Everything about a Bachelor Pass in South Africa
Friday, 21 July 2023
Understanding the educational system in South Africa takes a little time since there are several points to consider. A bachelor's pass is of great importance in the academic life of people. Find out everything you need to know about bachelor passes in this article.
Matrics are one of the most important points in any children’s life. Understanding how they work, what is needed, and what are the different levels is crucial to provide your children with the best support and discernment for the path they have chosen. It is quite difficult to keep track of every decision the children make though.
What are the Different Matric Levels?
There are four different levels of achievement, according to the Department of Education. Within these four levels, there are also groupings with an achievement rating. The score received dictates what matric level the student gets.
- Bachelor’s Degree Pass
- Diploma Pass
- Higher Certificate Pass
- Senior Certificate Pass
Each of these pass levels provides you with an Average Point Score (APS), obtained from your academic performance.
What is the APS?
The Average Point Score (APS) determines whether a student can get into a university or college. This score is calculated with the matric marks. So, depending on the academic performance of the children, the APS will vary.
To calculate the APS, you need to consider:
- The marks the student gets that range from 0 to 100%.
- Each mark received represents a point score ranging from 1 to 7, from lower to higher. For example, a 45% mark in Chemistry means the point score to that mark is 3.
- The total score is achieved by adding the APS of six or five to your best subjects.
| Mark Obtained in Matric exam | APS |
| A (80 – 100%) | 7 |
| B (70 – 79%) | 6 |
| C (60 – 69%) | 5 |
| D (50 – 59%) | 4 |
| E (40 – 49%) | 3 |
| F (30 – 39%) | 2 |
| G (0 – 29%) | 1 |
What are the Bachelor Pass Requirements?
Bachelor’s Pass is the highest Matric pass level a student can get. This can help them gain entrance to study a degree programme at a university or college. Of course, you need to meet the minimum requirements.
To achieve a bachelor’s pass you need:
- 40% for your Home Language
- 50% for four other High Credit subjects, excluding Life Orientation
- 30% for two other subjects
- Pass six out of the seven required subjects.
It is important to have in mind that each institution might have its requirements apart from the previously mentioned.
How many subjects do I need to pass the Matrics?
The subjects available might be extensive. High-credit subjects give a higher rating when applying for a university. These are some of the high-credit subjects:
- Accounting
- Afrikaans
- Agricultural Science
- Business Studies
- Consumer Studies
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- English
- Geography
- History
- Information Technology
- isiNdebele
- isiXhosa
- isiZulu
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Literacy
- Music
- Physical Sciences
- Religion Studies
- Sepedi
- Sesotho
- Setswana
- Siswati
- Tshivenda
- Visual Arts
- Xitsonga
Each matric level asks for different requirements that have to be met, so you have to pay attention to what is asked.
If you want to learn more about different degrees in South Africa, you should read the following articles:
What is the difference between a University and a TVET College?
Top 3 Masters in Human Resources in South Africa
Information Technology Vs Computer Science: Which is better?
If you want to receive more information about these and many other degrees, please fill in the form on this site. One of our advisors will contact you to discuss your future career and answer any questions you may have.
