Which South African Province Has Lowest Matric Results?

By Trev Gami •  Updated: 10/26/23 •  5 min read

When students write matric examinations in South Africa, they must attain a certain score to pass. The pass rate is obtained by dividing the number of students who pass the exam by the total number of students who sat for the exam and then multiplying by 100. Each school, district, province, or the entire country can calculate the pass rate using this formula.

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Although schools in different provinces follow the same curriculum and write the same Matric exams, the pass rate varies province by province. Some of the factors that can contribute to the pass rate include factors like funding of schools, quality of education offered, and learners’ socio-economic background. Read on to get insight into the province with the lowest Matric results.    

Which South African Province Has Lowest Matric Results?

According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), 920 634 students sat for Matric exams in 2022. Part-time students were also included in this largest pool of candidates to sit for Matric exams in the history of education in independent South Africa. The pass rate in the entire country was 80.1%, an improvement from 76.1% obtained in 2021. 

All provinces achieved a pass rate above 70%, indicating that performance was fairly good across the country. Limpopo Province achieved the lowest pass rate of 72.1%. Unlike in other provinces where the concentration of schools is high in urban areas, learning institutions in Limpopo are scattered across rural areas, farming communities, small towns, and cities. These areas do not have equal opportunities when it comes to funding for education, and some students come from poor backgrounds. All these factors contribute to the province’s pass rate.  

How Many Percent Did Limpopo Get?

Limpopo Got 72.1%, but this greatly improved from the 66.70% pass rate achieved in 2021. The province’s performance improved by 5.4%. The pass rate is fairly good, considering that more than two-thirds of the students passed their Matric exams. The current trajectory shows that the pass rate is poised for growth.    

Which Province Has the Best Matric Results?

Free State Province got the best Matric results in 2022, an improvement of 2.8% from 2021. The province’s four districts, Fezile, Motheo, Xhariep, and Dabi, were in the top 10 districts across the country. Five districts in Free State got pass rates of more than 82%. A total of 46 schools in the province achieved a 100% pass rate, of which 23 are located in townships. Free State has not been spared from the challenges experienced nationwide, like blackouts, but it has proved to be a force to reckon with regarding academic excellence.  

What Percentage Do You Need to Pass Maths?

If you get at least 30% in Maths and higher percentages in other subjects, it is considered a pass. With 30%, you get what is known as elementary achievement. Although there is controversy surrounding the 30% pass mark, here are the details you should know when preparing for your matric exams. 

Bachelor’s pass

A bachelor’s pass is the highest pass you can obtain in Matric exams. With this pass, you can further your studies at any university or university of technology in South Africa. You can study for a bachelor’s degree, diploma, or certificate with this pass. 

One must have the following to achieve a bachelor’s pass. 

However, universities have different admission requirements. It does not necessarily mean an automatic entry to study at university when you get a Bachelor’s pass. 

Diploma Pass

To get a diploma, one must have at least 40% in four higher-credit subjects and 30% in three lower-credit subjects. It is allowed to fail one subject. When you get a diploma pass, you can study for a diploma course at a college or university of technology. One must have the following scores to get a diploma pass. 

Certificate pass

You must get 40% in your home language, 40% in two other subjects, 30% in four subjects, and fail one subject. With this pass, you can study for a higher certificate.

It should be noted that when you score 30% in most of your subjects, you will not qualify to get a place to study at a higher learning institution. However, learners have several options to consider apart from enrolling at a tertiary institution after completing their matric. 

When you prepare for the Matric exam, it is important to understand the pass marks categorized into Bachelor’s pass, diploma pass, and certificate pass. Students who sat for their 2022 Matric exams achieved fairly impressive results in different provinces.  

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