The Independent Examination Board (IEB) is a South African independent assessment agency that offers alternative Matric examinations to independent schools. The Board is accredited by Umalusi.
Is IEB Private Or Government?
As the name implies, the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) is independent of the Government. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) assesses public schools. While the IEB mostly assesses private schools.
Does IEB Fall Under The Department Of Basic Education?
The IEB, being an independent assessment body still needs to be regulated. Both Umalusi and the DBE regulate the IEB. This is to ensure that students are receiving high-quality assessments and examinations.
Is IEB Part Of NSC?
Students who complete their Matric Through the IEB will also receive the NSC. However, these students do not write the same exams. The IEB has their own assessments and examinations.
Which Curriculum Is Used By The IEB?
The IEB uses the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). CAPS is a comprehensive policy document introduced by the Department of Basic Education. For all the subjects listed in the National Curriculum Statement for Grades R – 12. CAPS gives detailed guidance for Teachers on what they should teach and how to assess.
Does IEB Students Write The NSC?
If a student has written exams through the IEB. Once completed and passed, they will receive an accredited NCS certificate. Their examinations are Umalisi accredited and recognised.
What Is The IEB Equivalent To?
The IEB themselves are South African. However, the curriculum they provide can be on an equivalent level to the UK AS levels. Because of this, students who completed their Matric through the IEB. Have more chances of getting into further education in different parts of the world.
Is IEB Or NSC Harder?
It is not about whether one option is harder than the other. You should view the options a chance to see which suits your goals better. Consider how these options are similar and different in the following ways:
| IEB | NSC |
| Private assessment body | Government assessment |
| Accredited by Umalusi | Accredited by Umalusi |
| Based on the CAPS curriculum | Students Complete the CAPS curriculum |
| Minimum of 7 subjects | Need to study 7 subjects |
| Exams are invigilated | Exams are invigilated |
Can be recognised internationally, especially in the UK;
| Comparable to international school-leaving exams;
|
Which Curriculum Is Better In South Africa?
South Africa uses the CAPS curriculum. While the NSC embodies the CAPS curriculum, the IEB is based on it. What sets the IEB apart is not by its curriculum, but rather by the assessment requirements. Both options focus on skills that will be in high demand in South Africa.
What Are The Requirements For Schools To Register With IEB?
For schools to be registered to write Matric IEB exams, they need to meet the following requirements:
- Must be registered with the Provincial Department of Education
- Must have been accredited with Umalusi or in the process of being accredited
- The National Senior Certificate is a 3-year qualification. Schools must be registered when their first group of Grade 12 learners are in Grade 10 or earlier.
- Teachers must attend the subject conferences
- Provide financial statements for the past 3 years
- The students of the school must be full-time learners
- The school must be housed in a permanent structure
- Must have qualified Teachers
- Must have a school management team
- Must have a secure facility for the storage of question papers and answer scripts
What Are The Requirements For Registration?
There are a few things that schools need to have obtained before they can register with the IEB. here are some requirements you should consider before registering:
- Must be registered with the Provincial Department of Education before the learners write their Grade 12 exams
- As a school you will need to have completed the evaluation process and accredited with Umalusi;
- If you have not been through the evaluation process, the IEB will consider the outcome after the Umalusi process is completed
- The IEB will also consider provisional acceptance f there has been an evaluation conducted by other recognised agencies (e.g. IQAA or CIE)
- There needs to be a minimum total of students in Grade 10 (e.g. 10 learners)
- Teachers must attend the subject conferences
- Schools must provide financial statements for the past 3 years
- The students that are enrolled at the school must be full-time learners
The School (Maintenance/Structure)
For students to be able to thrive, they will need to have the facilities to provide them not only with quality education but also the best environment. Consider the following:
- The school must be a permanent structure
- There has to be water and electricity
- Sanitation is a must!
A Fully Staffed Facility
For any organisation to run smoothly and successfully, having staff is important. The IEB wants a school’s staff to be made up of the following:
- Must have qualified Teachers
- Must have a school management team
The Resources The School Needs To Have
Students will need to have the necessary equipment and other resources to receive a quality education. That is to make this possible, the IEB expects schools to have the following:
- Classrooms need to be adequate
- The learners should have the necessary stationery, which includes textbooks
- There need to be facilities for the participation of certain subjects for example;
- Computer labs for IT
Schools Need A Security System In Place
This is very important. To ensure that there are no cheating or other unethical situations. The IEB expects schools to have security in the form of the following areas:
- Examination papers and answers need to be kept in a secure environment
- The IEB indicated that the minimum safety measure should be safe in a secured room
- The school will need their video and audio monitoring systems checked and approved by the IEB
Which Subjects Are Assessed By IEB?
The subjects that are assessed by the IEB are divided into the following groups:
- Group A
- Group B
- Other approved subjects
Group A
The subjects in Group A are divided into the following groups:
- A1
- A2
- A3
A1
This group consists of the following Official Languages at Home and First Additional Language Level Subjects:
- Afrikaans Home Language
- Afrikaans First Additional Language
- English Home Language
- English First Additional Language
- IsiXhosa First Additional Language
- IsiZulu Home Language
- IsiZulu First Additional Language
- Sepedi Home Language
- Sepedi First Additional Language
- Sesotho Home Language
- Sesotho First Additional Language
- Setswana First Additional Language
- Siswati Home Language
- Siswati First Additional Language
- Xitsonga First Additional Language
A2
This group consists of the following Mathematical Science subjects:
- Mathematical Literacy
- Mathematics
A3
This group subject consists of one Human and Social Studies subject, that is, Life Orientation
Group B
Group B is further divided into the following seven (7) subgroups:
- B1
- B2
- B3
- B4
- B5
- B6
- B7
B1
This group consist of the following subjects Culture and Arts:
- Dance Studies
- Design
- Dramatic Arts
- Music
- Visual Arts
B2
This group consists of the following subjects Business, Commerce and Management Studies:
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Economics
B3
This group consist of the following Official Languages at Second Additional Level and Non-Official Languages subjects:
- Isizulu Second Additional Language
- Arabic Second Additional Language
- French Second Additional Language
- German Home Language
- German Second Additional Language
- Gujarati Home Language
- Gujarati First Additional Language
- Hebrew Second Additional Language
- Hindi Home Language
- Hindi First Additional Language
- Italian Second Additional Language
- Latin Second Additional Language
- Mandarin Second Additional Language
- Modern Greek Second Additional Language
- Portuguese Home Language
- Portuguese Second Additional Language
- Serbian Home Language
- Serbian Second Additional Language
- Spanish Second Additional Language
- Tamil Home Language
- Tamil First Additional Language
- Telegu Home Language
- Telegu First Additional Language
- Urdu Home Language
- Urdu First Additional Language
B4
This group consist of Engineering Graphics and Design as the only subject.
B5
This group consists of the following Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences subjects:
- Agricultural Management Practice
- Agricultural Science
- Computer Applications Technology
- Information Technology
- Life Sciences
- Physical Sciences
B6
This group consists of the following Human and Social Studies subjects:
- Geography
- History
- Religion Studies
B7
This group consists of the following Services subjects:
- Consumer Studies
- Hospitality Studies
- Tourism
Other Approved Subjects
The following are the other approved subjects:
- Equine Studies
- Maritime Economics
- Nautical Science
- Sports and Exercise Science
How Many Subjects Are Assessed Per Student?
A student is assessed on a minimum of seven (7) subjects as follows from the following groups:
- Group A
- Group B
- Other group subjects
Group A
- Two official languages (at least one at Home Language level)
- Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics
- Life Orientation
Group B
Students can select any three subjects from Group B
Other Group Subjects
One of the three subjects a student can select from Group B can be from the Other Group Subjects.
What Are The IEB Pass Levels
Here are the IEB Pass Levels:
National School Certificate Pass
Here is the minimum requirement for a National School Certificate Pass:
- One (1) official language at Home Language level at 40%
- Two (2) additional subjects at 40%
- Three (3) other subjects at 30%
Higher Certificate Pass
Here is the minimum requirement for the Higher Certificate Pass:
- One (1) official language at Home Language level at 40%
- Two (2) additional subjects at 40%
- Three (3) other subjects at 30%
- Meet the language requirements for further study at a South African institution
Diploma Pass
Here is the minimum requirement for the Diploma Pass:
- Pass one (1) official language at Home Language level at 40%
- Pass three (3) additional subjects at 40% (excluding Life Orientation)
- Pass two (2) other subjects at 30%
- Meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution
Bachelor’s Degree Pass
Here is the minimum requirement for the Bachelor’s Degree Pass:
- Pass one (1) official language at Home Language level at 40% or more
- Pass four (4) subjects at 50% or more (excluding Life Orientation)
- Pass two (2) other subjects at a minimum of 30%
- Meet the language requirement for entry to further study
Who Qualifies For Supplementary IEB Exams?
Any students that need to improve their results, or missed an exam. There are certain requirements as well as how to register for the exams. In this section you will be informed of both:
How Do You Qualify For The Supplementary Exams?
The supplementary exams are usually in the same period as the other examinations. The exams are typically taken in May. Here are the factors that will allow you to complete your exams:
- If you have missed one or more examination papers legitimately as a result of illness
- If you require a maximum of two subjects to obtain the National Senior Certificate
- If you want to achieve a higher category of achievement or to achieve results as required for entry to further study.
- If you only write subjects which you wrote in the previous end-of-year examinations
Where Do I Register For The Supplementary Exams?
You can start by visiting the IEB official website. There you will find a dropdown menu where you will find the “Assessment” Option:
Step 2: After you have selected this option, you will be directed to a page that covers different assessment options. From primary school to Adult education and training. Choose the “High Schools” option, this will provide you with information for Grade 12 students:
Step 3: After you have selected “read more”, be sure to select the option for “National Senior Certificate (NSC)”. Scroll down until you find this section:
You will be directed to a page that explains the examination process. You will also find a link that will take you to the key dates for the NSC as well as instructions for student login.
Where Can I Find My IEB Matric Results?
Here is where you can find your IEB Matric results
- IEB website
- IEB SMS line
- From your High School
IEB Website
IEB Students can log on to the IEB website to access their results. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the IEB website
- Log in by providing the following information:
- Exam number
- Date of birth
- Click – Submit
- Your results will be displayed
IEB SMS Line
Register for this service by sending the following information to the Short Messaging Service number (SMS) 35135:
- ID number
- Exam number
You can use the USSD code too, by dialling *120*35658*.
From Your High School
Visit your school on the day the results are released and collect them in person. Contact your school to find out if you can collect your results on the day they are released.
Is IEB Internationally Recognised?
Yes, the IEB is internationally recognised. It is recognised by the United Kingdom (UK) National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC). UK NARIC is the official United Kingdom qualifications evaluation authority appointed by the British Government.
People Also Ask
The IEB is an independent examination body that provides assessments for Grade 12 learners.
Yes, universities do accept IEB matriculants. You can apply both to South African Universities and international ones.
You can combine your results if you had more than one exam. This could mean you had to repeat a subject. Your performance in the seven subjects will be considered.
You can complete the Adult Matric through us. At Matric College we provide you with different Matric courses to help you complete your Matric:
Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: July 20, 2022