivate students to want to learn more and this can contribute to a positive outcome in their exams.

How Can Rewriting Give You A Second Academic Chance?

This second attempt is an important opportunity because it means that you are willing to give time to your studies and the outcome of these exams can help you reach new heights academically, like:

Improved marks
Better understanding of topics
Tertiary and scholarship opportunities

How Many Subjects Are You Allowed To Rewrite?

With the Matric Rewrite course, you are allowed to rewrite all the subjects from your matric certificate. This means that you can choose the number of subjects you want to write in one sitting, however, you are limited to the subjects you wrote in your first exam.

What Types of Passes Can Grade 12 Students Aim For?

There are 3 main Grade 12 passes students can receive after completing their exams at the end of the year. Each pass has different outcomes for each student in terms of further education and career opportunities. Here are the passes a student receives after completing their matric exams:

Bachelor’s Degree pass
National Diploma pass
Higher Certificate pass

What Does It Take To Achieve A Bachelor's Pass?

A Bachelor’s degree pass is the highest pass one can receive after completing high school. It is the main requirement for most tertiary institutions so based on your marks, it can allow you to study from most universities if you meet the requirements for your desired course.

Here are the marks and APS score needed to receive a bachelor’s pass:

40% for your Home Language
50% for four other High Credit subjects (excluding Life Orientation)
30% for two other subjects
Pass six out of the seven compulsory subjects
APS: 23 and above

What Are The Criteria For A Diploma Pass?

A diploma pass is the second pass a student can receive after completing their Grade 12 exams. It allows the student to apply and study at any university of technology if they meet the requirements.

Here are the marks and APS score needed to receive a diploma pass:

40% for Home Language
40% for four other High Credit subjects, excluding Life Orientation
30% for two other subjects
Should pass 6 out of 7 subjects
APS: 19 and above

What Are The Requirements For A Higher Certificate Pass?

A higher certificate is the third matric pass a student can receive after passing Grade 12. This certificate allows you to study at any college if you meet the requirements, and this can open doors to start your professional career early through the courses.

Here are the requirements and APS score for a Higher Certificate:

40% in their Home Language
At least 40% in two other subjects
Obtain at least 30% for three other subjects
Should pass 6 out of 7 subjects
APS: 15 and above

How Does Matric College Assist Students Throughout Their Senior Certificate Journey?

We pride ourselves on making sure our students are receiving support throughout their journeys with us. Whether they want to write their exams as adults, upgrade their certificate or rewrite the previous year’s exams, we make sure that the road to success has fewer bumps than it would normally do.

How Does Matric College Prepare Students For Exams?

We offer exam preparation groups for all our students to ask for assistance with any topics they are not sure about and learn different methods that might help them overcome any challenges faced during their studies.

What Exam Preparation Techniques Are Most Effective?

There are different ways for you to study for these exams, and you must develop a few strategies for you to understand and write confidently the second time around fully. Here are a few to help you prepare for your exams:

Practice with past papers
Make notes from your study materials
Engage with tutors and peers
Get enough sleep
Join study groups online

How Does Matric College Help Students Achieve Their Desired Pass?

Each student is different and that can influence how they take in information, and we are aware of this because understanding topics in a subject can contribute greatly to the outcome they want.

Each of our study materials is designed with the student in mind. So that they can comprehend what the study materials are trying to explain. If they need more, they can contact one of our tutors to help them understand the work, allowing them to get better marks and passes, opening better opportunities overall.