Matric Pass Levels, Codes & APS Explained (2026 Guide)

When your statement of results lands in January, it’s full of percentages, level numbers and a line saying what kind of pass you got. If you’re not sure what any of it means, you’re not alone.

This guide explains the matric pass levels in plain language: what a bachelor’s, diploma and higher certificate pass need, what the 1–7 achievement codes mean, and how universities turn your marks into an Admission Point Score (APS). Read it now, before results day, so you know exactly what you’re aiming for.

Quick answer: To study for a bachelor’s degree, you need your National Senior Certificate (NSC) with at least 50% in four recognised 20-credit subjects. A diploma needs at least 40% in four, and a higher certificate needs your NSC. All three need at least 30% in the language the institution teaches in. Universities often ask for more.

Get a results-day reminder: The DBE hasn’t announced the 2026 results date yet. Send us “RESULTS” on WhatsApp and we’ll let you know the moment it’s confirmed. Parents can also subscribe to the Think Education newsletter for results-day guides and study options.

The seven achievement levels

Every subject on your statement gets a level from 1 to 7, based on your percentage. These levels come from the DBE’s national policy on programme and promotion requirements.

Level	What it means	Percentage
7	Outstanding achievement	80–100%
6	Meritorious achievement	70–79%
5	Substantial achievement	60–69%
4	Adequate achievement	50–59%
3	Moderate achievement	40–49%
2	Elementary achievement	30–39%
1	Not achieved	0–29%

Source: DBE, National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the NCS Grades R–12, Table 19

These levels matter because many universities use them, not your exact percentages, to work out your APS.

What do you need to pass matric?

Before you can talk about types of passes, you need the NSC itself. Under the DBE’s policy, you take at least seven subjects and must achieve:

40% in three subjects, one of them a home language, and
30% in three other subjects.

If you’re short by 2% or less in one subject, it can be condoned (passed) if that’s what stands between you and your NSC. Worried about a paper that went badly? Read had a bad matric paper? Here’s what happens now.

Bachelor, diploma and higher certificate passes explained

Your NSC can also show that you meet the minimum to apply for different kinds of higher education. These minimums are set nationally under the Higher Education Act.

Pass level	Minimum requirements
Bachelor’s degree	NSC, plus at least 50% (level 4) in four recognised 20-credit subjects, plus at least 30% in the institution’s language of teaching
Diploma	NSC, plus at least 40% (level 3) in four recognised 20-credit subjects, plus at least 30% in the institution’s language of teaching
Higher certificate	NSC, plus at least 30% in the institution’s language of teaching

Source: Nelson Mandela University: Entry requirements, summarising the statutory minimums; Higher Education Act: Minimum admission requirements (Notice 751 of 2008)

Life Orientation does not count towards the four subjects. It’s a 10-credit subject, and the rule is about 20-credit subjects.

Good to know: A bachelor’s pass is the minimum to apply for a degree. It doesn’t guarantee you a place. Most programmes set their own, higher requirements, including specific subjects and a minimum APS.

What is an APS, and how do you work it out?

Your Admission Point Score (APS) turns your matric marks into one number. Universities compare it with the minimum each programme asks for.

There is no single national APS. Each university uses its own method, so always check the university’s own admissions page. Here are two real examples.

Example 1: Level points (University of Pretoria)

The University of Pretoria calculates its APS from your best six recognised 20-credit subjects using the 1–7 achievement scale. Life Orientation is left out. The highest possible score is 42.

So a learner with these levels:

Subject	Level
Home language	5
First additional language	6
Mathematics	4
Life Sciences	5
Geography	6
Business Studies	5
APS	31

Life Orientation would not be added, even with a level 7.

Example 2: Percentages (Nelson Mandela University)

Nelson Mandela University uses an Applicant Score instead. It adds up your percentages for six 20-credit subjects, giving a score out of 600. Life Orientation is excluded, but applicants from quintile 1–3 schools with 50% or more for Life Orientation get 7 bonus points.

The same marks can give you a very different-looking score at two universities. That’s why you should never compare your APS from one university with another university’s requirements.

Good to know: If you already have a provisional offer, check its conditions. Offers usually depend on your final results meeting the programme’s requirements, so confirm with the university what happens if your final marks change.

How to read your statement of results

When you get your statement, check three things first:

Your personal details. Make sure your name and ID number are correct. For the Class of 2025, corrections had to reach the DBE by 20 February.
Your marks and levels in each subject. Compare them with the table above.
What type of pass you achieved. Check it against the requirements for the programmes you’ve applied for.

If a mark looks wrong, you can apply for a re-mark or re-check. The window is short. See our 2026 matric results release date update for the latest dates and fees.

Things to watch out for

Mathematical Literacy vs Mathematics. Some degree programmes require Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy. Check each programme’s subject requirements.
The minimum isn’t the target. Meeting the national minimum for a bachelor’s pass is only the first step. Popular programmes ask for much more.
APS methods differ. A calculator from one university won’t work for another.

Your study options

Whatever pass you get, there’s a route forward. A bachelor’s pass opens universities. A diploma pass opens doors at universities of technology and private higher education institutions. And TVET colleges offer practical qualifications for every level.

What to do next

Work out your APS with your latest marks, using each university’s own method.
Compare programmes at universities and TVET colleges against your likely pass level.
Plan your funding. Our NSFAS guide and funding hub explain how to pay for your studies.
Get a results-day reminder by sending “RESULTS” to us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

What is a bachelor’s pass in matric?

A bachelor’s pass means you’ve met the national minimum to apply for a degree. You need your NSC, at least 50% in four recognised 20-credit subjects and at least 30% in the institution’s language of teaching. Universities usually ask for more, including a minimum APS.

What is the difference between a diploma pass and a bachelor’s pass?

A diploma pass needs at least 40% in four recognised 20-credit subjects. A bachelor’s pass needs at least 50% in four. Both need your NSC and at least 30% in the institution’s language of teaching. A bachelor’s pass lets you apply for degrees as well as diplomas.

What is a higher certificate pass?

A higher certificate pass is the minimum to apply for higher certificate study. You need your National Senior Certificate and at least 30% in the language the institution teaches in. Individual institutions may add their own requirements, so check the programme you’re interested in.

What do the levels 1 to 7 mean on my matric results?

Each level shows your percentage band. Level 7 is 80–100%, level 6 is 70–79%, level 5 is 60–69%, level 4 is 50–59%, level 3 is 40–49%, level 2 is 30–39% and level 1 is 0–29%, which means not achieved.

Does Life Orientation count towards my APS?

At most universities, no. The University of Pretoria and Nelson Mandela University both leave Life Orientation out of their scores, because it’s a 10-credit subject. Nelson Mandela University does add 7 bonus points for applicants from quintile 1–3 schools with 50% or more in Life Orientation.

What is a good APS score?

There’s no single answer, because each university calculates the APS differently and each programme sets its own minimum. At the University of Pretoria, the highest possible APS is 42. Check the requirement for the exact programme you want at that university.

What happens if I don’t get the pass I need?

You can apply for a re-mark if you think a mark is wrong, or write the May/June exam to improve your results. You could also start with a different qualification, such as a higher certificate or diploma, or look at TVET college programmes.

Sources

Official

Institutions

Matric results explained: pass levels, achievement codes and APS