In terms of subject choices, the biggest decision a learner will make is in the Grade 9 year of schooling in South Africa. In Grade 9, the subjects chosen for the next three years of schooling will culminate in writing the NSC exams. The results of this exam will determine which tertiary institutions a learner may apply for. These include universities, technical universities, colleges, etc.
There are 4 levels of NSC pass and the higher your marks, the better your chances of being accepted to your chosen university.
It is also in Grade 9 that a learner may choose to leave academic schooling and pursue a more technical path at a college or even enter the workforce.
Choosing subjects is hugely stressful and most learners will find it difficult to choose subjects for Matric. Even learners who know what they want to do after school can find this process difficult.
It can also be extremely overwhelming to try and understand all the requirements for various subjects.
There are a few things learners must consider when choosing subjects, including what subjects they enjoy, which subjects will benefit them in the future and what subjects their school offers.
If you’re struggling with subject choice or just want a bit of guidance for the future, you can take our subject choice quiz here or read on to learn more about subject choices in South African schools.
Subjects taken in schools before Grade 10
Before Grade 9, a learner will study the following compulsory subjects at school.
Foundation Phase (Grade 1 - Grade 3):
Mathematics
Life Skills ( Beginning Knowledge, Creative Arts, Physical Education, Personal and Social Well-being)
Languages - one Home Language and one additional Home or FAL. Languages as a subject are covered in more depth here.
Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 - Grade 6):
Mathematics
Natural Sciences and Technology
Social Sciences
Life Skills
Languages: one Home Language and one additional Home Language or FAL. Schools may also offer another non-official approved language.
One language in LOLT
Senior Phase (Grades 7 - Grade 9):
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Technology
Life Orientation
Social Sciences
Arts and Culture
Economic and Management Science
Languages- one Home, one additional and one can offer Non-official Language
One language in LOLT
Further Education and Training (FET) (Grade 10 - Grade 12)
A minimum of seven subjects in order to achieve a Pass with Entry to a Bachelor’s Degree. All subjects must be passed in each Grade. See below.
Subject requirements to achieve an NSC
For the NSC, learners are required to study seven subjects, four of which are compulsory:
- Mathematics OR Mathematical Literacy (IEB allows both to be studied)
- Life Orientation (LO)
- Home Language (one of South Africa’s 11 official languages)
- An additional South African language (can be home language or first additional language (FAL)
The remaining three subjects for the NSC are chosen from the following learning fields:
Agriculture:
This field is divided into Agricultural Management Practices, which is more practical and teaches students how to undertake productive agricultural practices, and Agricultural Sciences which focuses on the biological aspects of agriculture, among other sciences.
Subjects:
Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Management Practises
Agricultural Technology
Potential careers for learners in this field include landscape engineering, conservation, farming and winemaking.
Arts and Culture:
There are a variety of artistic fields covered here, including Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts and Music. Students will be exposed to a variety of different styles, techniques and mediums within their chosen field, and many of the courses here involve a practical element in addition to the theory.
Subjects:
Dance Studies
Design
Dramatic Arts
Visual Arts
Music - see practical exams below which acts as an 8th subject.
Potential careers for learners in this field include acting, designing, architecture and music.
Business, Commerce and Management Studies:
Subjects within this field focus on preparing learners to understand the world of business and money, from the perspective of both management and consumers. Practical skills include accounting and learning how to prepare business plans and proposals.
Subjects:
Accounting
Business Science
Economics
Potential careers for learners in this field include law, accounting and financial advice.
Services:
Learners looking to pursue careers in hospitality, tourism or the food industry can learn to manage a hospitality business and understand consumer behaviour.
Subjects:
Consumer Studies
Hospitality Studies
Tourism
Potential careers for learners in this field include chef, hotel manager, airline crew and tour operator.
Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology:
Subjects in this field cover the basics of design systems will introduce learners to the concept of creating and utilizing design processes.
Subjects:
Civil Technology
Electrical Technology
Engineering and Graphic Design
Mechanical Technology
Potential careers for learners in this field include engineering and graphic design.
Human and Social Sciences:
Subjects in this field are ideal for learners wishing to understand more about the past, the present and their fellow human beings.
Subjects:
Geography
History
Religious Studies
Potential careers for learners in this field include journalism, research, anthropology and filmmaking.
Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences
Subjects in this field will equip learners with a detailed understanding of the world around them, from the physical to the natural to the virtual.
Subjects:
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
Computer Application
Information Technology
Potential careers for learners in this field include IT, medicine and software engineering.
Languages (in additional to the two compulsory ones):
Learners may choose up to two additional languages from a list of approved languages.
Learn More About Language Choices Here
Other Approved Subjects
There are 4 other approved subjects that the IEB offers to both private and government schools:
- Equine Studies
This is the study of horses and all things related to them. It includes skills needed for running a horse-based business, as well as riding, anatomy and nutrition. Potential careers for learners who take this subject include jockey, veterinary science and stable management.
- Maritime Economics
This deals with all the aspects of shipping, from the technical side of running a ship to the environmental impact to the laws governing international shipments and cargo. Potential careers for learners who take this subject include law, logistics and port management.
- Nautical Science
This prepares learners to become sea officers and covers topics such as navigation, chart reading, naval architecture and ship maintenance. Potential careers for learners who take this subject include deck officer, navigational officer and eventually ship’s captain.
- Sports and Exercise Science
This covers biochemistry, nutrition and sports psychology, among other things. Potential careers for learners who take this subject include sports management, sports training and physiotherapy.
Practical Music exams from the Associated Board of Royal Schools, Trinity College of London and Unisa are offered as an 8th subject and these exams are assessed independently and not as part of the NSC Music subject.
Advanced Subjects
There are also Advanced Subjects which the IEB offers to both private and government schools:
- Advanced Program Mathematics (AP Maths)
- Advanced Program English (AP English)
- Advanced Program Afrikaans (AP Afrikaans)
These AP subjects are studied in addition to the seven compulsory subjects and are taken by learners achieving high enough marks to take these advanced subjects. Some schools will offer these AP subjects from Grade 10 or from Grade 11. Some schools will allow a learner to take one, others two or even three. The final exam takes place at the end of Grade 12. These are marked independently and a separate certificate is issued from the IEB. It must be noted that these AP subjects do not appear on the NSC certificate.
AP MAths and English have been benchmarked and the British assessment body called UK NARIC has certified that passing the subject is equivalent to achieving a Cambridge A-Level pass.
Subject rules
There are rules for some subjects that have to be taken together and others that a learner cannot combine.
Subjects that must be taken together:
- Accounting and Mathematics (not Maths Lit)
- Physical Science and Mathematics (not Maths Lit)
- Sports and Exercise Science and Physical or Life Science
Subjects that cannot be combined:
Languages:
- A learner may only take one language from a language group. isiXhosa, isiZulu, SiSwati and isiNdebele are one group, as are Sepedi, Sesotho and Setswana.
- A learner may not study a language at Home Language level and study the same language at FAL or SAL. The same thing applies to a learner taking a language at FAL level; they cannot take the same language at SAL level.
Consumer Studies and Hospitality
Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy although IEB schools can now offer both of these Maths subjects together in Grade 12. The idea here is that in the event of a learner struggling with Maths and being at risk of not achieving the 50% pass mark required to get into university, the higher of the two subjects will reflect on the final NSC certificate. Because Accounting and Physical Science require Mathematics this option does not apply to learners studying either of these subjects.
Watch a video to learn more about this
A learner may only take one of the following:
- Equine Studies
- Maritime Economic and Nautical Science
- Sports and Exercise Science
Additional rules
A learner may take more than the required seven subjects for Matric, provided they complete all three years of the each additional subject. There is no limit to how many subjects a learner can take for Matric.
Struggling to narrow down your subject choices, even with the guidelines above? Take our Matric subject choice quiz to help you with your decision.
Assessment of NSC Subjects
Subjects are divided into three groups in terms of how they are assessed, but all are eventually allocated a mark out of 100 as shown on the NSC certificate.
The three groups are:
- General Subjects:
- Portfolio of evidence (continuous assessment which includes school-based assignments and projects) contributes a total of 25 marks out of 100.
- The final exam contributes the remaining 75 marks.
- Practical Subjects:
- Portfolio of evidence contributes a total of 25 marks out of 100.
- Practical component or performance-based assessment contributes 25 marks out of 100.
- The final exam contributes the remaining 50 marks.
- Language Subjects:
- Portfolio of evidence contributes a total of 25 marks out of 100.
- Examination contributes 25 marks out of 100.
- The final exam contributes the remaining 50 marks.
- Life Orientation (LO) is an exception. This compulsory subject covers non-academic skills needed in life, including Sexual Education, Physical Health, making good life choices etc.
- It is examined and marked internally and moderated externally, although there is no final exam written at the end of the year. There is a Common Assessment Task (CAT) that is given to learners at all schools which is externally set and marked.
School-based assessments must be passed in all subjects to achieve the NSC certificate. These assessments are continuous and are called CASS. These assessments are valid for three years from the date of writing the NSC exams. This could be important if the learner has failed the NSC and wishes to rewrite again in the next three years.
Changing Subjects
Two subjects can be changed in Grade 10 (provided this is done by the beginning of the third term) and the school principal approves this change.
In Grade 11, two subjects can be dropped, provided this is done before the 28th of February and the school principal approves this change.
In Grade 12, a subject may only be dropped in exceptional circumstances. It must be done before 31 January, a learner’s parent or guardian has to submit a letter of motivation and the teacher of the subject and the school principal must approve this change.
New subjects that are picked up here will be exempted from the school-based assessment requirement for the period of change.
Levels of achievement
There are 7 levels of achievement that are used throughout the schooling system.
- Level 1: 0-29%, not achieved (fail)
- Level 2: 30-39%, elementary
- Level 3: 40-49%, moderate
- Level 4: 50-59%, adequate
- Level 5: 60-69%, substantial
- Level 6: 70-79%, meritorious
- Level 7: 80-100%, outstanding
Levels of Pass
There are 4 levels of pass a learner may achieve.
For any further queries please send an email to: info@subjex.co.za