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How to Improve Your Matric Subjects

by Janine Basel
by Janine Basel

Have you finished matric but your results aren’t good enough to apply for a higher education institution? As disappointing as this can be, there is still time for you to improve matric subjects and get the marks you need to pursue further education.

Finishing high school is a huge step forward in your life but it also comes with a lot of pressure, decision making and disappointments; this is a dilemma many matriculants face. Remember, you are not alone and second chances do exist.

The next step is to figure out the next move forward. Do you want to improve matric subjects? Do you need better marks to get into a specific course? If yes, then read on to find out how to improve your matric subjects in South Africa.

Table of Contents

improve matric subjects

Write the June NSC Examinations to Improve Your Matric Subjects

If you have failed matric, the first thing you need to do is find out whether or not you qualify to write the June NSC examination provided by the Department of Education. This is the quickest way to improve matric subjects. 

Take get started, take a look at the general requirements below to see if you’d qualify for the June exams:

  • Your subjects were registered in the previous November examination. 
  • You were absent for a valid reason such as being medically unfit, experiencing a death in the immediate family, or any other special reasons (must provide proof).
  • You want to improve their overall performance or performance in a specific subject.
  • You have October/November 2022 examination results that are under investigation. You will only be able to write depending on the outcome of the investigation and on a provisional basis.
  • Make sure to provide substantial proof of documentation for any reasons you submit.

Registrations for the May/June examinations close on 8 February 2023.

The May/June examinations can be written at no extra cost.  This is a part of the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Programme.

Take a Bridging Course to Improve Your Matric Subjects

When the matric results come out, not everyone gets to celebrate the end of a successful high school career. Thankfully, there are other options available to you—such as bridging courses—that will allow you to improve your matric subjects and get a second chance at qualifying for university.

There are plenty of excellent universities that offer bridging courses in South Africa, including, but not limited to:

You can read all about the bridging courses offered by the above universities in our article below.

DISCOVER BRIDGING COURSES IN SA
learners improving their matric subjets

Other Options for Improving Your Matric Subjects

If you do not qualify to write the June NSC supplementary exams, or for a bridging course, don’t worry! There are other options you can consider that will allow you to improve your matric subjects:
 
  • Register at a school as a full-time repeater for the NSC qualification. You must be younger than 21 years old. 
  • Register at a Public Education Centre as a part-time repeater.
  • Consider Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. In South Africa, you will find over 50 TVET colleges available that you can apply to. 

In addition to the above options, you can also try registering for a course that will allow you to rewrite your matric subjects.

Re-Do Your Matric Subjects to Improve Your Matric Marks

Re-doing parts of your matric will give you a second chance to improve your matric subjects.  This could help you get into the course of your choice and even allow you to get a job that you enjoy doing.
 
There are many institutions who offer the option to re-do matric subjects. Few public high schools allow students to re-do the full matric year.  This is probably a relief – most people generally don’t want to go back to their old school.
 
There are a couple of higher education institutions that will allow you to re-do your subjects, including, but not limited to:
 

Intec College

Intec College is a private tertiary institution that offers distance learning courses as well as matric rewrites for learners who would like a second chance at matric.
 

The matric exam fee is set out by the Department of Higher Education and costs around R 2 200 per subject.  

Students can only rewrite a subject not upgrade a subject. For example, you cannot go from Mathematical Literacy to pure Mathematics.

Note: If you wrote the exams set by the Department of Basic Education, you will need to register to rewrite the subjects for which you did not meet the minimum requirements.  You may register at your high school or at an examination centre for part-time NSC grade 12 repeat candidates.  

With that said, learners will still be required to register for the final exam with the Department of Higher Education at the Exam Centres. Intec College can advise learners on this.

There are no classes available at Intec College, only correspondence.  If you are over the age of 21, different conditions apply. You may contact Intec College directly for more information.

learner studying for matric rewrite

TVET Colleges

TVET colleges allow students who have not passed matric to receive a vocational or occupational qualification. This means that you will receive education and training toward a specific range of employment possibilities.
 
There are quite a few benefits to receiving a vocational or occupational qualification from a South African TVET College, but one of the most beneficial aspects of a TVET qualification is that it may allow you to apply to a university of technology.
 
Being able to study at a university of technology will allow you to continue your studies at a higher level in the same field of study as you are studying at the TVET college.
 
There are so many TVET colleges to choose from, which is why, at FundiConnect, we’ve gathered an entire list of all the available TVET Colleges available in South Africa.

Damelin Correspondence

Damelin Correspondence is a private college that offers learners high-quality courses that are recognised in the business world, providing them with a recognised qualification that will allow them to advance in their careers.
 
Before you can study at Damelin Correspondence, however, it’s important that you meet the minimum requirements, which include a matric certificate. Luckily, Damelin Correspondence offers learners the opportunity to rewrite their matric.
 
The cost of a matric rewrite at Damelin Correspondence depends on the subject chosen and can be worked out by the institution.

How to Pass Your Matric Exams

You may be wondering how you will be able to survive the matric year and the exam season itself. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
 
Before you start studying, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to studying for matric exams, which will help prepare you for the new year.

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