The 2022 Matric supplementary exam period has passed. If you still want to rewrite your Matric subjects, you can apply for the 2023 exam. Applications are now open and will close on 31 January 2023.
The Matric Supplementary Exam Timetable will be made available closer to the exam date in May 2023.
Find the latest Matric Supplementary Exam Timetable here, along with other related questions and answers that may help you make informed choices this year.
What Is The Matric Supplementary Exam?
The Matric Supplementary Exam gives Matriculants a second chance to do their Matric Exam.
Matriculants can:
- Improve their marks in subjects they did not do too well in
- Rewrite subjects to pass Matric if they could not do so previously
- Write the subjects they missed because of a sickness, accident, or any other personal reason
Who Qualifies For Matric Second Chance?
You qualify for the Second Chance Matric Exam if:
- You are younger than 21
- You have previously written the National Senior Certificate Exam
How Many Times Can You Write Supplementary Exams?
There is no limit to the number of times you can write the Matric Supplementary Exam. You can retake the Supplementary Exam as many times as you would like before you turn 21 years old.
If you are older than 21, and you would like to rewrite your Matric, you will have to apply for the Senior Certificate (Amended) Exam.
Can I Write The Matric Supplementary Exam In February?
No, you cannot write the Matric Supplementary Exam in February. Although there were February/March Supplementary Examinations written in the past, they were discontinued.
The Matric Supplementary Exams are now only written in the following months:
- May/June
- November/December
How Do I Register For Supplementary Exams 2022?
Follow these simple steps to register for the Matric Supplementary Exam.
Step 1: Sign in on the South African e-Services Portal. If you have not created an account previously, you will have to register.
Make sure that your cellphone number and email address are correct. You will receive a one-time pin and all other communication via SMS and email.
Step 2: Click on the “Education” icon
Step 3: Select “Registration”
Step 4: You will be sent a one-time pin (OTP) that you have to enter. It will give you access to the Supplementary Exam registration form.
Step 5: Complete and submit your form. Make sure that you enter your correct personal details to prevent any mistakes from being transferred to your Exam Admission Letter, Matric Statement of Results and Matric Certificate.
How Do Matric Supplementary Exams Work?
The Supplementary Matric Exams work the same as the National Senior Certificate Exams that High School students write.
You can only rewrite the subjects you have written in the previous exam. You will also have to study and prepare for your exam again. The duration of the exam sitting is also the same, and you will have to adhere to the same exam rules and guidelines.
While everything above remains the same, the questions asked will be different from the ones you had previously.
Do Supplementary Exams Affect Your Grade?
Yes, the Supplementary Exams do affect your grade. Your new results will be combined with your previous ones. Your marks will be amended if you do well in the Matric Supplementary Exams.
You will also be issued a new Matric Statement of Results, and your improved results will reflect on your Matric Certificate.
What If I Fail In The Supplementary Exam?
If you did not pass the Matric Supplementary Exam, you can apply to write it again. You are allowed to re-register and retake the exam as many times as you would like until you are satisfied with your results.
Is The Supplementary Exam Difficult?
How difficult you find the Matric Supplementary Exam depends on your level of preparation for it.
If you do not put effort into studying, you will find it difficult. If you prepared well in advance and prioritised your studies over everything else that will not benefit you, you will be able to complete your exam without much difficulty, and you may even get a distinction!
How Do You Get 7 Distinctions In Matric?
One of the ways you will be able to get seven distinctions in Matric is by studying. If you do not dedicate most of your time to studying effectively, you will not be able to get seven distinctions.
Read our article on the Top 10 Tips to Pass Matric With Distinctions for more advice on how to get seven distinctions in Matric.
What Are The Easiest Subjects To Pass?
The easiest subjects to pass in Matric is generally determined by these factors:
- Your interest
- Your passion
- What you are good at
However, in South Africa, most students find Languages and Life Orientation the easiest subjects to pass. Continue reading to find out why.
Why Is Language Easy To Pass?
The Language Exam consists of three papers that can be fairly easy if you prepare well. You will have three opportunities to boost your marks with the following:
- Language and Comprehension
- Literature
- Creative writing
If you are not good with grammar and comprehension, you may excel in understanding the poetry or novels you analysed in class, or you may be really good at creative writing, and vice versa.
What Makes Life Orientation Easy To Pass?
Life Orientation is easy to pass because most questions in the exam are based on general knowledge and common sense.
Although many may think that Life Orientation is unnecessary and should not be taught in schools anymore, for some learners, the classroom is the only place they will be exposed to:
- Learning hard and soft life skills
- Values
- Self-realisation
- The importance of protecting our natural environment
- The duties of a responsible citizen
- How to lead a healthy and productive life
- Social engagement
- Recreation and healthy physical activity
- Careers and career choices
This makes it equally important as other subjects like Mathematics and Science.
Do We Rewrite All Subjects In The Supplementary Exam?
No, you do not have to write all your subjects in the Matric Supplementary Exam. You can choose which subjects you would like to rewrite.
You can apply for the Matric Supplementary Exam if:
- You failed a subject and want to rewrite to pass
- You passed a subject but would like to get higher marks
- You passed but would like to improve your overall subject average because want to study at a university but your Admission Points Score (APS) is low
What Happens If I Fail 1 Subject?
If you fail one subject but pass all your other subjects, you will still pass Matric. Although this is the case, you may not get less than 30% for your Home Language.
If you would like to rewrite the subject you failed, you can apply for the Matric Supplementary Exam. You will be able to study the subject again.
Your chances of passing the second time are higher because you will have an understanding of where you went wrong in your first exam. Your workload will also be lighter because you will only have one subject to focus on instead of seven.
What Happens If You Fail 4 Subjects In Matric?
You do not pass Matric if you received less than 30% in four subjects.
You can do the following if you did not pass:
- Apply for the Matric Supplementary Exam and rewrite the subjects
- Apply to study at Matric College
Why Should I Study At Matric College?
You should study at Matric College for the following reasons:
- We are a distance learning institute
- All our courses are affordable
- You can study at your own pace
- We provide you with study material and Matric Exam Past Papers, send you assignments and set up mock Matric exams for you to practice for your exam
- You get tutoring at no additional cost to your course fees
- We motivate and encourage our students to study and submit assignments
The benefits of studying with Matric College are endless. You can apply for our Matric Rewrite Course that will help you prepare for the Matric Supplementary Exams.
Apart from our Matric Courses, we also have ICB Courses and Short Courses that you can study without Matric.
You can contact one of our Course Experts for more information on our courses and the fees.
If you want to write the Matric Supplementary Exam, you have to take it as seriously as your first attempt at the National Senior Certificate Exam.
We usually do not get second chances for most things in life, but we do get a second chance to get an education that matters and that would help us build a successful career.
Do not let the opportunity pass you by. Register for our Matric Rewrite Course today!
Author: Tammy Fredericks
Editor: Mulisa Nethononda
Date Published: December 01, 2022