National Senior Certificate
Encyclopedia
The National Senior Certificate or NSC is the equivalent of a high school diploma
and is the school-leaving certificate in South Africa
. This certificate is commonly known as the matriculant (matric) certificate, as grade 12 is known as the matriculation grade. The NSC, previously known as the Further Education and Training Certificate or FETC, replaced the Senior Certificate with effect from 2008 and was phased in starting with grade 10 in 2006. See High school: South Africa; Matriculation in South Africa
.
Subjects are all taken on the same level - there is no higher or standard grade as in the past. The official pass grade is 40%. The mean mark in any subject is usually about 55. Only a small proportion of candidates score an 'A' in any subject (from as little as 2% to a maximum of about 10% in subjects taken by highly select groups.) A further 8 – 15% are likely to gain a 'B' and about 20 – 25% achieve a 'C' grade. The Senior Certificate is a group certificate and records an aggregate mark.
The Department of Education has responsibility for general educational policy to be implemented by nine provincial education departments and private providers such as the Independent Examinations Board
(IEB). There are nine provincial examination boards and three independent boards, of which the IEB is the biggest. The IEB operates on a national level catering primarily for independent schools.
Continuous Assessment (CASS) includes all the tests, examinations, tasks, activities, orals and projects done throughout the year.
Matric results are usually out of 400 marks.
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
and is the school-leaving certificate in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This certificate is commonly known as the matriculant (matric) certificate, as grade 12 is known as the matriculation grade. The NSC, previously known as the Further Education and Training Certificate or FETC, replaced the Senior Certificate with effect from 2008 and was phased in starting with grade 10 in 2006. See High school: South Africa; Matriculation in South Africa
Matriculation in South Africa
In South Africa, matriculation is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school and the qualification received on graduating from high school, although strictly speaking, it refers to the minimum university entrance requirements. The first formal examination was conducted in...
.
Structure of the Senior Certificate
The school-leaving certificate presently awarded is the Senior Certificate (commonly known as the Matric Certificate). Pupils study at least six subjects, including two compulsory official South African languages - a first and second language - and four elected subjects. Also included as a seventh subject non-optional is Life Orientation.Subjects are all taken on the same level - there is no higher or standard grade as in the past. The official pass grade is 40%. The mean mark in any subject is usually about 55. Only a small proportion of candidates score an 'A' in any subject (from as little as 2% to a maximum of about 10% in subjects taken by highly select groups.) A further 8 – 15% are likely to gain a 'B' and about 20 – 25% achieve a 'C' grade. The Senior Certificate is a group certificate and records an aggregate mark.
Grading system
- A 80 – 100%
- B 70 – 79%
- C 60 – 69%
- D 50 – 59%
- E 40 - 49%
- F 34 – 39%
- FF 30 – 33%
- G 20 - 29%
- H 0 - 19%
The Department of Education has responsibility for general educational policy to be implemented by nine provincial education departments and private providers such as the Independent Examinations Board
Independent Examinations Board
thumb|Independent Examinations BoardThe Independent Examinations Board or IEB South African independent assessment agency which offers examinations for various client schools. It is most prominent in setting the examinations for the school-leaving National Senior Certificate, or NSC, which...
(IEB). There are nine provincial examination boards and three independent boards, of which the IEB is the biggest. The IEB operates on a national level catering primarily for independent schools.
Subjects
Learners study at least 6 subjects - 3 compulsory and at least 3 electives. All subjects are written on one grade only and are no longer written on Higher or Standard Grade. Not all schools offer the full range of Elective subjects listed here. Each school may offer subjects specific to its academic orientation. For example, Agriculture Schools offer the agriculture-orientated subjects whereas technical Schools offer the practical and mechanical-orientated subjects.Group A: Fundamentals (Compulsory)
- Two official languagesLanguages of South AfricaSouth Africa has eleven official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Fewer than one percent of South Africans speak a first language other than an official one. Most South Africans can speak more than one language. Dutch and...
:- Home Language
- First Additional Language
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
- Life Orientation (not examined externally)
Group B: Electives
At least 3 subjects from the following:- Accounting
- Agricultural Management Practices
- Agricultural Sciences
- Agricultural Technology
- Business Studies
- Civil Technology
- Computer Applications Technology (previously Computer Studies Standard Grade - Literacy)
- Consumer Studies
- Dance Studies
- Design
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Electrical Technology
- Engineering Graphics & Design
- Geography
- History
- Hospitality Studies (previously Home Economics)
- Information Technology (previously Computer Studies Higher Grade - Programming)
- Life Sciences (previously Biology)
- Mathematics: "Paper 3" (geometry, probability); "Additional Mathematics" (calculus, further algebra, and one of: matrices, statistics, mathematical modelling)
- Mechanical Technology
- Music
- Physical Science
- Religion Studies
- Second Additional Language
- Third Additional Language
- Tourism
- Visual Arts
Pass Mark
The following levels must be met as a minimum requirement to proceed to the next grade.- Home Language: Level 3 (minimum 40%)
- First Additional Language: Level 2 (minimum 30%)
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy: Level 2 (minimum 30%)
- Life Orientation: Level 3 (minimum 40%)
- 2 Subjects (Electives): Level 3 (minimum 40%)
- Remaining Subject (Elective): Level 2 (minimum 30%)
Life Orientation as Learning Area
Life Orientation (LO) has been introduced into the senior high school phase for the first time as an examination subject. LO is a broad-learning subject that covers non-academic skills needed in life.LO is examined, marked and moderated internally and comprises the following sections:- World of Work, helping learners find guidance in their choice of career and prepare them for the working world
- Health Education, this sections includes sex educationSex educationSex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
, HIVHIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AidsAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
talks, pregnancy, etc. - Physical EducationPhysical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, involves physical exercise and training, it is done on a separate basis but eventually forms part of LO mark - Religious Education, each South African school decides which religion to adhere to (as according to the South African schools act), learners may be exempted from these classes. In practice this means that learners may be exempted from, example, the Bible Studies class, but are compelled to attend the Religious Studies class (which deals with all religions as a study).
- Citizenship and Responsibility, this section teaches learners about their rights and their duties as citizens.
Assessment
There are three types of subjects:- General Subjects
- An end-of-year examination: 75% of the total mark
- Portfolio (Continuous Assessment): 25% of the total mark
- Practical Subjects
- An end-of-year examination: 50% of the total mark
- Portfolio (Continuous Assessment): 25% of the total mark
- Practical component: 25% of the total mark
- Language Subjects
- An end-of-year examination: 50% of the total mark
- Portfolio (Continuous Assessment): 25% of the total mark
- Oral Examination: 25% of the total mark
Continuous Assessment (CASS) includes all the tests, examinations, tasks, activities, orals and projects done throughout the year.
Matric results are usually out of 400 marks.
Level system (1 to 7)
- Level 7: 80 - 100% (Outstanding achievement)
- Level 6: 70 - 79% (Meritorious achievement)
- Level 5: 60 - 69% (Substantial achievement)
- Level 4: 50 - 59% (Moderate achievement)
- Level 3: 40 - 49% (Adequate achievement)
- Level 2: 30 - 39% (Elementary achievement)
- Level 1: 0 - 29% (Not achieved - Fail)