Is a Minimum of 60% in Maths and Science Really What You Want?

Hardworking and self-determination are the traits to have when wanting good results in Maths and Science. These subjects are the tickets to a bright future.

Ideally, no. Improving your marks will always be a good idea. 

Even if you do not want to further your studies, higher grades will always look more attractive when applying for jobs. Also, if you want to study further later in life, the hard work you put into your education early on will pay off in the future.

Why Would You Want To Improve Your Maths And Science Marks?

There are many benefits to improving your Math and Science marks. It will open many doors for your future. Here is what you can do if you improve your Maths and Science marks:

  1. You can apply for bursaries
  2. Universities or colleges will look at your marks
  3. Some jobs look at your marks
  4. It can improve your social life
  5. You will have more self-confidence

You Can Apply For Bursaries

When you have a Maths and Science mark above 60%, your chances to get a successful  bursary will be higher. Many people apply for bursaries every year, which is why only a selected few can receive a bursary. By having good marks, you could be one of the lucky students to be awarded a bursary.

Universities Or Colleges Will Look At Your Marks

Depending on which university or college you apply to and which course you want to take, your marks need to meet the course requirements for you to be accepted. 

At several universities, you need to do a National Benchmark Test (NBT) to be accepted. This test will measure your understanding of Quantitative Literacy, Mathematics and Academic Literacy. This means that having Maths or Science marks above 60% will help you achieve high marks on the test and gain acceptance into a university or college. You can apply for the National Benchmark Test (NBT) today.

Another reason why you would want to improve your Maths and Science marks is that it will boost your APS Score.

To have a good APS Score, you will need to have achieved high marks in your subjects in High School. Universities and colleges will also look at this score when considering your application for one of their courses.

Some Jobs Look At Your Marks

When applying for a job, the employer will most likely first look at the subjects you took in High School to see if you are a good fit for the job. Traditionally, Maths and Science are hard subjects to master. 

If an employer sees that you took these subjects in High School and achieved high marks, they will know you are a hardworking and a person who is determined to reach the goals that they set out for themselves in their studies.

It Can Improve Your Social Life

By spending time with friends who also care about their grades, you will feel encouraged by their determination to receive good grades, you will become more motivated to concentrate on your studies.

You will not be distracted by a negative mindset of only studying enough to pass your grade, but to secure a good report card you can be proud of.

You Will Have More Self-Confidence

You will feel more confident in who you are when you do well in your studies. You would not have to feel ashamed that you did not pass a subject or failed an exam. Setting a goal and achieving that goal will always boost your self-esteem. 

By having more self-confidence, you will feel that you can achieve much more than with a mark you are not proud of.

How Can You Improve Your Maths And Science Marks In School?

There are different ways you can improve your Maths and Science marks in High School. Here are a few examples of how to do this:

  • Tutoring
  • Extra classes
  • Additional exercises
  • Study groups
  • Ask as many questions as you can
  • Attend every class

Tutoring

By finding yourself a tutor, you can have someone help you with your schoolwork and give you individual attention. In this way, they will know your personal needs and focus on which aspects you want.

You can hire a professional tutor from a company to assist you, or you can ask a student who is a grade higher than you to help you with your work. Great companies to try and find a tutor are  Trutlejar tutoring and Khan Academy, as well as student aid at Matric College.

Extra Classes

Sometimes Teachers or people who have been Teachers previously offer extra classes to students who need extra help outside of school. 

They are usually small groups of students, but the Teacher will still give you individual attention. You will also be able to work together in a group to solve the problems you are working on.

Additional Exercises

There are a lot of additional books you can buy which contain questions and exercises about your Maths and Science subjects. You can also find extra exercises or past test papers online you can do which will help you understand your work better.

Study Groups

At your school or outside of school, the students from your class who take the same subjects as you can form a study group.

Here you can work together to understand the work that was done in class and do homework together. You can also discuss different study methods and ways to study for an exam.

Ask As Many Questions As You Can

It is very important to ask questions about subjects you do not understand.

The Teacher is there to help you in class and if you do not understand a certain equation, or you need the Teacher to explain a concept to you, you should always ask for clarification.

Attend Every Class

Being present in every Maths and Science class will be to your advantage.

Of course, if you are not able to attend class because of personal reasons, you do not have a choice, but try to attend as much as possible. Each class follows after the next and links the information together in a way which will make you understand the work better.

Tertiary Institutions

When applying to a tertiary institution to further your studies, you might have to improve certain Matric results you have obtained. There are however options which can help you with achieving the results you want.

Can I Improve My Marks After Completing Matric?

Yes, you can. If your current Matric report does not meet the requirements for the course that you want to study, you can always apply for a Bridging Course.

These courses help you with the subjects you struggled with and give you a better understanding of how to overcome them. This is very helpful with subjects such as Maths and Science that are traditionally much harder than other subjects.

Where Can I Apply To Improve My Marks After Matric?

You can improve your Matric marks at any tertiary institution which offers you the opportunity to improve your Matric marks for various reasons.

You might want to improve your marks to apply to a university where certain subjects are compulsory, or you do not have a high enough mark to enter. Either way, improving your Matric marks will be a breeze when you apply to Matric College and explore the options they have to offer.

What Career Options Are Available To Me If I Have A Math And Science Background?

There are different courses which require you to have Maths and Science as a subject to be able to study for a qualification. Here are a few examples of where you will need to have a good grade in Maths and Science:

  • Forensic Science Technicians
  • Medical Scientists
  • Chemical engineers
  • University professors
  • Engineers
  • Research Mathematicians
  • Biochemists

Can You Fail Maths And Still Pass Matric?

Yes, you can. You can fail Maths as long as youl pass your home language subject. For your home language subject, you need to have 40% and above, as well as 40% and above for the rest of your subjects.

Can You Fail Science And Still Pass Matric?

Yes, you can. You can still pass Matric if you failed one subject. You must then have at least 40% in your home language subject, and at least 30% for four of your other subjects.

What Can You Study If You Have Failed Maths Or Science?

If you failed your Matric or want to upgrade your marks, you can take one of these courses:

If you do not want to complete your Matric but want to further your studies without Matric, consider studying for one of these ICB Courses:

Is Having Above 60% For Maths And Science Worth It For Me?

Yes, it is. Having good marks in High School, not only for Maths and Science, will personally give you a lot of confidence and open many doors for your future.

You can impress your future employer or boost your chances of getting to University or College. So work hard now, and you will not be disappointed in your results later.

Author: Esmari Pool
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: August 01, 2022