Getting your final matric results is an exciting (and nerve-wracking) time in anyone’s life. You’ve spent the 12 years of your schooling career working towards this major milestone. You’ve written the exams, cried the tears and, lived through the stress, then celebrated the end of your final school year with your friends and family. Now it is crunch time, and your final results will soon be released.
You’re already planning out your future, but you need good results to pursue the opportunities you’re dreaming of. You don’t want to wait any longer than you have to for the news. Luckily, there are many ways to check your matric exam results, including digital channels, so the suspense will soon be over. Good luck- we hope they are everything you’ve been dreaming of!
Matric Results 2026/26: Simple Steps to Check Your Exam Results:
You can check the release date for the matric results on the Department of Basic Education’s website so you know when the ‘D-Day’ for your results will be. Typically, South Africa releases its matric results at the end of January. For example, they were released on January 19th 2025. However, the 2026 year will come early, with the date set for 14 January 2026. Remember to take this into account when you are planning your application process for tertiary education or funding.
1. Through Your School or Government Education Office
While there are many ways to check your matric results online and give yourself peace of mind, there’s only one way you will be able to collect your actual matric certificate and official statement of results. You will need this to apply to your tertiary education institution of choice or to prove your academic record to potential employers. This will be by a trip to your original school or educational facility. They will also receive a copy of your examination results, so you can combine this into one trip if it is easier.
Suppose you have since moved away from where you went to school or cannot return there for any reason. In that case, you can also contact your nearest Department of Education Office for assistance in receiving your certificate. Of course, they are also a great place to find out your exam results! Be sure to take along your ID and proof of your examination number, like the exam card you used.
2. Through SMS or USSD
Everyone has a mobile phone on them- and now you can use it to easily access your matric results, too. In fact, you can sign up for the SMS matric exam result service in advance. While it won’t get you your matric results before they are released, it will ensure you receive an SMS with your results as early as possible on the day they are released. You will text your ID number and examination number to 35658. Make sure it is in 13-digit format. Once you are signed up for the service, you will automatically receive your results on the day they are released. A small sign-up charge for this service will be deducted from your airtime balance.
Alternatively, you can use the USSD code any time after the results are released to get your results on your phone. Simply dial *120*35658#, and enter your ID and examination number when prompted. Your results will soon be sent to your phone.
3. Through The Department of Basic Education’s Website
The Department of Basic Education also has an online portal you can use to get your matric results online. You will find it here. On the site, you will enter your examination number and then your ID number (if prompted to). Click search, and your exam results will appear on the screen.
4. Through Matric Results 2026/26 Newspaper Articles
Older readers may remember the days when the only way to check your exam results other than at your school was to wait for them to be published in that day’s newspaper. The tradition of celebrating matriculants’ successes continues today. You will still find printed sheets in newspapers that provide hard copies, especially national papers and possibly your local town paper.
However, with the advent of the digital age, many newspapers also run online copies or may even only work through online copies now. Luckily, they haven’t forgotten about the eager matriculants waiting for their results! You will still find matric result lists in a variety of popular newspapers and online news portals for South Africa. Your examination number will list you only to preserve your privacy.
5. Through the MatricsMate App
The Government and the SABC developed the MatricsMate App to offer another modern way to get your matric results on your phone. You can download it from both Google Play and the Apple App Store. Simply sign in with your exam and ID numbers, and you can access your results when they are released.
And there you have it! With these convenient and simple ways to check your matric results online and off, you can share the good news as soon as your results are released.
