What Was The Overall Matric Pass Rate 2024?

By Klenam JU •  Updated: 01/23/24 •  6 min read

The matric exams can sometimes be the talk of the town. This is because it is a popular exam with great anticipation among South African students. 

The matric exam is highly prestigious as it has a great influence on determining the academic path of students. The matric exam is considered to be the last assessment for students in high school. It ushers students into a new life by evaluating their knowledge of the various subjects studied and their application. 

Looking at the educational structure in South Africa, the matric exam is designed to assess the abilities of students by giving them the room to be more analytical, knowledgeable and have a great reflection on what they might have studied in high school.

With all these, a high matric pass gives a clear indication of the student’s performance and the effectiveness of the educational system in South Africa. 

In this blog post, we will be looking at the bigger picture of the matric pass rate in 2024. We will highlight what the pass rate for the matric has been so far from 2010 to the current year. Also, we will explore some of the results captured in the various province by matching them with the pass rate. 

What Was The Overall Matric Pass Rate? 

Knowing that the matric exams hold a high significance in the life of students also confirms that the education structure set in South Africa has a reflection on the lives of students.

The matric pass rates, in other ways, help the institutions involved in the educational system in South Africa to create policies, fix issues, and create a responsive system. And this is part of the responsibilities of the Department of Education to ensure the right thing is being done at the right time.

A high matric pass rate gives students more opportunities to continue their education, allowing them to pursue advanced studies in different fields. In addition, having a higher level of education can improve your chances of finding employment since many job positions now require a certain level of educational achievement. When a high pass rate is achieved, it shows that students have acquired the essential skills needed to make a positive impact in the workforce.

The matric exams and the pass rate are incredibly important in shaping individuals, societies, and nations. These institutions serve as a connection between higher education and employment, showcasing the effectiveness of education systems. When we prioritize achieving a high matric pass rate, it not only benefits our students but also sets the stage for a brighter and more prosperous future.

The overall matric pass rate is calculated based on the various pass rate within the provinces in South Africa. Also, the matric pass rate considers the number of students enrolled for the matric exams and the results. Although it is an individual contribution, the system looks at the overall performance of the students across senior high schools in the country. 

Looking at the past years, there has been a significant improvement in the passing rate for the matric exams. 

Through the various results portal and data collected, the minister for education in South Africa indicated the pass rate for the matric exams is around 80%. Although there were disputes regarding the pass rates, it has been confirmed that the matric pass rate grew by 3% in the previous year. 

Considering the overall pass rate in the various province in South Africa, the precalculated pass rate is around 80.1%.

Matric Results For Gauteng (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for Gauteng from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 79%

2011: 81%

2012: 84%

2013: 87%

2014: 85%

2015: 84%

2016: 87%

2017: 86%

2018: 89%

2019: 87%

2020: 84%

2021: 83%

2022: 84.4%

Matric Results For The Western Cape (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for Western Cape from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 77%

2011: 83%

2012: 83%

2013: 85%

2014: 83%

2015: 85%

2016: 88%

2017: 84%

2018: 83%

2019: 82%

2020: 80%

2021: 81%

2022: 81.4%

Matric Results For KwaZulu-Natal (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for KwaZulu-Natal from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 71%

2011: 68%

2012: 73%

2013: 77%

2014: 70%

2015: 61%

2016: 66%

2017: 74%

2018: 77%

2019: 81%

2020: 78%

2021: 77%

2022: 79%

Matric Results For The Free State (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for The Free State from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 72%

2011: 69%

2012: 75%

2013: 75%

2014: 76%

2015: 69%

2016: 79%

2017: 78%

2018: 75%

2019: 81%

2020: 85%

2021: 86%

2022: 88%

Matric Results For The North West (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for The North West from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 76%

2011: 78%

2012: 80%

2013: 87%

2014: 85%

2015: 82%

2016: 83%

2017: 82%

2018: 84%

2019: 87%

2020: 76%

2021: 78%

2022: 79.8%

Matric Results For The Eastern Cape (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for The Eastern Cape from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 58%

2011: 58%

2012: 62%

2013: 65%

2014: 65%

2015: 57%

2016: 63%

2017: 66%

2018: 71%

2019: 77%

2020: 68%

2021: 73%

2022: 77.3%

Matric Results For Limpopo (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for Limpopo from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 58%

2011: 64%

2012: 67%

2013: 72%

2014: 73%

2015: 66%

2016: 63%

2017: 67%

2018: 71%

2019: 73%

2020: 68%

2021: 67%

2022: 72.1%

Matric Results For Mpumalanga (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for Mpumalanga from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 57%

2011: 65%

2012: 70%

2013: 78%

2014: 79%

2015: 79%

2016: 77%

2017: 77%

2018: 80%

2019: 80%

2020: 74%

2021: 73%

2022: 76.8%

Matric Results For The Northern Cape (2010 to 2022)

Here are the matric results recorded for The Northern Cape from the year 2010 to 2022.

2010: 72%

2011: 69%

2012: 75%

2013: 75%

2014: 76%

2015: 69%

2016: 79%

2017: 78%

2018: 75%

2019: 77%

2020: 66%

2021: 71%

2022: 74.2%

National Matric Results Of Learners Who Wrote The NSC Exam (2010 to 2022)

Each year the results of the matric exams are released. This is to inform the students of their performance at the end of the high school period and also what lies ahead of them in terms of employment and higher education. 

The national matric exams look at the consistency of the results released every year from 2010 to 2022. These are recorded to identify the loopholes and challenges in the NSC exams. From 2012 to 2022, there has been an increase in the number of students who take matric exams. And also, the performance of the matric results has seen an increasing rate over the last decade. 

It is certain that there are challenges that come up during the matric exams, but the Department of Education ensures to tackle these issues at the end of the academic year. 

The national matric results have seen positive growth from 2010 to 2022. And this has remarkably increased the number of admissions to tertiary education. 

Which Province Has The Lowest Matric Results?

Although a province may be recorded as the spot with the lowest matric results, it does not signify individual performance. 

For the past few years, Limpopo has recorded the lowest matric results. Knowing these stats helps the Department of Education to strategize and plan better. 

Which Province In South Africa Has The Highest Matric Pass Rate?

The matriculation pass rate is an important measure that shows how many students in South Africa successfully pass their Grade 12 exams. The rate I’m referring to is specific to each province. It is calculated by dividing the number of successful examinees by the total number of people who took the exam.

Although it may seem like a competition among the province with the best and worst pass rates, it is certainly not a battle.

The matric results that are published reflect the student’s performance at the end of grade 12. The pass rates are shared as part of the information to the public to inform individuals about the overall performance in South Africa.

There are certain variables that play a role in the matric pass rate. These variables include socio-economic policies, educational curriculum, school structure, watching, and so many more. The pass rate is directly proportional to that of the variables within the province in South Africa.

Currently, the province with the highest pass rate is the free state province. This province in South Africa has constantly topped the matric pass rate for almost a decade now.