What Is An APS score?

You can further your education through our college, you can use your Matric Certificate with any APS Score to apply for our NATED, ICB and Short Courses.

An APS (Admission Point Score) is a method used by universities to decide whether students can get admission or not. Students are required to have a specific APS Score to study at the university. 

Each university has a unique APS Score. Each course at the university also has a unique APS Score. This means that students must meet the APS Scores required by both the university and the course they have applied for.

How Do You Calculate APS Score?

APS Scores are calculated based on the results that the students have. Below is a table to show you how an APS Score is determined: 

Matric Symbols Marks received in the final examinationAPS (Admission Point Score)Achievement Description
A+  80 – 100%7Outstanding 
A  70 – 79%6Meritorious 
60 – 69%5Substantial 
C  50 – 59%4Moderate
D  40 – 49%3Adequate
E  30 – 39%2Elementary
F 0 – 29%1Not Achieved
  • English First Language – 68% = 5 points 
  • isiZulu Home Language – 79% = 6 points 
  • Life Orientation – 59% =  (We do not include L.O in APS calculations)
  • Mathematical Literacy – 65% = 5 points 
  • Physical Sciences- 67% = 5 points 
  • Life Sciences- 81% = 7 points (Distinction)
  • Geography – 76% = 6 points

5 + 6 + 5 + 5+ 7 + 6 = 34 APS Score 

What Is The Highest APS Score You Can Get?

The highest APS Score you can receive is an APS of 42 points. This happens when students get distinction passes for all their subjects. A distinction is a mark of 80% and above. Each distinction is equivalent to (7) seven points. 

Below is a table to show you how distinction passes can make an APS Score of 42 points: 

Subjects Marks received in the final examinationAPS (Admission Point Score)
English First Language 80 – 100%7
Tshivenda Home Language 80 – 100%7
Mathematics 80 – 100%7
Agricultural Sciences 80 – 100%7
Life Sciences 80 – 100%7
Geography 80 – 100%7
Life Orientation (Not included in APS calculations)80 – 100%

7

7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7 = Total APS Score of 42 points 

What Is A Good APS Score?

A good APS Score can be determined based on the university and the course you want to study. However, if you have an APS of 35 points and above, you are considered to have a good APS Score. 

To find out what is considered a good APS Score, you can do research on the university and course you want to study.

What APS Do You Need For University?

Each university requires its own unique APS Score. This means you must do research on the university you want to study at and see what APS Score is required.

There is, however, one thing that universities have in common when it comes to admission. They look for students who have passed with a Bachelor’s Degree Pass. If you have this pass, you will have a better chance of being admitted into the university.

Here is a table showing the differences between the matric passes and the APS scores associated with each pass:

Matric PassAPS Score
Bachelor’s Degree Pass23 points
Diploma Pass19 points
Higher Certificate Pass15 points
National Senior Certificate Pass14 points

NOTE: Your admission is not automatic because you have a Bachelor’s Degree pass. You will still have to provide a good APS Score to get admission.

Which Marks Do Universities Look At?

Some universities only look at Grade 12 results. However, other universities look at Grade 11 and Grade 12 results. Your Grade 11 results are usually used to secure your spot at the university of your choice. 

The university gives you a temporary admission if your Grade 11 results are good. They do this while waiting for your Grade 12 results. If your Grade 12 results also meet their requirements, they can give you permanent admission where you can start studying. 

Also, some courses require students to pass specific subjects. These subjects cover similar topics to what the course will have or expand on, so you get to learn more about the pathway you want to take after completing university. For example, if you want to study IT in university, Mathematics and Information Technology are needed.

Passing these required subjects also shows the institution your capability to do the course, helping you receive acceptance. However, if your Grade 12 results do not meet their requirements, you do not gain admission. 

Do Universities Accept Lower Grades?

No, most universities do not accept students with low marks. However, while this is true, it mostly depends on your matric pass and the requirements of your desired course. 

So, while students with high marks and distinctions have better chances, your marks meeting the requirements can help you gain acceptance. This is especially true if you gain the highest matric pass, a Bachelor’s Degree pass.

To obtain a Bachelor’s Degree Pass, you must have the following marks: 

  • A minimum of 40% in your home language 
  • A minimum of 50% in four subjects 
  • A minimum of 30% in two other subjects 

Please note that these are minimum requirements, and you can always obtain higher marks to increase your chances of obtaining university admission

What To Do If No University Accepts You?

If you do not get university admission, you can upgrade your marks. Upgrading your marks will help you get better marks which can be accepted into the university. Apply for the Upgrade Matric Course at Matric College. 

Through this course, you can change old subjects with new ones. Please note that you can only change a minimum of four subjects. Changing subjects can help you choose easier subjects which you can pass with high marks

To pass the course, you will be required to write an exam. Exams will be required for all subjects you upgrade. You must obtain 50% or higher marks to pass the exam. When you pass the course, you will receive a Matric Qualification

What Can I Study With My Matric Pass?

While most universities have strict and specific requirements for their students, we work to include students from all backgrounds. This means that we have courses for each matric pass students gain after high school. Here are the courses you can study with your matric pass:

  • Bachelor’s Degree Pass
  • Diploma Pass
  • Higher Certificate Pass
  • National Senior Certificate Pass

Bachelor’s Degree Pass

Diploma Pass

Higher Certificate Pass

  • NATED Courses
  • ICB Courses
  • Short Courses
  • Matric Rewrite Course
  • Matric Upgrade Course

National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass

  • NATED Courses
  • ICB Courses
  • Short Courses
  • Matric Rewrite Course
  • Matric Rewrite Course

Courses like ICB, Short courses and Adult Matric can be studied without a Matric certificate, however, you need to meet their requirements to study one.

NOTE: Office Administration is the only ICB course that requires a Matric certificate to study.

What Can I Study With APS Of 18?

If you have an APS of 18 points, you can study through our college for any of the courses we offer. We do not require students to have a certain APS Score to study our ICB, NATED or Short Courses. You are only required to have Grade 10 for certain courses and a Matric Qualification at any Matric Pass Level for the rest. You can study many of our coursesWe have many courses that you can study ifprovided you have a Matric Qualification. These are:
Programme: Summary: Courses:
NATED Courses NATED Courses are best if you want to gain skills, knowledge and qualifications that will help you find employment. Below are the NATED Courses you can study:
ICB Courses ICB Courses are best if you want to obtain scarce skills, knowledge and qualifications that will help you find employment or start a business. Below is a list of the ICB Courses you can study:
Short Courses Short Courses are best if you want to be equipped with a wide range of skills that you can use to start your own business or find work opportunities. Below is a list of Short Courses you can study:

People Also Ask

Yes, increasing your APS score is as simple as identifying the subjects with low marks and upgrading them with our Matric Upgrade course. There are different reasons why students would want to increase their APS score, here are a few:

  • Better marks
  • Higher matric pass
  • Adding a new subject for higher marks
  • University-specific requirements
  • Course-specific requirements

Yes, most institutions and courses list Mathematics as a requirement. Some courses feature maths as a module, so the knowledge and skills you learn in high school are beneficial to your university experience. 

Our Adult Matric course also lists Mathematics as a subject you are required to have as part of your subjects. This is because:

  • It is a compulsory subject
  • The knowledge and skills are important
  • It is a requirement for tertiary institutions
  • Better career options

Yes, while it is a low Matric pass level, it will not stop you from studying further or gaining a good career in the future. Receiving a Matric certificate is the first step of the process and from there you can decide on what you want to use it for. 

We also offer courses that can help students who want to increase their marks for a better matric pass level and the benefits that come with each one. Here is our selection of courses to help you gain better marks and skills:

  • Matric Upgrade Course (You have to be 21 or older)
  • Matric Rewrite Course (You have to be under 21)
  • NATED Courses (A matric certificate is a requirement, any matric pass is eligible)
  • ICB Courses (You can apply with or without a matric certificate)
  • Short Courses (You can apply with or without a matric certificate)

Author: Mulisa Nethononda 
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date Published: September 16, 2022