The Admissions Point Score (APS) is a system used by the Department of Education and universities. The Department of Education uses APS to determine which level of pass a learner qualifies for when they pass Matric.
These passes are:
- Bachelor’s Degree Pass – 23 APS
- Diploma Pass – 19 APS
- Higher Certificate Pass – 17 APS
- National Senior Certificate Pass – 15 APS
Universities use this same system to set the minimum requirements for a course. For example; to study a Bachelor of Architecture at TUT, you would need an APS score of at least 25.
Which course you can study at a university will also depend on which subjects you choose in High School. If you see a course you want to study but do not have the correct subjects for it, do not fret. You can always upgrade your Matric Certificate to add those subjects.
Which Subjects Count Towards APS?
All subjects besides Life Orientation should be used when calculating your APS score. These subjects are:
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Universities require you to have an APS score of 23 (Bachelor’s Degree Pass) to meet their minimum entry requirement. However, the APS can change a bit depending on which university you decide to enter.
Please note, there are more courses available to study if you have Mathematics as a subject instead of Mathematics Literacy. However, the choice on which Mathematics subject you choose is completely up to you.
Why Is Life Orientation Excluded When Calculating APS?
Life Orientation is not included when calculating your APS score because it is not a required subject in any course. For this reason, the purpose of Life Orientation as a subject is questioned by many.
How Can I Calculate My APS Score?
To calculate your APS score, you will first need to know how to get the APS points you have received for each subject, besides Life Orientation. The higher your marks for a subject, the higher your APS score will be. The APS points system works as follows:
APS Points Achieved | Percentage Achieved |
1 Point | 0% – 29% |
2 Points | 30% – 39% |
3 Points | 40% – 49% |
4 Points | 50% – 59% |
5 Points | 60% – 69% |
6 Points | 70% – 79% |
7 Points | 80% – 100% |
Now that you know how the APS points system works, you can convert each of your subjects’ percentages into the amount of APS points you achieved (except Life Orientation).
Once you have done that, you can add all that APS points together. The sum of all your APS points will be your APS score. These scores will determine which courses you can study and which Matric Pass Level you receive.
If you do not want to calculate your APS score yourself, there is a convenient site that will do it for you.
Is My APS Score Good?
Although most people consider anything above 30 a “good” APS score, the validity of your APS score completely depends on which course you want to study after Matric.
An APS score of 30 is a Bachelor’s Degree Pass, this means that you can go to university and study a Bachelor’s Degree Course. Other Matric passes that can be obtained are:
National Senior Certificate Pass | Minimum APS of 15 needed |
Higher Certificate Pass | Minimum APS of 17 needed |
Diploma Pass | Minimum APS of 19 needed |
Bachelor’s Degree Pass | Minimum APS of 23 needed |
The courses you can study after Matric will depend on how high, or low, your APS score is. You can not get into a university with an APS score that is lower than 23 (Bachelor’s Degree Pass). You can, however, study a Short Course, ICB Course, or a NATED Course.
What Is The Highest APS Score?
The highest possible APS score you can get is 42. To get an APS score of 42, you will need to get:
- An APS of 7 for Home Language (80% – 100%)
- An APS of 7 for your remaining five subjects (80% – 100%)
Any APS score above 23 will be considered a Bachelor’s Degree Pass. Below are the requirements to get a Bachelor’s Degree Pass.
When you have a Bachelor’s Degree Pass you will be able to:
- Apply to a university
- Study towards a Bachelor’s Degree qualification or anything lower (Diploma qualification, Higher Certificate qualification)
- Study a Short Course, NATED Course, or an ICB Course (can be done with any Matric Pass Level)
- Apply to an entry level job (can be done with any Matric Pass Level)
Which University Can I Get Into With My APS Score?
To meet the minimum requirements to get into a university, you need to have an APS score of 23 or above. This is also known as a Bachelor’s Degree Pass.
Having a Bachelor’s Degree Pass will open up many opportunities for you, the amount of ways you can further your education is endless.
Although a Bachelor’s Degree Pass is the highest form of pass you can get when you complete Matric, this alone will not be enough to guarantee you a spot at a university. Each university will have a different set of requirements depending on what course you want to study.
It is important to research which course you want to study before applying to a university.
Does Universities Accept Lower Grades?
It depends on what is referred to as “lower grade”. Generally, universities look at good grades. “Good grades” are determined by the university’s standards. One university might accept an APS score of 23 whereas another university may accept an APS score of 30. Keep in mind that you should always aim for higher grades if you want to apply to a university.
Can You Apply To University With Grade 12 Marks?
Yes, most universities expect you to apply with your Grade 12 marks. First, they will ask for your June marks, and then they will accept you based on those marks. This means that you need to have similar or better marks for your final exam because the university will request your final exam mark. The final exam mark will officially determine your admission to university.
Can I Apply For University With Grade 11 Results?
Yes, Some universities do request that you send them your final Grade 11 results, as they believe that this is a reflection of what your marks will look like in your final Matric exam. However, these results do not mean that you will be officially accepted. You still need to submit your final Matric results, as this will indicate your:
- APS score
- Matric Pass Level (which should be a Bachelor’s Degree Pass)
What Can I Do If I Am Not Happy With My APS Score?
If you got a Matric pass or a subject on your Matric Certificate that you are not too fond of, you can either rewrite your Matric or upgrade your Matric results. This will give you the chance to get better marks or the marks you would like to achieve.
Matric Rewrite
A Matric Rewrite Course will give you the opportunity to rewrite some of your Matric subjects or rewrite your Matric exams.
Award Type | Senior Certificate |
Duration | 12 to 24 Months (recommended) |
Entry Requirements |
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If you choose to study this course, you will get to choose new subjects to add to your Matric Certificate. This means that if you want to study a course at a university but do not have the subjects to do so, you can change that with the Matric Rewrite Course.
You can study a Matric Rewrite Course at Matric College.
Matric Upgrade
The Matric Upgrade Course will allow you to add new subjects to your Matric Certificate, or upgrade your Matric Pass Level.
Award Type | Senior Certificate (Amended) |
Duration | 12 to 24 Months |
Entry Requirements |
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When you pursue the Matric Upgrade Course you can write new subjects, improve on failed/passed subjects, or change your subjects.
You can study a Matric Upgrade Course at:
What Have We Learned?
The Admissions Point Score (APS) is a system that is used both by universities and The Department of Education to set minimum requirements for courses and Matric Passes, respectively.
When calculating your APS score, you will take each of your subjects’ APS points (besides Life Orientation) and add them together. The sum of the APS points will then be your APS score.
If you think that calculating your APS score will be too much of an effort to do yourself, you can click this link and use the APS calculator.
Author: Tyla Groenewald
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 13, 2022